journal features

owing everything to your forebears

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Toronto, 2013.12.17

At a staff Christmas party today, the conversation turned to philosophical questions around having kids. Someone commented that we owed the continuation of the species to all those generations that came before.

I said, "For me, it's easier. My dad supported us, sending my brother and me to University and so on with a career built leading an R&D function in the oil patch, despite not possessing an official high school diploma let alone any degrees. And my mum worked part time while taking care of us and the home and the food, etc. To hell with the distant generations, I witnessed my parents' effort and sacrifice. Living it now just drives it home."

Lunch time conversations are more fun with fancy rye cocktails. Who knew you could use fernet in a mixed drink.

rand()m quote

... I'll let you in on a secret. Big people are exactly the same as little people. They're selfish, squabbling children whose motivations are jealousy and greed. No one becomes big when the hit adulthood. They just become better at hiding how small they are.

—Jonathan Rosenberg