Graham Bart was an irreplaceable value.

The first time I had a serious conversation with Graham was right after we had finished taking a ballet class together. I noticed that he was reading the novel Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, and I asked him if he liked it. His answer was yes, but it sounded as though he had many reservations. In the years to follow, these reservations became fewer and fewer.

A month or so later we were working on a Spring workshop production of the ballet, Cinderella. This was in 1985. It was our first project together and among other things, we were writing the synopsis for the program. In my apartment, at my computer terminal, we would spend hours debating over which was the more accurate way to phrase a particular sentence. Till this day, whenever I hear the music of Prokofiev's Cinderella, all I do is think about how much tea we drank, while working all-night long on the program, before attending our regular jobs the next morning--only to repeat the process again the next day. One reason we would spend all night instead of a few hours was because we would constantly get sidetracked into issues dealing with philosophy. Graham was fascinated with both the theoretical and practical aspects of philosophy. And I had studied the subject for some time, so I had many answers to his questions.

By the time the Cinderalla production went on, Graham was in Brazil with his fiancee, taking care of more important business. Somehow the production was still a success. But before he left for Brazil, I gave him copies of the rest of Ayn Rand's works to read.

Then one evening in the fall I was taking a ballet class and suddenly appearing in the doorway of the studio was Graham. He had just gotten off a plane from London and didn't have any place to stay. Fortunately, my brother Damian had just boarded a plane to London for one week. I let Graham stay in Damian's place (thanks Damian) while I found him an apartment in the building next door to mine. This began the most productive phase of both of our lives.

It started in his new apartment. With electric saws, drills and other power tools, we built a loft, bookshelves and other custom furniture. One thing about Graham is that he would never start a job unless he knew he would finish it. He would not finish a job unless it was done right. As a result of the work, he was happy with his new living quarters.

A few weeks later I began holding a series of taped lecture courses on Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism, at my apartment. This gave Graham a chance to hear the principles of the philosophy from its authorized spokesmen, instead of only listening to my views. Of course this did not stop him from asking me countless questions, but I happily welcomed his interest.

I remember one night after the philosophy class was over, we went back to his apartment to rearrange the bookshelves. Graham had a large close-up photograph of his fiancee, Ana Botafogo, prima ballerina of Rio de Janeiro. he told me how much he had missed her. I remember wishing for the day when I too would have this feeling for such a special woman in my life.

At this time Graham was preparing for his career in real estate. His interests varied from sales and marketing, to development and management. In addition, I was ready to widen my professional activities beyond that of a computer technician. We spoke at length about starting a business together in real estate. We had it planned that he would be in charge of sales and I would be in charge of management. This would enable us to utilize the skills in which we were best suited. Unfortunately, growing up on welfare in my youth showed me the importance of having a steady income, so I decided not to take such a risk. Not yet. But I knew that eventually we would work together as partners since we were such a complementary team.

Meanwhile Spring was beginning and with it came the annual ballet workshop performances. This time it would be Giselle. Of course, along with Giselle came more all-night discussions with Graham regarding the outline of the program, the business arrangements-- and philosophy. Fortunately, he was in New York to see the results of his work as the producer of the show. I remember right before the performance would begin, Graham would appear from behind the curtain and announce to the audience the cast for that particular program. I would stand right behind the curtain, with my costume on, and listen for any ways to make his speech more dynamic. Graham appreciated constructive criticism. Especially if it was from someone who knew what he was talking about. Giselle was a complete success. Everybody loved it, even the media. It was the first time Graham had seen me dance on stage, and I treasured his compliments.

At this point I had left my job and began planning my next career move. A friend of mine told me that Merrill Lynch had opportunities in the Data Communications department. The hours were 7pm to 7am, three nights a week. This was very appealing to me as I had grown tired of the 9 to 5 routine. So I prepared my self by having a mock interview with Graham. The first interview he gave me was one of the most grueling experiences I ever had. He exposed gaping holes in my approach to the interview process. I performed much better in the next two interviews he gave me and I was fully prepared for Merrill Lynch.

