Erinnerungen an einen guten Freund

Today is Martin's birthday. There are some people who only remember a deceased person on his deathbed. But that's different for me. I don't want to think about his death, but rather about his life. I was friends with Martin for almost a quarter of a century, and we had many funny, thoughtful and adventurous situations together. That's why I'd rather remember his birthday. Since his death, the following pictures have been in a special folder on my hard drive. Our Griech had asked me to find these pictures, these beautiful memories of Martin, and to show them at his funeral. But for some reason that didn't work anymore. That's why I want to show them to those who should see them anyway, and who also got on well with Martin. They are sometimes rare snapshots of our common life, and since they should be shown anyway, I think that the time today on his birthday is very right. After all this time, it's not easy for me to do this here, but I think that many who like to remember the time with Martin and to whom you, dear Martin, were also a faithful and loyal friend, will be happy about these pictures. Of course, I also have to openly admit that after all this time I'm still sad that our friend was suddenly taken from us in the flower of his life. But if I'm really honest, then the joy and gratitude of being able to be friends with a person like Martin is at least as strong as the sadness. But I'm not alone with that, because we regularly see the picture of Martin hanging in the corner at our Borussia games. You know, Martin, one of your many good qualities was your willingness to help. You were always there for me. My apartment on my own market, when I got a fat new couch and one call from you was enough, and you were immediately on the mat and helped me with this heavy device to drag it down. Or whether it was my moves, with which you helped me every time, although you didn't really like that I had to move away. Or when I hit you in the face and spanked you and you didn't talk to me for two weeks, but in the end you were so considerate again to go on the phone and then you spoke to me again. This is also a way that is becoming more and more rare in this world and in today's time, to be able to forgive and be considerate. Many people are eternally reprehensible, but with my sincere apology to you everything was fine again. You just miss and you miss not only me, but all of us. We are sad because you are gone, but we are also happy because you lived and we had a good time with you. Oh, and when I think of the many unforgettable trips, like, for example, to Munich, where this picture also comes from, when we started a crazy competition with the Greeks, who is the hardest of us and who can endure the most pain. We then pinched each other for minutes and looked who could endure the pain the longest. And many days later I ran around with hematomas all over my body, and I looked like a pound of minced meat. Listen to us, my faithful friend, it is sometimes really surprising how life plays out. Shortly before my severe lung surgery I told you that the doctors had told me that the surgery is very, very difficult and that the probability of everything surviving is not so great and that it would be quite possible that I would not survive it. Then you wrote to me, Steffen, you must not even think of such a thing in advance. At some point everyone is at it, of course, but it all still has its time. And then you wrote, I have included you in my prayers. It will be again. But if you still need any help, then contact me. You are never alone. But you have already accomplished completely different things. If you succeed, you will get it too. Then I don't even think about it. It is strange, now you are the one of the two of us who had to go. And again the tears roll down my cheeks. I also knew how to appreciate your honesty, because I always knew what I was doing with you. But you have always been honest to others and have not hesitated to find some clearer words, compared to others. I enjoyed it so much to sit in the car with you for hours after the training and talk about God and the world. For hours and in winter the car windows were often battered by a lot of talking. We sometimes sat for so long that you almost missed your appointments late in the evening in the old town. We could just talk about everything and even in my failures, for which I am ashamed today, you were considerate and spoke comforting words in my face. You are simply missing, Keule. I could just talk about everything with you, also about God. I know that there are some who do not know that you sometimes went to church and were a believer. But that was of great use to me, because I was able to ask you something about this. That is probably why your social commitment and your willingness to help others came across. There are people who say that you can see us from above. And since I know your opinion about God, I am actually pretty sure that you are well raised up there and that you can look down on us willingly. You wanted to take me with you to church. Unfortunately, that never worked out. But since I know your attitude about God and your sincere faith, we will probably be able to see each other again one day. There are also people who say that you will go home after death. I don't even find this saying so bad, because it also contains a kind of hope that we humans need. Hope that there is not only bad things, but also good things. Hope for something good and a good ending. Hope is always better than being desperate all the time. Hope. I am not an expert on this topic, but I think our dear Sven, who is actually an expert in this regard, will probably be right with me on this point. Since we are just on the subject, Martin, I want to tell you a short story that you probably find amusing when you listen to it from up there, or that you would have found amusing if I had told it to you down here. So, a woman was diagnosed with an incurable disease and the doctor said she only had three months to live. She called the pastor and asked him to come to her to discuss her wishes for her funeral with him. She told him which songs should be sung, which Bible verses should be read and in which dress she should be buried. She