Herinneren is een vorm van ontmoeten…

Looking back now, I realize that Peter was much more than just a friend to me and my family. He was a very close and important person, who at the most significant, key moments in my and Koen’s life was always nearby. I don't remember our first meeting very well. Maybe it was in Krivoarbatsky lane, where Koen used to live or it was in Malaya Bronnaya at Dick Wilde’s place.. Will not find out any more .. It was the end of the nineties - the heyday, the golden time for many of us. Freedom and opportunities were in the air. Peter was the soul of the Dutch community in Moscow. We all got to know each other, it was a lot of fun - talking, having drinks, visiting each other, partying. “Scandinavia", Moscow Country Club, New Years at the Embassy. Everything had just begun. I want to describe one small but very meaningful for me episode . It was our first romantic trip with Koen to St. Petersburg . Just imagine 1998, the authentic Russian branded train “Krasnoya strela” , the fashionable hotel “Astoria” - everything was sharp and exciting. Suddenly there was a knock on the door, it was courier delivery from “Russia Travel, Peter was director of this company at that moment. He sent us a bottle of good champagne which we immediately opened and finished. How delicious it was and how much on time! There is no better moment could have been found - the anticipation of a new happy life together, the kind attention of a good friend. Later Peter joked "how long are you going to remember this story about champagne?”... For the rest of our lives my dear Peter . Then there was my first trip with Koen to Amsterdam. And Peter is there with us again. Me, Koen, Gert and Peter on the Queen’s birthday walking through the streets of Amsterdam .. laughing, drinking and even smoking. Peter was telling something loudly and again the lightness of being.. I remember Peter's apartment on Belorusskaya, where he invited us for dinner - a slightly burnt cake with cherries, which was baked by Iris and just total “gezellig". His friends often gathered there to watch football. At our wedding in the restaurant "Actor". Peter was our “Tamada” (master of ceremonies )as he called himself. He personally met each guest and relative, who arrived for the wedding and there were quite a few of them on both sides, controlled and organized everything, did it sincerely and with all his heart.
When our daughter appeared Peter immediately offered to meet.. it was on Easter. Peter, Dick and Iris came to our dacha to congratulate me and Koen on the birth of our daughter, whose godfather Peter later became.
I remember when we just moved into our new large apartment in Romanov lane and were sitting embarrassed , looking at the high ceilings and again Peter is next to us with champagne, sincerely happy for us. During all our moves to new places in Russia, Spain Peter always visited and supported us. Now I understand that he did it very thoughtfully, consciously. I think that he showed this genuine interest in many people .. such a warm, unobtrusive, always friendly presence.
Peter loved women and they loved him back. They were always interesting imposing women next to him, with a rare small and very unpleasant exception. Peter was human and human beings make mistakes. I am very glad that in his last years Oksana appeared in his life and really brightened it up ... They are a harmonious couple ..With Oksana Peter finally found the warmth and comfort which he shared with us in their beautiful place in Zhostovo, where he was so happy to live his last years.
He loved life, Russia, people around him and this love was mutual. I didn’t have enough courage to send him a farewell letter .. Despite his serious illness, he did not forget to wish me happy birthday, this year in July he was three days early .. maybe he was afraid of not being in time .In response I wrote that I love him very much.
My dear Peter we are going to miss you strongly. I know you were never religious but today I light a candle for the repose of your soul in the Uspensky Cathedral in Vladimir - the heart of Russia, which you loved so much.
I strongly believe you will look at us from above and smile ..

Ik leerde je in 1993 kennen, tijdens mijn studiereis die was georganiseerd door het door jou en Marco opgezette Russia Travel. In alle jaren die ik je ken, ben je nooit wezenlijk veranderd; je onverwoestbare goede humeur, je aanstekelijke lach, je enthousiasme voor zoveel, je liefde voor Rusland en Ajax, om maar wat te noemen.
Om foto’s te vinden van je van onze tijd samen, heb ik een flink aantal albums doorgespit. Bij het zien van die vele foto’s kwamen er evenzovele herinneringen naar boven.

Hoe je, ergens in een Siberisch gehucht, op een groepje kinderen afstapte. Voor hen op een stenen muurtje lag een kleed uitgespreid met allerhande speldjes en andere dingen die ze verkochten. Je hebt alles van ze overgenomen, glunderende koppies achterlatend.

Ook al was je geen zonaanbidder, de vakantieoorden die je uitpikte als we de Moskouse winter even gedag wilden zeggen, waren meestal smoorheet. Van Zuid-Afrika tot Cuba, van Egypte tot Mexico. Als het je teveel werd, ging je ergens in de schaduw een boek lezen, uiteraard met een drankje onder handbereik, en als het even kon, gezouten pinda’s.

Nieuwe dingen uitproberen – soms een tikkie terughoudend – deed je graag, waaronder het ‘eten’ van mierenzuur, wat volgens een Russische kennis een delicatesse was. Erg overtuigd daarvan was je niet na het geproefd te hebben.

Met een MiG het luchtruim in. Ieder met zijn eigen piloot in zo’n snel jachtvliegtuig. Vol bravoure stapte je in. Om ietwat bleekgroen er later uit te komen, en grappend te melden dat je de piloot had verzocht het ‘op zijn KLMs te doen, gewoon rechtuit’.

Zo zijn er nog zoveel verhalen te delen, of om te koesteren als herinnering. Je liefde om te leven, de treurnis dat dat nu niet meer het geval is. Wat zal je gemist worden door velen, lieve Tuur. Je was een prachtig mens en ik ben blij een deel van je leven te hebben meegemaakt.