Then came the 4th of July (my favorite holiday) and our trip to visit my parents on Staten Island. The ferry ride was splendid. We had a close-up view of the Statue of Liberty -- which was celebrating its 100th anniversary. Graham was engaged to be married to Ana in Rio on August 1st. I knew it would be impossible for me to attend the wedding, so I arranged to have a surprise party for him honoring this event. My mother, father and brother, Peter, were there. When we brought out the cake and started singing, the expression on Graham's face was so emotional that I have no words to describe it. He later sent me a letter in the mail expressing his gratitude. This was the final seal on our friendship for life. I had never seen him so happy.

My interview with Merrill Lynch was a thousand times easier than any of the mock interviews Graham gave me. (Needless to say, I got the job.) A week or so later I helped Graham move to his new apartment in Greenwich Village. More bookshelves and cabinets were to be built. Then he was on his way to Rio to get married and I was on my way to Merrill Lynch with a $10,000 a year increase in income. We were both extremely happy.

I called him in Rio the day after his wedding and he was elated yet torn by a dilemma: Ana had just been invited to dance in Rome but this meant that they would have to shorten their honeymoon. They decided to accept the offer to go to Rome. From there they both came to New York to live in their new apartment.

The next few months were crucial to us all. Graham had some very promising deals surfacing in real estate. Ana was becoming much more comfortable and happy in New York and I was establishing myself at Merrill Lynch.

Then came Thanksgiving (my other favorite holiday) and a visit to my sisters' (P and D) apartment. This was another success as my family became more delighted with Graham and Ana. We even videotaped the occasion.

Then it was December, the month in which Graham and I were born. Ana was dancing in Rio and Graham was working here in New York. I convinced him to attend a performance of The Nutcracker I was dancing in upstate New York. Another success. Both of our schedules were very busy by then and since we didn't live as close to each other as before, we were unable to be together on his birthday. My birthday followed three days later and I arranged to have a party at Robin Field's apartment. Robin was one of the first Objectivists I ever met and we had become very good friends over the years. He is an excellent composer, lyricist, singer and arranger. The party was wonderful with the exception of the phonecall I received from Graham. I called to say that he could not attend. He explained that all three of the real estate deals he had been working on had fallen through, he had no money and was immediately on his way to Rio to be with Ana. Of course, I understood his situation and I wished there was something I could do to help.

On came the New Year and Graham and Ana were back in New York. As usual, I was happy to see them. A few weeks later I convinced Ana to take a partnering dance class with me (one of the highlights of my life). After the class was finished, Graham, Ana and I went out for a discussion. Graham explained to me that he had no income for the past four months. This, coupled with the rising cost of living in New York, left him no choice but to move to Rio de Janeiro. I was stunned. This was the last thing I expected to hear. But everything he said was a fact and there was nothing I could do to convince him otherwise. He also explained that he was going to England to tell his family the news. As it happened, I was scheduled for one week off from work at Merrill Lynch. So he, Ana and I arranged to go to England together in the end of January. The next two weeks were pure misery for me. I spent countless hours depressed over the fact that by best friend would be moving thousands and thousands of miles away.

Then came London. It was wonderful. The city is more similar to New York than any other place I've ever been. The three of us spent the entire morning and afternoon walking around. Then we boarded the train to visit his parents, who live in the suburbs. Meeting his parents was a sheer delight. His mother, Margot, was the most gracious hostess I ever met. His father, Kenneth, was very charming and intelligent. I then understood why Graham turned out the way he did. We spent most of the weekend discussing issues in philosophy. (I have to mention that nine-tenths of the time Graham and I were together we were discussing philosophy and its application to life.)

His parents accepted his decision to move to Rio. They had been there for the wedding so they were actually more familiar with Rio than they were with New York. On back to London to meet more family and discuss more philosophy. This time it was his sister, Mirella. She too reminded me much of Graham, in intelligence, courtesy, manners, etc. I regret that I did not also meet Graham's other sister, Carola, but this will be taken care of in the coming fall.

My time was up in England and Graham and Ana went back to see his parents again for a few more days.

Back to New York. One night I called Robin Field to see how he was doing. He told me he was just about to perform his newly finished composition, an anonymously written fairy tale, which he had tightened up philosophically and turned into a comic opera. I called up Graham and invited him and Ana to come along to hear it. We all fell in love with the composition. Graham explained to Robin that he could find an audience for this work in Brazil. Thus began the Crystal Palace project.