also said that she wanted to hold her Bible in her left hand and a fork in her right hand. The pastor did not quite know what to say. The fork will surely surprise her, said the woman calmly. Oh yes, the spiritual one stumbled. The woman began to explain. In all the years I have been part of the many celebrations and receptions, I have always been reminded to keep my fork when the dishes were tidied up. Keep your fork! Someone always said that. And I was always happy because I knew that something better was coming. Tasty chocolate desserts, cake, apple strudel or ice cream. Something wonderful that would round off the big meal perfectly. The pastor smiled. I want, said the woman, that the people who see me in the coffin wonder why I hold the fork in my hand. And I want them to tell them, keep your fork. The best is yet to come. The pastor began to cry when he embraced the woman at the farewell. He knew that it was the last time before she would die. But he also knew that this woman had a better idea of heaven than he himself. She knew and trusted that something better would wait for her. Keep your fork. The best is yet to come. I think that you, dear Martin, should not have said, keep your fork, because in many situations you were always well prepared. Instinctively you would have kept your fork and would have said, no, I'll keep the fork first. You never know what's coming. And you would have had the confidence that something better is yet to come. And again and again we see the traces of your life. Pictures and moments that remind us of you. Even when you took me in the Champions League away in Barcelona in the first row. Although ... I'd rather not say the name now, because if he hears that, he'll be caught again. Even when ... he moaned, the first row wouldn't stand up to me anymore. The moaning didn't interest you at all and you insisted that I was allowed to walk with you in the first row this time. That was so beautiful and so adventurous and I am so grateful to you for that. And don't forget our Christmas junk party. What did we laugh and talk about in those nights? In those nights we laughed so much and talked about so much stupid stuff that with this stupid nonsense you could have filled a whole special train. Including the Samba car. I also like to think back how you told me together with Kevin, Büffel, Philipp and Beppo the story of the Gladbach Ultras for my second book Fiebel Borussia Mönchengladbach. And how you pushed me out of this book in the base after my short reading and whispered into my ear that you are so happy that you appear in my second book because that stays in the drunk books for eternity. And the next day you wrote me thank you for the beautiful time yesterday and especially for the lecture. I could have listened to you for two more hours. Oh my god, when I think about it it touches me again. The writer Wilder once said there is the land of the living and there is the land of the dead. But as a bridge between there is our friendship. When you were in a coma we recorded a few words for you that should be played to you in the hospital. Some stood in front of the hospital to stand by you spiritually and morally from below. Even in these unspeakably difficult hours you were not alone and although you are not here anymore you are not alone there either. We are all with you and we know that you do not leave us alone from up there because only those are really dead who have been forgotten and you are not forgotten. I will never forget the mourning in the North Cove in Borussia Park. The Greek showed me a man that I had not seen until then and said this is Martin's brother. Actually, I wanted to express my condolences to your brother but since he did not know me I did not really dare to address him. Fortunately, the Greek pushed me a little and said go there now! When I then grasped my heart and went to your brother I said Hello, I am Steffen and I would like to express my heartfelt condolences. Your brother just looked at me and asked Steffen? Steffen Andritzke? Yes, I said and tears rolled down our cheeks. Without him ever seeing me he immediately knew who I was and it turned out that you had told your family something good about me at home. I was so touched and so moved Steffen and I hope that you could also see this scene from above how we both mourned. You are simply missing and you are missing not only me but all of us. We are indescribably sad. We are sad because we lost you but we also smile because you lived and because you were such a faithful and loyal companion to us. We will never forget you because we are forever grateful that we had you. Finally, I would like to tell you a short story written by an Indian. Do not stand weeping at my grave I am not down there I do not sleep I am the thousand winds that blow I am the gentle rain in autumn When you wake up in the early morning I am the fast rise of the birds in majestic flight I am the gentle starlight in the night Do not stand weeping at my grave I am not down there I do not sleep You just can't see me anymore can't touch me anymore But I will always be there no matter where you are I will be the wind that gently strokes through your hair the rainbow on the horizon that gives you the most beautiful colors the sun that swarms you and laughs with you the earth on which you walk I am this feeling that is in you when you are happy You can talk to me I will always hear you I will wake up over your sleep and give you wonderful dreams You do not need to be afraid you are never alone because I will always be there when you think of me the way I think of you You, dear Martin will always be there you will always stay in our memory and you can see that not only in your picture which hangs in the curve next to the flag Death is a part of our life and cannot be avoided Nevertheless, we say thank you that we were allowed to have you with us Thank you for this beautiful time Thank you for your friendship loyalty honesty willingness to help and joy and thank you for everything you have given us We miss you but we are also grateful for the time that we were allowed to spend with you We would have liked to have had a little more time with you Copyright © 2020 Mooji Media Ltd. 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