A Friend

Dear .....................

Time waits on no one. Please forgive for writing in English . I'm so used to having the comfort of a laptop, with spell checker, that the combination of writing by hand and in Dutch will surely corroborate the wide held notion that the academic and literary standards on this side of the pond are on a very slippery slope indeed.
A lifetime, so it seems, has passed since I drove up your driveway as an impudent long haired youngster to corrupt your innocent boy with exotic tales of controlled mayhem, strange customs and fair maidens. In many ways your home, and the people in it, have had a profound influence on my journey, and continue to do so. My friendship with Jan Willem and the values that sustained it, has been a blessing during the darkest stages of a road less traveled. Back in the day a lot of people would shake their head in fear and loathing when the two of us were roaming the gentle villages of our past on the prowl for another worthy deed. However they failed to see that we were brothers in the best sense of the word. Consideration, compassion and loyalty cannot be given , we bestowed it generously onto each other through shared pain, heart breaking beauty and hysterical weirdness. To meet him again this summer and see for myself that he has found a measure of peace and comfort has allowed me to put things to rest knowing that he's doing so well

It was also wonderful to see you again. I'm glad you liked the flowers, my daughter is quiet pleased with herself since it took her the better part of an hour to come back with the appropriate choice while I was enjoying a cappuccino. Growing up as an only child with quiet parents has produced a habit where I try to steal a quiet moment here and there when circumstances allow it. For the last 10 years I've made my home in Vancouver, on the Western edge of Canada, surrounded by 3 children, Saskia, Josiah and Moriah, 2 dogs, Jordie and Dexter, a hamster, a goldfish, a skunk that lives under the walkway, 3 raccoons that love our grapevine and a multitude of native artists, dockworkers, writers, misfits and other degenerates that consider themselves my friends. Ruling this fine crowd is my partner Janice who has been my steady companion the last 25 years. My mother kisses the ground she walks on, since she credits her with saving her little boy.

The dynamic of North American society tends to give credibility to the rumor that money is the altar where most Americans and Canadians worship however I've had the good fortune to grow into adulthood with your son who not only had impeccable taste when it came to controlled mayhem but who also had a keen eye for cultural and historical events. The monasteries of Meteora, a foggy sunrise on the Matterhorn or the flowers on the banks of Ohrid were as much part of our reality as were the beaches of Greece and the hedonistic peculiarities of its residents.

Now that my children are getting a bit older and I'm getting a sense of what kind of persons they are in the process of becoming I feel blessed that I was so fortunate to be exposed to those who inspired me to look further and beyond . Yes, life has been very good to me and for whatever mysterious reason continues to do so allthough once in a while I can't help myself and give in to the dark side to firmly shake the tree of life to see what else is hiding up there.

Be well, Peace and Light,
Willem