The next week I arranged to have a surprise going-away party for Graham and Ana. I invited my parents, a few of my brothers and sisters and some of my close friends. Once again we brought out the cake and the expression on Graham's face was one of elation multiplied tenfold.

From my point of view, I thought that Graham would be leaving America for only a few years. I thought this would give me some time to gain experience in the business world so that when he came back here, we would excel as business associates in real estate, and other fields. (We would probably argue over whose name should come first in the partnership.)

We had spent the next several months in touch by telephone and mail. I remember the first letter I wrote to Graham since he moved to Rio. I asked him questions about his new situation and filled him in on my latest achievements. I closed the letter with a quote from the hero in The Fountainhead, "You are the one encounter in my life that can never be repeated." Ayn Rand eloquently summed up my thoughts and feelings about Graham.

The next time I saw him was in his new home in Rio. It was mid-November, cold in New York and hot in Rio. Of course it was wonderful to see both Graham and Ana, and I also wanted to go the beach to see some of the world's most beautiful women in their "dental floss" bikinis. Unfortunately, the sun did not show its face for the first three days I was there. Graham and I went swimming anyway. It was at a military base where there were two sections of water divided by a mountain. One section was very calm, the other was very turbulent. Of course we went into the turbulent one. Graham brought a two foot long surfboard and taught me how to ride the violent waves. I remember just thinking that I had mastered this art when a huge wave came in and flipped me completely upside down into the sand at the bottom of the water. Ten seconds later, when I regained my consciousness, I saw Graham fifteen feet away, laughing hysterically. I could do nothing but laugh myself.

Much more fun was to come in Rio, as it was a pleasure meeting Ana's family. They are in the same class as Graham's family, very warm and charming. Ana's father, Dr. Ernani, did not speak any English but Graham served as an excellent interpreter for us. And her mother, Maria Dulce, was a gracious hostess. Her brother, Naninho, and his wife, Marcia, were a marvelous couple.

Graham and I went to all the usual tourist sites, and I enjoyed it immensely. It was great to see him in his adopted country. And I couldn't believe how popular Ana was. Everywhere we went in public, she was recognized and praised.

Finally I got a chance to go to the Ipanema beach. This was one of the highlights. My eyes were ready to pop out as I saw one gorgeous woman after another. I told Graham jokingly that if America ever collapsed, I should move to Rio and probably die of exhaustion, with a smile on my face. I know he wished I wasn't joking because he asked me what I would do if I fell in love with a Brazilian woman. I told him that of course I would bring her to America to live happily ever after. Graham never knew it, but this actually almost happened.

While Ana was dancing in other cities outside of Rio, Graham and I spent one day in Sao Paulo--Brazil's equivalent to New York. I thoroughly enjoyed it. We met his good friend, a brilliant artist, Francisco Faria. The three of us went to one of the largest museums in the world to see a modern art exhibition. More philosophy and more laughs, although Graham and I almost got sick at the sight of what was presented as "art."

Back to Rio and the end of my visit. It wasn't too bad because Graham and Ana were coming to America very soon, since Ana was dancing in The Nutcracker in Virginia. I arranged for them to stay at my sisters' apartment (thanks P and D) while they were in New York. Graham "considered" flying to London to be with his family for Christmas, but he explained to me that their money was low. I thought this was ridiculous, so I handed him my credit card and circled five different travel agencies for him to call and book a flight.

Before they went to England I arranged to have a surprise birthday party for Graham. Ana knew nothing about it. First I brought them to a Brazilian restaurant for dinner and then we walked along Fifth Avenue, looking at the beautiful Christmas displays in the windows of world famous department stores. The party was held at P and D's apartment. Since Graham and Ana were staying there, I let him use the key he had to open the door. SURPRISE! Then Damian asked me to follow him outside and when I went back into the apartment again, SURPRISE! It was also my birthday, and they surprised me. Once again I saw that familiar look, which was beyond joy, on Graham's face.

Then they were off to England for a wonderful visit with his family.

Before I knew it they were back in New York and then back on their way to Rio. Once again Graham and I were on opposite sides of the equator. But we were both busy. Graham formed his own corporation in which he acted as Ana's agent (no better product to sell) and found her guest performances all over South America. He was also making progress with a Brazilian production of the Crystal Palace. In addition to this was the book about Ana that he was putting together, and many other projects. I was improving my position at Merrill Lynch, and would soon be ready to begin the partnership with Graham.

