Interdependence

A personal and emotional moment in my life that i like to share. It reminds me that our lives unfolds itself between space, connections and time and above all about the significance of relying on interdependence with those you truly trust.

Today it has been exactly 1 year since we had to physically say goodbye to Lkol. Christ van Dinteren. My best friend, my lifeline for all my challenges. A memorable and Marine Corps-worthy farewell. In memory, I like to share my parting words in which I testify how Christ gave substance and meaning to comradeship and interdependency. In the spirit of Strength, Dedication and Interconnection.

"Here we stand now, a moment in our time where we must bid bodily farewell to one another. An inevitable moment in our time....... and far, far too soon for all of us. As always you lead the way, courageous and powerful ......always 1st across the line, ..., my number 1, my icon and perhaps for many of us.

We have known each other since our school days and local soccer teams. April 1980 we joined the Marine Corps together and stepped into the Van Ghent barracks. Bald-shaven 17-18 year old insecure, tough faces and relying on each other as buddies in class 271. Under the guidance of our instructors, we enjoyed a 2nd round of personal development that set the course for our careers and our "being," as human beings in society. In the Corps spirit, our friendship blossomed very quickly into a shameless friendship, as you characterized it yourself; Unconditional in trust and dedication, from day 1 until today.

We can rightly speak of a boundless friendship. Our paths over the years were geographically sometimes far apart and for long periods of time we could not be physically together but. Nevertheless, we were always in-sync. When we met again we didn't have to explain anything, pick anything up again. Even your illness did not change our friendship, Christ is Christ, Christ remains Christ; Authentic, Unique, One of a kind, no matter where and in what capacity with a genuine connection,...... genuine interest,..... and genuine love.

My god, what a lot we also did and experienced together, in our Marine days, the trainings, during our college years, and the many winter sports with family and friends, ?Countless fond memories that I cherish. We rumbled, fumbled, stumbled, waived, ........ fall and got up again. We have played, learned, grown up together and matured without losing the child in ourselves........We have loved, laughed and cried......we have enjoyed and lived in friendship There was always room and time for a joke, a joke..... and mutual understanding with a laugh. With your humor, larded with a dose of healthy cynicism, you also knew how to put practical daily problems and even world problems into perspective and tackle them for yourself and your loved ones. Every moment with you always brought something of value........ Christ, There is nothing on this earth that I value more than our true friendship.

Life for you didn't mean 'merely existing and letting it happen'. Life for you was; 'active life.... above all doing and contributing and always just that little bit more than needed.' Thus I remember like today that after the first recovery from your severe para-accident in Denmark you ended up in a wheelchair, narrowly surviving, no hopeful prospects for a full recovery and future with the Corps. You didn't let it get you down and went for it. Always going the extra mile, always taking initiative, leaving nothing to chance but tackling, vigorously, courageously and with great aspiration.?Not only for your own benefit but certainly also for others.

Christ, your life energy has always been an inspiration to me! The language of friendship consists not of words but of meanings and you understood that like no other.

Life has ups and downs and we could always shamelessly share that with each other, our friendship felt like a safe haven. Being with you always felt like coming home. We could enjoy each other's successes, had a listening ear and lots of compassion in all areas and above all no hesitation to give each other advice. A true buddy!

When I visited you on your beloved Dushi Korsou and I was in a phase of emotional and physical imbalance, you pulled me underwater for one of the most beautiful dives. You and I, as a dive buddy. Your calmness, your being "present" to me in the moment, that gave me confidence and strength. I surfaced to 70 minutes as reborn.

Christ you are my friend, my best friend, my buddy, a Marine in connection, with strength and dedication, always.....

Our last feat together: On Monday you lay totally weakened on the couch, you could barely talk, your eyes remained closed but you said: I have to make it to the weekend buddy! You had rented a motorcycle to feel the wind in your head one last ride. On Tuesday a miraculous revival and on Friday together for an hour on the motorcycle through the Brabant countryside. The riding went well but you had trouble with standing still to keep your balance but with me beside you to catch you it went well.?You were 'broken' but extremely happy when we got back. Sitting on a chair in the garden you said: "Gee buddy, life is beautiful".

Christ, the greatest gift of life is friendship, and I got it from you.

It hurts and I will miss you greatly........ but I take you with me in my life, in all my doings, I welcome and embrace your legacy on our friendship as a moral and social compass...... you live on in my heart and soul, you are my 'blood-brother'.

Friendship increases happiness and decreases misery, by doubling our joys, and sharing our sorrows and therefore I ask all of you, embrace and welcome his mental legacy as a life force and let Christ live on in your memories and daily existence.

Gratitude is part of friendship.

Beloved Marine Corps, Marines, Comrades.....Thanks for allowing us to discover, learn and experience through and with you how valuable camaraderie, ......true friendship can be! .......It has offered and brought us so much, It has connected us over 40 years in life.

Marines, and colleagues, Thank you for the positions and cooperation Christ has been able to fill with you over the years, giving value back to his beloved Corps while serving the greater good.

Corps leadership, Thank you for the honorary Cross of Merit that Christ was able to receive at the end of his days. A respectful testimony to his loyalty, commitment and accomplishments. It was greatly appreciated.

Christ, our boundless friendship reaches up to your sky. Once a Marine, always a Marine; Qua Patet Orbis, and for now; Qua Patet Universium

Farewell buddy"