"To lose the earth you know, for greater knowing; to lose the life you have, for greater life; to leave the friends you loved, for greater loving; to find a land more kind than home, more large than earth"
Thomas Wolfe

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Enrique Hackenbruch R.I.P.


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

4 comments:

  1. I miss Quique. I cant believe yet ha has gone.-He loved life, and i want to remember him in the swimming pool saying that the best of all was the silent under the water.
    I want to choose Idea Vilariño for let me express some words, i didn had time to say

    RAZONES

    Porque si
    porque es él
    porque alienta y sonríe
    y está vivo y parece
    intocable y eterno
    porque no tiene miedo
    pero nunca se olvida
    porque es
    porque sí
    ...

    COMPARACION

    Como en la playa virgen
    dobla el viento
    el leve junco verde
    que dibuja
    un delicado circulo en la arena
    así en mi
    tu recuerdo

    kisses Anna

    ReplyDelete
  2. I was Enrique's college classmate and it was very touching to see his picture on your blog. I have been living outside of Uruguay for many years now and hadn't seen him for a while, though a common friend let me know the sad news. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I just can not believe it. I tried to send him mails, since some month. Now I understand, I will miss him so much. Kisses Enrique where ever you are. Besos de Cris la yugoslava, holandesa, alemana de Nicaragua!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Just this blog and I see the words at Quique . Years ago his surprise loss was my friend. Professionally I helped me and taught me to believe in me. Still can not believe his departure, he was a generous unless we unfortunately left young . Hacken ( as we call him ) with his genius and his imprint teach much to many. He adored his children, who always spoke . It is strange today and always missed.

    ReplyDelete