To Chris:

Dear Chris

Lately you have been on my mind every day as you were in my life every day at Sci-Arc.
Were to begin, after getting the news about your accident, I felt terrified about how you must have felt in the impact of pain and insecurity of you own future in a split of a second.

My thoughts of you have been on all the things that we did together and all your great stories about you and your belief in life. The incredible openness you has show towards a complete stranger from another country. Me being in your country to study observe learn and understand the American way of life.

I have been thinking especially about one road trip that to me describes you so well.
Remember we were sitting on a café, you me and a friend visiting me from daneland as you call it. Just talking and drinking coffee. We decided to make a trip to death valley a bit crazy considering my buddy from daneland had just landed, but as you said I wasn’t that long a drive a you could show me the way, so we took of in my red Mustang (off cause I needed to get one, I miss it.) in to the valley of death we got there and as always it was amazing. Then you came up with a crazy brilliant plan.. Sins we were in Death Valley we might as well go to Lake Tahoe if we wanted to se some more of California. My buddy from DK was only visiting shortly and needed to leave two days after. You convinced him to be a explorer just like the stupid Vikings…and yes that worked.

There were just a couple of things that could be of a problem on the way to the way to paradise, and off cause why should that be an easy place to get to. First the old mustang needed to step up and start believing that it was actually a four wheels drive truck so that we could get though the mountains you convincing me that a Mustang from 69´ with regular tires actually is a great mountain climber. Because that many parts from the care was used in tractors….thanks I thought it was a lean mean racing machine

But anyway on the way though the mountain I gave up as driver, sins you knew the roads the snow and apparently you knew that a sign saying close road means that the road is open. The only thing that you didn’t know was the stick shift, dame Chris you didn’t change gears you changed the whole gearbox. The fuel was low I mean really low and everything was up-hill, seriously, the car was cold, and we only wearing LA cloth.

As we pass the mountain top, you change gears perfectly and some light appears though the dark tree siluets, a gas station. And in the same second the car starts to drive strangely as if the was no more juice in the car. You were off cause just playing with the two Danish amigos. Had our nerves been more out side our thin summer jackets they would have come of totally.

Around tree in the morning we reached Lake Tahoe, you organise a welcome comitie in one of you friends cabins…what a place… the committee was one girl, one dog, and one bear. The biggest dog I have ever seen. So this became the first time I spend a night Chewbacca as my pillow. Next day we went hiking with snow feat, and eight dogs but no sled.
We had Sushi and went drinking in a strange bar a lot of fun. Next day we saw Yosemite park, and took the gold Road back amazing trip. We just got back so we could drop my friend of in the airport and send him back were he came from…Canada I think.

I have many more memories like this about you and me. My point with the story is that you showed humour, impulsiveness, courage, openness, hospitality, and strength all the thing an man need to be a man and to be able to do the things that no one thought was possible. I know that this time is difficult, but I also believe in you like I believe in few others in this world, keep your humour, be impulsive, be open, be strong and be Chris Oberly and you will do miracles.

Remember I called you from the airport, and all the things I said back then I still remember. Now be strong and believe my friend.

Some practical stuff
I have I thing that I want you to choose from. I know that this must be really expensive to go to the hospitals, and I what to help. I have the equivalent to an airplane ticket to offer you. You can choose the money or me coming over to visit you as soon as you like. I is as much as I can give and I really want to help. Don’t be humble I owe you…Were can I send the money.

"Life I understood backwards but must to be lived forwards”. Soren Kirkegaard

Much Love from me to you, Anna and Rita.

Take care be strong

Anders Lendager
www.mapt.dk