TIME
Murray Friedlander
91
“... if you don ’ t laugh in life , you may as well not be here .”
I ’ m 91 . I was born in Harlem . I have two children – a daughter and a son – and if ever the time comes , they ’ re my support . Otherwise , I support myself . I buy , sell , and repair clocks . I ’ ve been doing it since I was twelve , and that ’ s for real . It ’ s not work , it ’ s really something to keep my mind clear . It seems like yesterday when I started .
I find that honesty is the best policy , and I ’ ve been that way all my life . I don ’ t believe in lying . There are no shenanigans . When I deal with people , I don ’ t say , “ Well this guy ’ s got a lot of money , so I ’ m going to hit him hard .” I don ’ t believe in it . Never did , never will . I also believe that if you don ’ t laugh in life , you may as well not be here .
I guess I ’ m just one of the lucky ones , because I ’ m still here at my age . The man upstairs protects me , and I ’ m careful , so I protect myself too . If the good lord takes me tomorrow , that ’ s how it would be . I ’ m satisfied . I have no complaints .