The friendship between the Mickelson and de Brauw families dates back to the early Sixties. Sig, Ann’s father and Pieter, Chris’ father, became more than just business friends. Both Sig and Pieter had little talent for small talk. If you wanted a clear answer from Sig you had to phrase your question carefully. Otherwise he might just have stared at you. He was a very intelligent man and our father just loved to listen and talk to him. Ann once stayed at our country house east of The Hague where we lived. I remember my mother saying that Ann since her arrival had became very cheerful, looked healthy and happy and very lovely. Undoubtedly she ascribed this to the healthy country air and the good Dutch food. Chris’ sibling knew better: she’d fallen in love with Chris. Ironically, the country air did not always suit Ann as she was susceptible to allergic attacks. Our family was not always sympathetic to her problem. Neither was she very fond of Dutch food, but she liked going to the famous Albert Cuyp market in Amsterdam, where she lived after marrying, and quickly made friends with some stallholders . I stayed with the Mickelsons for the wedding in December 1969. I remember Ann’s mom mostly in the kitchen, where she made me feel welcome. She prepared wonderful cakes and cookies and really good soups. I never was afraid to ask whatever question; she liked chatting. Ann inherited many good things from both her parents, I believe. I still remember how lovely Ann looked at the wedding. It was very cold. Ann in white, the charming little white church , the white snow and the sunny bright sky made it almost look like a fairy tale. Being Chris’ best man I had to make a speech. Ann knew that in Holland speeches at weddings tend to become, to put it mildly, a bit longwinded. She only had to look at me and I knew what she meant: make it short. Ann needed little time to tell people what she wanted. This must have made her effective when working with others. During one of my stays in Evanston, a little detour just after a business trip, Ann took me to a Baptist Evangelical Sunday service near where the De Brauws lived. (Chris was on some fatherly duty with the boys). I shall never forget the event. The big church was packed with people. Ann and I were just a little white island in a sea of black faces. Everyone looked extremely smart and I feared I was a bit underdressed. The service, very lively and swinging - something I’d never experienced before - went on for almost two hours but I thought it simply fantastic. When the baskets for the collection of gifts where passed, Ann quickly put a one hundred dollar note in my hand. At one point Ann was given the opportunity to say what she wanted to. She got up. The congregation fell dead silent. I can’t remember what it was she talked about, but it must have had something to do with her community work. After she had finished she said that her brother in law would like to introduce himself to the congregation. I had no time either to prepare myself or become nervous. I got up and did what she asked me to do. Later she told me I’d done all right. Another time, again at the tail end of a business trip, I went to Galina with Chris and Ann. The kitchen garden was full of weeds and although I know next to nothing about gardening, if you tell me plants must be removed, I’ll do exactly that. My effort must have met with some approval. Later, Ann used to refer to “Albert’s corner” when talking about the kitchen garden and that made me feel very proud. I will always cherish my many dear memories of my dear sister in law, Ann.