Discover life: Caring for friends - worrying about friends

Was I alive today?

Yes….

What new things have I discovered about life?

Once again: just how fragile and vulnerable life is. In July, I met Bernd, a seasoned sailor from Hamburg. He owns several ships and is currently refitting three more. He knows his way around ships. And he’s incredibly helpful. „Sure, I’ll get you some anti-rust paint!“ „I’ll bring your portholes to Berlin, and then I’ll pop over for a weekend and fit them for you.“ (That was the plan for the first weekend in November). Whenever I rang him, he was in good spirits and relaxed. After I’d asked him twenty questions about how to do this or that, he’d always reply in a friendly, joking manner: „What, is that all? Is that all you want to know?“

In short: over the last few months, he’s given me help and support like no one else. Whenever I tried to thank him, he always waved it off: „I won’t take anything from you – just a coffee!“

Bernd has looked after me so much – now I’m worried about him. I received the news at lunchtime today that he’d had a stroke. It’s affected his speech centre and the right side of his body. He’s having an MRI tomorrow, and then we’ll see what can or needs to be done. „The Bear“ Bernd in a hospital bed with beeping monitors – it just doesn’t fit. He needs the wind and waves and ships all around him!

What new things have I discovered about myself?

I tend to become very attached to people quite quickly. I found myself on the verge of tears time and again today whenever I thought of Bernd, his family and the men at his company, to whom he is like a father. And yet I’ve only known Bernd since July. But I’ve grown fond of him through what must be well over 100 phone calls and emails:

„Hey, look, I’ve found this welder on eBay – is it any good?“ „OK“ Or: „Hey, I’ve run out of two-component anti-rust paint – what am I going to do about the floor now? „Use linseed oil varnish, paraffin and thinner, paint the floor with a brush and wipe it down with a cloth.“

And because he always greeted me – no matter what the weather was like (a constant source of banter between Hamburg and Berlin) – with a warm „Hello, sunshine“.

Now I’m hoping and praying that everything will turn out all right. And I’d be grateful if you could say a prayer or two for Bernd.