The key to happiness is low expectations.

The keys of a life are even more prosaic.

These are the keys that I found in Jack’s desk and workshop when we cleared out his possessions after his death two years ago. Jack was my Father-in-Law and we had an erratic relationship. He lived an amazing life and grew up in times of extreme shortages.The keys make a great picture. They also illustrate a few subtle things:

• If you are a certain age you saved brass and copper.
• Even though I talk a good game about downsizing, I’m still saving Jack’s keys.
• Key’s law says that a person’s importance is inversely proportional to the number of keys they carry. By this standard Jack was unimportant. by my standards he was one of the most important people in my life.
• In the not too distant future keys will be like dial telephones or manual car windows. You will have to explain them to the grandchildren.