Thank You All… for sharing your Andrei — to some, your son, brother, lover and to all, your friend with the world. And that, of course, included me.
For those who don’t know me, I am a client of Stratworx. And, in that capacity, I found a great teacher and friend in Andrei.
Andrei connected with me in a most magical and wonderful way… but I suspect he had that same effect on most everyone he came into contact with while he was here.
His gift, among many, was to make people feel special. He did that for me. It was Andrei’s ‘gift’ that I shall always treasure and honor him for in the life I have left to live.
When I think of Andrei, I am reminded of so many bright lights… stars, actually… that shine so intensely and brilliantly and yet, it seems, never long enough.
I can’t say why, but my brief connection with Andrei seems timeless. It was as if we’d known each other for a long, long time but had only recently met. It was an irony. But I never doubted our connection.
I loved hearing him talk about his family whom he expressed his regard for in the stories about his father and the way he wanted to be sure good things happened for his family. I remember we both shared a great laugh over the fact that he was ‘living, breathing proof’ that peace is possible… even if for a short-time. And that possibility opens the door… to the hearts of people of all nations… to even longer and bigger ones.
At one point, we were sharing weekly calls. Ostensibly about ‘business’. But Andrei and I would always seem to get our conversation steered onto more profound issues like why people do what they do, and what are the interests behind their positions as well as all manner of ‘human’ interests that only a gifted, talented and compassionate mind could engage with as intellectually as Andrei loved to do.
His critical thinking skills were huge. I remembered thinking to myself, “This guy’s got some great stuff… no, really great stuff!”. And, of course, he did. But he also had some incredible common sense and insight into how and why people do what they do. I loved his mind and I respected his humanity.
At one point I said, “Andrei… I get the feeling that you’re starved for some good conversation the way a hungry person is starved for some good food”. We both laughed. Andrei acknowledged that he was “always hungry for good conversation as long as the conversation is good”. Of course, I never lacked for that when I had Andrei all to myself on a phonecall… he was wonderful and a friend and I miss him terribly.
To those of you who survive Andrei, be proud. You have each helped bring into this world a most special individual who used the talents he was given and that he himself developed for good things and to make the world a better place in any way and at every opportunity he could find.
He will be very much missed, of course. And I now carry a little ’star’ in my heart that feels like Andrei is there. He’s still guiding me. Still asking excellent questions of me. And most of all, he’s there reminding me to “Carry on, Bill… go forth and do good”. I treasure my ‘treasure’ of Andrei and I thank you for helping me to have the all too brief and exceedingly wonderful chance to know him as I did and call him my friend as I will always.
My thoughts and wishes are with you and I hope the understandable sadness you feel now will leave you when you’re ready to let it go and I hope the memories of all the good and precious moments with Andrei will remain with each of you forever.
I don’t know you personally, but I know Andrei and, by association, I know this… you must all be very wonderful and special people… Peace.
Bill
