How are we to feel young when our youngest daughter just turned 30?

[DFW]

17. I'll go you one better

Last edited Wed Feb 11, 2015, 04:33 PM - Edit history (1)

About ten years ago, an Israeli friend of mine who lives in the Netherlands was hired to do security for what can only be described as a trade fair of decadence. It was called the "Millionaire Fair," and was held at various places in Europe and Asia. They had 80 foot yachts, Bugatti cars, diamond-encrusted cell phones, you name it. He invited me and a guest to attend the one in Amsterdam, as he had some extra passes. Whatever the price of admission was, even if I could afford it, I certainly wasn't paying it, but a free chance to gawk? Sure, why not?

My wife said no way, José, but my elder daughter, at the time in fashion business school, and home on Christmas break, said sure, she'd be my date. She can make herself look pretty spectacular when she wants to (95% my wife's genes), and for this, she did. We got an early train over to Holland, and walked around, looking at at the crazy things on sale. 5000 square foot condo in Monaco anyone? Sure enough, some Saudi prince flew in on his private jet, opened a briefcase full of euros and bought the diamond-encrusted cell phone for €1.2 million. Cash. Okaaayyyyyyyyyy.......

Then came the fun(ny) part. A Dutch TV team came up to me and my daughter and asked, in English, for an interview. Not being a member of the 1% of the 1%, I asked why. They said they were doing a feature report on wealthy (didn't know I looked the part!) older men with much younger wives. I switched to Dutch (this already confused them, as I sure as hell don't look Dutch). I said this was not my wife. They said, well of course girlfriends were part of their story as well. I said she wasn't my girlfriend, either, but rather my daughter. My daughter doesn't speak Dutch, but she is bi-lingual in English and German, and understood what was going on. The TV team, convinced I was lying, asked her if I was really her dad. She said of course I was. They said, well, in that case, they had no use for us (the feeling was mutual). We were laughing about that one for weeks afterward.