Everybody Loves Klaus

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Last Goodbyes

Hello everybody,

Michael asked me if I would write some words about the funeral for all of you who haven’t had the chance to be there. I wasn’t sure if I were able to do so because it was the worst trip of my life and emotionally very exhausting. I don’t even think this can reflect what I am feeling right now.
However, I hope this helps some of you and maybe it helps me as well to deal with this for me still unbelievable situation.

I flew to Athens on Tuesday afternoon, the day before the funeral. Already on the plane I was barely able to distract myself from the memories of my last trip to Athens and the great moments Klaus and I shared, not only there. Some of you might know that Klaus and I just took a trip to Athens. He was already there to see his family and I flew over to see him after Christmas. That time, he picked me up from the airport with a tiny little red rental car, about which he told me was already the upgraded version. We both were so excited to see each other again. Arriving in Athens this time I knew there would be no Klaus to hold me, kiss me and tell me how much he had missed me when I arrive but somehow I was still hoping. Of course there was no Klaus and I made my way alone to the center to meet his father.

The night before the funeral I was barely able to sleep and wrote a 4-page letter to Klaus that I wanted to give him for his last journey.

We arrived at the church at 11am in the morning. Even though it was mostly overcast in the early morning, the sun made it and was shining for our beloved Klaus. He would have enjoyed this. The white church was decorated with lots of wreaths, which I think were traditional Greek funeral wreaths. More than 100 people, family and friends, came from all over the world to say their last goodbye’s to Klaus. It was overwhelming to see them all and meet more people that Klaus had touched in his very special way.

The ceremony was held in German and Greek. The church was also decorated on the inside with lots of flowers. In front of the altar was Klaus in a shiny wooden coffin and more flowers on top. It was very hard for me to see the coffin there knowing it was his.

After the ceremony we walked with Klaus to the cemetery. To get there you have to walk down a tree-lined street, a little uphill. The cemetery is very small and quite with a lot of trees and bushes. All the graves are decorated with marble and being in Athens the sun will mostly shine.
After they dropped the coffin into the grave everyone was able to say their final goodbyes to Klaus. I was also able to give him my last present, the letter I wrote for him the night before with a bouquet of flowers that I chose to be similar to a bouquet he gave me the first time I came back to see him in New York.

I stayed while most of the others made their way back to the church where, in Greek tradition, the family and friends get together for Greek coffee and cognac.
Raschad, Zaid, Paolo and Philip waited for me to walk me back to the church. Halfway there I saw a kiosk. During our Athens trip Klaus and I used to stop on the street with warning lights turned on (apparently the Greek way of doing this) to get some sweets and drinks from a kiosk. That time he also introduced me to his favorite Greek chocolate bar “sokofreta”.
Seeing the kiosk I had to go there to get sokofreta in Klaus’ memory and honor. The others went with me and we bought all sokofretas that were left and ate them walking back to the church. I know that Klaus was happily laughing seeing us.
On our trip he took a picture of me eating sokofreta with the comment “ Die Suess isst was Suesse” (The sweetie eats something sweet) and was so happy that I also enjoyed eating sokofreta as much as he did!
It felt great to do something he enjoyed that is so connected to the moments we shared especially on this day. For a moment it felt like the happiness and joy of doing something very special just for him swiped away the sadness and grief. I know he would have loved seeing us there eating his sokofreta for him. I almost saw him with a big smile on his face.

After the funeral his father organized a lunch for his closest family and friends. It was lovely to share memories of Klaus with the people that love him and not to be alone in a time like this.

I miss you so much, my love!
Alexandra

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Funeral - Athen 05. March 2008

Einige Bilder für all die Freunde und Weggefährten die nicht in Athen dabei sein konnten.
"Gute Reise Klaus!"

Joi Gin - Letter to Klaus

Dear Klaus,

Today was the day you were buried in Athens. Such a big part of me wishes that I could have been there today to so say a final goodbye. But I know you wouldn’t be happy to see your poor Sifu sobbing away like an old widow. It should be more like in the movies where the student comes to his Sifu’s funeral crying and screaming for revenge (like in Bruce Lee’s Chinese Connection, right?). The Sifu (kung –fu father) should not be the one saying goodbye to his son (todai). But what does that mean to say “goodbye”? There is certainly no way you will ever leave my heart - I feel have felt your influence in me more since you have passed on my friend. Perhaps your memory or spirit will haunt me for the rest of my days prodding me to be a sweeter gentler person trying my best to follow your tremendous example. I wouldn’t be upset if that were the case!

