Today I’d like to tell you how Joost was as a son-in-law. In the United States, it is the custom for a young man wishing to marry a young woman to ask permission from her father. And sure enough, as if Joost were an American, he called me in February of 2002 to say that he wanted to marry Jennifer. I told what I expected of him as Jennifer’s husband, and he promised to fulfill my expectations. With that, I said yes to his request.
Since Joost became ill ten months ago, I have asked myself whether I would have given Joost the same answer if I had known then what I know now. In other words, in 2002, had I known that my daughter today would be left to face an uncertain and difficult future as a single mother in a foreign land, would I have still said yes to Joost? In 2002, had I known the pain and grief that my daughter would experience today, would have I still said yes to Joost?
I do not know how other fathers might answer this question, but as for me, the answer is the same one that I gave Joost six short years ago. In fact, it is much easier today than it was in 2002 to know that Joost was right for Jennifer. The past six years have been the best and happiness years of Jennifer’s life. Joost literally handed the sunshine to her. He was devoted to her, he provided for her, he gave her two marvelous children, he showed her Europe, he introduced her to loyal and generous friends, he brought her to Wijk bij Duurstede with its kind people, and he settled her in the wonderful house on Volderstraat.
Each one of these alone is a treasure to last a lifetime. Added together, they amount to a bounty of riches that will ease Jennifer’s pain, that will sustain Jennifer through an uncertain future, and that will enable Jennifer to move onward and upward.
Joost indeed kept his promise to me. No father could ask for more. For this great gift to my family, all that I can now say is simply: Dank je wel, Joost, dank je wel.

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