My friendship with Hajo Holborn lasted through a lifetime, almost fifty years to be exact. Holborn used to reminisce about the rather unconventional manner of the beginning of our friendship: as neighbors in one of Meinecke's courses we fell into a conversation—quite contrary to the customary conduct of German students at the time. It so happened that I could be present when, on what was to be his last day, Holborn received the German Inter Nationes award at Godesberg. In a very direct and informal manner he spoke as to friends about his life and his work, thankful “für das, was ich insgesamt als ein glückliches Leben betrachte.”