May 2010

All morning she kept reminding herself that, today her plan was to go fishing with her father. She was home for a few days from her busy life in France. She needed his advise on an important matter. When she and her four-year younger sister were growing up in the Vevey area of Switzerland and they were confronted with a dilemma, their Dad would always take them fishing at the "Lac de Brey" in the back country of the Canton of Vaud. Whilst they would fish from the shore of this well stocked artificial lake they could examine the problem from different angels with their father. They never would catch many fish as the conversation became very heated at times. Nonetheless their Mother was always grateful for whatever they would bring home for dinner.

Today she had a bomb to drop or so she thought! She and her "boyfriend" were considering getting married. Marriage was a big move in the life of any young person in today`s complex society. The divorce rate was very high in both Switzerland and France not to mention Sweden from where her friend came. They had been living together for over five years now and were very happy with the status quo. Why change things? Well, first and foremost there was the bureaucratic nightmare of living in France. Friends say it is much easier to complete the constant paperwork if married. She was Swiss and her friend was Swedish. His country was a member of the European Union, hers was not and she always risked being asked to leave. She was concerned that she would loose her surname, but if they were married in Switzerland both parties had the option of keeping their own, taking the others or taking both by adding a hyphen.

However, what concerned her and her partner the most was the eventuality of having children and this is where her Papa's advice would play a significant role. During the early stages of her parents' marriage they both had a successful career but were very much involved with their respective jobs. It was only when her parents reached their mid-30's did they decide to have their first child. She was the results of that decision! It changed their lives significantly. In no time work became merely a means of survival, no longer a lifestyle. Her parents kept asking themselves, especially after her sister was born, why they waited so long to have children. The family and their children's upbringing became her mother's and father's passion.

Her partner was adopted himself and therefore had a completely different outlook about having children. Her major concern was related to the responsibility of putting children into the world today. Was not a major financial crisis brewing that might even surpass the Great Depression in its impact? Is the crime rate not increasing? And what about terrorist attacks taking place more frequently in the industrialized nations? Will her children not blame her one day for being egotistical in having children?

Why did she worry so much? Momentarily she would be leaving to go out to the Lake with her Father. The weather was lovely, perfect for fishing. She was very much enjoying her visit to Switzerland.

She thought she knew what her father would say anyhow, what he always did: "Things are not for ever, take advantage of a situation when it presents itself, work hard to achieve your goal and remain flexible".