Thursday, we lost a dear friend. Enrique Hackenbruch was just 44 years old when he lost his life in a motorcycle accident.
We had unusually strong winds and an advisory for a few days. Bikes and light weight vehicles are supposed to avoid the Rambla. He was blown by a gust, we are told, just as he was turning from the Rambla onto Sarmiento. Probably coming from his apartment in the old city. He may have been heading to his parents for lunch or to see his girlfiend, Francisca. The accident occured around 1:30 in the afternoon, Thurdsay July 23. He was apparently thrown fataly into a concrete column. He was wearing his helmet.
The news was spread through friends and relatives quickly. We are still in shock.
Services were held Friday afternoon and it was a grim affair as you can imagine. I could not bring myself to have a last look. I do not want to remember him that way.
Quique was a bit of an imp. He had spent years addicted to drugs and alcohol, but was clean for the last few. He could not shake his need to be excessive and his strong personality was not for the feignt of heart. He laughed, talked, drank coffee, smoked, excorsied and was a friend excessivly. He tried hard to improve his relationship with his two children and was always ready to repair any damage he may have caused in his wilder years. He was outlandish and humble all at once.
We hadn't been speaking for the last few months over a minor misunderstanding between us. I tried hard to reconnect, but he had temporarily shut me out. He was like that, easily offended he would go off in another direction until, well until he was ready to talk again.
Sadly, now we won't have that chance. I will miss him, we all will.
accident
Montevideo
