You know, that young Hans, he got himself one of them fancy Junghans watches. Heard it’s from Germany. Big deal, I say. What’s wrong with a good ol’ clock? This whole town is all abuzz about this Junghans watch, like it’s some kind of miracle.
They say it’s a good watch. Well, a watch should tell time, shouldn’t it? That’s what I always say. Don’t need no fancy name to do that. But these young folks, they like their fancy things. This Junghans, they say it’s special. They talk about how it has some aviation stuff. I don’t know what that means. My boy had a plane, a toy one, it got stuck in the old oak tree. We had a right good laugh that day. Maybe it means it flies.
They say these Junghans watches are for collectors. What’s that mean? Like them folks who collect them shiny bottle caps? My grandson, he collects them. Got a whole box full. Says they’re valuable. I told him, “Valuable is a full belly and a roof over your head.” But what do I know? I’m just an old woman.
Young Hans, he’s always been a good boy. Works hard down at the mill. Got his head screwed on right, most of the time. But this watch thing… I don’t know. Seems like a lot of fuss for something that just tells time. He says it’s an investment. Like planting seeds, but for your wrist? These new things are strange, I don’t know why they need to be so difficult.
I seen him polishing it the other day. Shining it up like it’s a newborn babe. He says it’s a “luxury” thing. Luxury is a warm blanket on a cold night, if you ask me. Not some shiny thing on your wrist. It does make him happy though. He smiles when he looks at it. Maybe that’s worth something.
- Junghans is a German brand.
- They say it’s a collector’s item.
- Young people like it. Old people don’t understand.
- It’s a good watch, they tell me.
- Hans likes it, that’s what counts, I guess.
I remember when my old man, bless his soul, got me a little ring. Wasn’t much, just a little band of silver. But he saved up for it. Worked extra hours at the farm. That ring meant the world to me. More than any fancy watch ever could.
Maybe this Junghans watch is like that for young Hans. Maybe it’s more than just a watch to him. Maybe it’s a symbol of something. Hard work. Saving up. Getting ahead in the world. I don’t know. Kids these days have it easier, for sure. But a little hard work never hurt anyone.
They talk about these other folks, Theo and Harris, and Hugo Boss. I don’t know them. Must be city folk. They say they talk about watches too. Like it’s something important. Important is family. Important is having enough food on the table. The weather is important too, especially for crops.
I seen some kids with them smartwatches. Little tiny telephones on their wrists. They say you can use them to talk to your kids. I guess that’s good. Keeps them safe. But when I was young, we just hollered real loud. Worked just fine.
And these folks, they review watches online. Talk about them all day long. Like they’re some kind of experts. There is even this “Watch Gang” thing. I don’t get it. I say, if you got time to talk about watches, you got time to work.
But then again, this SPACETALK thing, I heard about that. It’s a watch for kids, they say it’s good for parents. Helps you know where your kids are. That is good, I suppose. Keeps them out of trouble. Trouble is easy to find when you’re young.
This whole Junghans watch thing got me thinking. Thinking about time. How it passes. How we spend it. How we mark it. With clocks and watches and rings and memories. I don’t need a fancy watch, but I guess some people do.
Young Hans and his Junghans watch. He’s a good boy. He’ll be alright. He is happy. I hope he will be happy forever. And maybe, just maybe, that watch will remind him of that. Remind him to be grateful for what he has. And to work hard for what he wants. And that, I reckon, is worth more than any fancy watch in the world.