There can never be a final goodbye from me as you seemed to have left behind far too many reminders. I found another photo of you today, which made me quite happy. They feel like precious gold to me whenever I find a new one. Of course you gave me your great bicycle too. Only you Klaus could have been so generous, so considerate. You knew I would be moving into Manhattan and leaving the good old Audi back with the parents in CT. You wanted to make sure that I had “proper transportation” around the city when your numerous efforts to get me on a motorcycle failed ;-). Hey, I did sign up for the motorcycle course because of you! Unfortunately it was cancelled and never came to be for me. Then you tried to convince Kenan I should be on a motorbike. He told you that my body was my money and I couldn’t wreck it. You nodded only in half-agreement. Well Klaus I know you would love for me to get on a motorcycle and experience the thrill that brought you so much joy. You also know about my love for auto-sports and my penchant for taking my hobbies so seriously. You knew if you could just tip me in that direction I would be your greatest riding partner. But I hope you understand why I can’t, ever get on a motorcycle again as long as I live. If I ever see you again in some other life I won’t hesitate to hop on the back of your bike with you though. But those are my conditions – only with you my dear Klaus.

The bike you gave me still hangs on my wall. I haven’t ridden it this year yet but as soon as the weather gets better I’ll be riding it to the school again. I rode it a lot last year as you know making the commute from my apartment to the school in around 8 minutes. When I ride it for the first time this year it will be bittersweet. But thank you Klaus for giving me such a generous reminder of your incredible memory.

You were always so generous. How many times did I use your apartment while you were out of town before Evita and I secured our Manhattan apartment? You just gave me the keys and said “take the apartment”. Only you could be so kind and considerate…

I also wanted to let you know that you made it in Grandmaster Leung Ting’s biography! He put a group photo from one of the seminars and you are in it (the one above). Can you believe it Klaus? You left your mark everywhere! You are even in a Chinese kung fu book. And not just any book, the book is actually in Chinese! Only you man! In 38 years you made your mark, your legacy is everywhere in the incredible amounts of friends, stories and legends you made. Certainly in my heart you will always hold a special place.

I’m going to Berlin on Sunday to go see Kenan. It will be hard because he has the video we shot in your apartment last October of you singing and playing guitar. I know it will be tough for me to see because every time I see you on video it makes me miss you so much that I cry. Why do all the great ones have to leave us? I hope on day you can give me that answer my dear Klaus. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me right now.

Few people know this too, but I have been quite unable to sleep regularly since you passed away. I’ve gone from a solid eight hours a night to five broken hours if I’m lucky. Many nights I have managed just four hours. I hope now that you are in a final resting place, I can rest too. Maybe I was feeling sympathy pains for your lack of rest. Now that you are in your beautiful home country of Greece I hope you can find peace. You always wanted to take me to Greece and show me around and expose me to the great culture. Now I will have to go alone. If I see you in the afterlife Klaus I will give you a WingTsun lesson you will never forget for all the suffering you put me through! Making your poor Sifu lose sleep, are you crazy?

It’s late and I must try my best to sleep. I hope if you are there watching over me you will help me to do that.

As the sun as already set on your finally resting place in Athens, I bow to you Klaus, my Todai, three times as per Chinese custom. Not to say goodbye Klaus, but to say as the Chinese do “Joi Gin” – see you again.

Because I will see you again.

Don’t let your WingTsun get rusty,

Sifu

Monday, March 3, 2008

A suggestion

Dear All,

My name is Raschad. I am one of Klaus' friends from university days back in Vienna.

Some of you I might have met during my stays with Klaus in NYC (the last one was late december 07).

After talking with Klaus' mother (and her suggesting that instead of sending flowers to his funeral a donation to some charity would be better) I remebered that Klaus and I had this idea of helping blind people. Unfortunately we never worked on this idea. Well, if I start talking about all the plans we had for the future.........this would become a long posting.

I believe that it is not too late! And that wherever Klaus is right now, he will enjoy seeing that his generous, positive and cheerful attitude is remembered!

I am therefore attaching the link to a an Austrian, non-governmental development organisation committed to helping people who have eye diseases, are blind or otherwise disabled in underprivileged regions of our world, irrespective of gender, origin, ethnicity or religion:

http://www.light-for-the-world.org/en_index.php

If you feel like donating anything to them, please add "Klaus Niedermeyer" under Additional Information.

A month from now, we will receive a statement with the total that was transferred in Klaus' memory to this great cause.

I am, of course, available for any additional information you might need!

Raschad