He was sitting on the patio in front of his building, when I visited him the first time. Reading an old, sizeable book about classic cars and enjoying the late fall sun.
I stepped up the stairs to his patio and as soon as I saw him sitting in his old chair, reading his old book and enjoying the old fall sun, I knew that he is a man´s man, a man like me, only a few decades older.
I have been visiting him for 8 months now and after listening to his vinyls, going to car shows, talking about life, experiences and loneliness, we get along pretty well with one another. He feels less lonely, more understood and is proud to share what he achieved in his life with someone – because collecting life acheivements is one thing, but to have people to share it with gives them meaning. And I feel fortunate to know Frank and to learn from his experiences. I genuinely enjoy his company and being his friend.
I only have two more months here in the states before I go back to Germany. I can return home knowing that I made an important change in at least one persons life, that I gave him back a piece of happiness, a piece of love – simply by being a little brother.