The Meaning of 'Auf Wiedersehen'

The German phrase ‘Auf Wiedersehen’—literally meaning ‘until we see each other again’—was one of the first expressions I learned in a German class at IIT Madras back in 1970. Decades later, during the 1990s while working with MAPS Geosystems in Sharjah, that early exposure to the language proved immensely useful during my extended stays at our Munich office.

Reflections on Goodbye

Now, I find myself offering an ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ not just to close friends, but to the familiar nooks and beloved surroundings of our apartment complex. My wife and I are embarking on a prolonged stay at her mother’s home in Kozhikode to support her during her twilight years. Although she has a caregiver, my wife and her sisters take turns so she is never left on her own. Now in her nineties, she is wrapped in the gentle devotion of her daughters, who share the duty of staying by her side.

I softly whisper ‘until we meet again’ to the fellow seniors I meet thrice weekly, to my 'tai chi' corner on the cricket pitch, to the marble bench near the water fountain where yoga brings serenity and peace, and to the paved walkway in the green garden where my morning routine finishes with five rounds of barefoot jogging. I bid ‘until we meet again’ to the companions of my evening walks—the familiar faces, the quiet trees and plants, the distant glimpse of endless traffic on the Hosur Road Elevated Expressway, and the rhythmic passage of metro trains along the Yellow Line.

Likewise, my wife Vasantha bids a temporary farewell to her group of senior women friends and the warm evening gatherings they share.

The Weight and Beauty of Farewells

At seventy-eight, I come to appreciate with quiet reflection that saying ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ is no longer a light commitment to reunite. Instead, it becomes a delicate wish—fragile, uncertain, held between hope and the inevitable passage of time. In our youth, these farewells held the certainty of tomorrow and the confidence of future reunions. With advancing age, however, every goodbye carries a deeper weight—a silent acknowledgement that time may not grant us the opportunity to fulfill the promise.

Yet, that is precisely where its beauty lies. Saying ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ affirms a belief in continuity, even as our horizon grows nearer. It is an act of affection toward the people, places, and daily rhythms that have enriched our lives. It is our way of expressing: I treasure you enough to long for another meeting. Whether or not that moment arrives, the sentiment itself serves as a blessing and a bridge over uncertainty.

The Impermanence of Every Moment

In these later years of my life, a quiet yet persistent question accompanies every interaction with a person, every visit to a place, and every task I choose to postpone: Could this be the final time? Will this be the last? 

I no longer take the everyday details of life for granted—the morning walk along the garden path, the shared laughter with friends, resting under the shade of a familiar tree, or taking in the grand view of the amphitheatre and the dry, quiet lake from my balcony. Awareness has softened these moments with tenderness, reminding me that life's experiences are fleeting and precious gifts.

This awareness does not diminish life; rather, it deepens every experience. Each handshake, each warm greeting, every conversation, each act of kindness carries greater meaning when viewed through the lens of impermanence because it might never be repeated. Even the simple tasks I delay are touched by uncertainty—whether I will have the chance or the energy to revisit them. 

In youth, time feels boundless, postponement feels harmless. In the twilight of life, however, as the horizon draws closer, every decision holds profound significance. Living with this understanding allows us to embrace life more fully, treasure each passing second as sacred, and to recognize that love, memory, and presence are the true legacies we leave behind.

World Senior Citizens Day

Incidentally, today, August 21, marks World Senior Citizens Day. Observed annually, it honors the invaluable contributions of older adults, promotes their dignity and rights, and draws attention to key issues including health, social isolation, and elder abuse.

First proclaimed as National Senior Citizens Day in 1988 by U.S. President Ronald Reagan, the occasion eventually earned international recognition and is today widely celebrated as World Senior Citizens Day. 

Farewell in the Twilight of Life

Every farewell at this chapter in life is both a parting and a blessing. To dear friends, familiar places, the morning garden trail, the evening strolls, the warmth of laughter, and the serene presence of trees—I say ‘Auf Wiedersehen’. Whether fulfilled or held only in memory, it remains an enduring expression of love, proving that life, even in its twilight, deeply values human connection.