Recently I began reading Michelle Obama's riveting book, Becoming. At the time, Covid 19 had me sheltered in place, and so I had lots of time to read, write, and reflect.
It occurred to me that I might also write a book about my own life. Not that I could ever compete with Michelle. I couldn't. Nor would my book be as long. In fact, mine would be condensed. But all of us have our stories, and I have mine. In addition, some years ago, I wrote two other books. One on personal mischief. The other on playing Santa. This time, why not incorporate some of those stories into my new book? Why not repurpose my own books, instead of reinventing the wheel?
In addition, writing my own memoirs provided access to wonderful memories. An immersion into a real ego trip. And as I was sheltered in place, I had the time. So why not?
Moreover, I believe I have led an extraordinary life. And a happy one. Filled with good fortune, much humor, multiple friends, good health, financial stability, and innumerable stories. In addition, most of these stories have ended up quite positively, even if I have followed some zany paths along the way. Some might call them quirky. The late artist Christo once said, "I am an artist who is totally irrational" Well, I don't claim to be an artist, but I may become irrational, peculiar and spontaneous, at any given time. And so, my life has evolved into a balancing act between receiving good fortune and pursuing mischief.
Recently, I also have become interested in the Blue Zones; those five areas around the world where people live happier, healthier, and longer lives than anywhere else. In 2005, Dan Buettner wrote a cover story for The National Geographic, "Secrets of Living Longer." And as I hope to become a healthy Centenarian (and hope you will, too), I will follow their nine principles, which I also seem to have done most of my life. You will read more about these traits in this book.
Occasionally, I also attend a Zen group called Brown Bag Zen. I once spoke about all the good fortune that I have been dealt. And I threw out the question: Why have I been so fortunate? Was this merely happenstance and the luck of the draw? Or did it have a deeper meaning? A Guardian Angel? A Fairy Godmother? God? Buddha? Good Karma? Who knew? But surely, throughout my life, I have been very, very, blessed.
As example, when I was a teenager, I enjoyed swimming in the ocean. Once, my father watched me from the beach. I also had planned to use a small life raft, while wearing my glasses. My father, on the other hand, felt glasses were fine, as long as they were worn on land. But to be worn by a gawking teenager, in the ocean, was not his idea of common sense. After some discussion, he reluctantly let me wear my glasses.
I swam some ways out when a huge wave broke. It sent me in one direction, my raft in another and my glasses in a third. I retrieved the raft and began swimming towards shore. The water was about fifteen feet deep. My father was furious. As soon as I could stand, I began to wade and when the water came to my knees, I felt something under my feet. There were my glasses, intact and unscratched. And I returned to a very incredulous father and a rather bitter-sweet welcome. To me, finding my glasses, represented an almost unbelievable, but surely very fortuitous, event.
So that is one of my stories, and that is how this book came about. And its title. But as far as the basis of my good fortune? You tell me. And before I begin my stories, I want to discuss the Blue Zones and their common denominators.
Hans Lehmann
Carmel-by-the-Sea
October, 2021