Geert and I had many long discussions about life, the world, and what it all means. It was only one of the ways that we connected. But that exploration we would do in our conversations was very precious to me and, I hope, to him.

After a number of these discussions I remember very clearly the day when he very causally should me a picture of him in his childhood. It became my favorite picture of him ever. Here he is with his head thrown back and looking so clearly towards a genuinely delightful future that only he can see. I exclaimed “oh Geert! It is a picture of your true essence; your soul.” He loved that idea!

There was one time when Geert and I went sailing in Croatia. He was the sailor and I was the rather inadequate crew. I found that I could take orders well and mostly deliver on them. I asked to be able to take the wheel and steer for a while and he rather reluctantly agreed. Although it had been very calm and quiet, as soon as I took the wheel the wind picked up and became what Geert called “the perfect sailing conditions”. As inexperienced as I was I couldn’t completely appreciate the difference. As the boat easily moved through the water Geert moved from one side of the boat to the other and then back again. I glanced over at him. Curious. Finally I asked, “What are you doing?” “Nothing” he responded, “only it is just perfect conditions, and that is rare.” “Oh” I said as it was increasingly clear he was itching to get his hands on the wheel, “that’s nice.” He nearly whimpered! I quit teasing him and asked if he would like to take the wheel. He did. This sailing picture is of him from that trip - although it is so like one that another friend of his took, I worry I’ve gotten them mixed up.

The last time I saw Geert was in Tilburg. He loved his new home there. But although I had allotted 4 days over which to visit him, his health meant that there was really only one day we could spend together. We went to an art museum (his sense of the aesthetic was amazing) and, as he had been have a number of falls, we decided to tour the museum with a borrowed museum wheelchair. We went from picture to picture discussing what we saw. At that point in time it was becoming harder to hear Geert - I had to lean in with my ear close to his face. He would make a comment and then I would make a comment and then we would both roar with laughter. The looks we got!! As if we were breaking a thousand museum rules with that laughter! Here is a picture from that visit - Geert amongst other beautiful art objects.

Now dear Geert has moved on to a new place and a new experience. I know I had the privilege of bearing witness, however briefly, of his beautiful soul. Along with all of you, I celebrate Geert’s life. And I know he has returned to his essential self - full of joy, full of curiosity, and reconnecting to that universal spirit from which we all spring and to which we all return. Again here is the picture of his amazing self.