And yes, I admit it, I find myself brooding. Letting the years pass in review, sorting the good ones from the more muddled ones in my head, and wondering what's actually still to come. Though, to be honest, I'm pretty happy with how it's gone so far.
Fifty feels different than expected anyway. The body does send the occasional polite memo that not everything can be taken for granted anymore, but up in my head surprisingly little has shifted. Maybe it's the job. I spend my days with people who are sometimes half my age, and that keeps things fresh, even if I only catch some of the references two sentences later.
I was mulling this over while lying in the bathtub. And right there, somewhere between the foam and operating temperature, the idea arrived. Fifty years, fifty euros. Or near enough. €49.90.
I'm selling the last signed copies of my photobook »Mellow« at this, let's call it, magical price. Shipping within Germany included. While I was signing them, by the way, I kept getting caught up in one image or another. Every shot brings back a particular day, a particular light, a particular situation. So in a way, I'm handing over a small piece of memory along with each one.
Normally it's the birthday boy who gets the presents. But I'd rather give than take. I know, that sounds suspiciously like the Sermon on the Mount. Still, it's the thought that counts.
The offer runs until July 5th, and of course only while supplies last. Once the books are gone, they're gone. Limited editions never get a reprint from me. I'm stubborn about that. Or let's say: principled. That sounds more grown-up, which feels appropriate now at fifty.
So if you're still hunting for a gift, or don't have a copy on your own shelf because fifty euros has always been your magic pain threshold for a photobook, then now is your moment. »Mellow« won't get any cheaper than this. Quite the opposite, in fact. Go for it.