However, I sensed that the bureaucracy and corruption of the Brazilian government were taking their toll on Graham as he did whatever he could to come back here as soon as possible. He got his chance when he arranged for Ana to perform with a Brazilian dance company in New York in the coming Spring.

So here they were again. This time in a hotel in the East 20's. Ana was fabulous in the performances (it was the first time I saw her perform live on stage) and Graham was a lifesaver behind the stage as he translated Portuguese to the American stage crew. I particularly remember one instance when Graham called me from the hotel. I don't recall the exact details but he needed some advice on a certain problem. I rattled off five different solutions within three seconds. I was answered by a long pause, then a sigh of relief, then a statement about how wonderful it was to deal with a rational mind. This is something I could never forget.

After the performances were finished, Ana had some appointments in Rio but Graham stayed another week in New York. I was very happy because this allowed me to show him one of my proudest achievements, the co-op apartment I was going to buy. He was very impressed with the apartment, the price, the location and the building. We spoke about the key selling points, where the bookshelves would be built and other things. These were the moments I enjoyed most: Graham and I using our minds, solving problems -- being productive. I began to feel that the business world would soon be our domain to conquer, and the dollars would start rolling in. (The main reason I felt this was true was because Graham and I were very efficient working together. It was an excellent division of labor. He was an expert in some fields as I was in others. And there was a complete trust between us. Also, he had come a long way ideologically, as he accepted the most important principles of Objectivism. A far road to travel since he had first read Atlas Shrugged.)

The last day Graham spent in New York was very special. My whole family was getting together for an Easter Sunday meal at my sister Theresa's apartment in the Bronx. Finally Graham was going to meet all the other members of the family whom he hadn't already met. Again, it was a huge success. Then it was off to Grand Central Station, and the bus to JFK airport. We departed at the bus stop and I noticed the expression on Graham's face. This time it was not one of elation, but instead a calm, reserved look that promised to be happy in the future.

So Graham would soon be in Brazil, again on the other side of the equator.

The next few months were by far the happiest period of my life. Indirectly, through Graham, I had finally met a young woman who gave me the affection, pleasure and satisfaction that I had always hoped to find. I was also moving to my new apartment and fulfilling the American dream at age 26. (It used to be the American dream to own your own house, but in New York in the 1980's, that dream has been compressed into owning your own apartment.)

Once again Graham and I were reduced to writing letters and speaking on the phone. We had considered the idea of starting an import/export business many times, but this time we were putting more thought into it. The summer was rolling along and I was floating on a cloud of happiness. Then came August. My phone bill was astronomical from calling Graham so often regarding different business projects, so I decided to honor their second wedding anniversary by sending a special card in the mail and a message via his telex. I asked my mother to call, as she had always enjoyed his company. The following week I wrote him a letter filling him in on my current state of activities, as I had taken a second job to meet my increased living expenses.


Then came the morning of August 13. It was a Saturday and I was preparing to leave for my first ballet class in weeks. I received a phone call from Ana in Rio. I was surprised to hear her call, and I greeted her joyfully. There was a pause and then she went on to explain to me something about Graham being taken in by a wave on the beach in Rio, more than 24 hours ago. Of course this was unbelievable. How can somebody be on the beach and all of a sudden be swallowed by a wave? But through her crying and broken English, the message was still clear: Graham was missing.

So what should I do? One of my top values is thousands of miles away, missing at sea, and here I am in New York with two jobs. I called Ana twice a day for a week to see how she was. I wanted to hear news, any news, good or bad. No news came. The only news I received from Rio was a letter Graham had written me the day before he disappeared. The letter was printed on his own company's stationery. It also contained some of his business cards and there was one business card with my name on it. He was writing to give me the latest status on the projects we were working on and also to tell me how happy he was.

Once, a couple of days after Ana called me, when I had slept only a few interrupted hours a night, I had a dream that Graham and I were working on a particular task. I was excited to be working with him again and I woke up happier than ever before. I rushed to get dressed that morning, then reality set in: I realized it was only a dream. If I had hit the pavement after falling off the Empire State Building, the impact would not have been greater than the felling I had just experienced.

While not hearing any news from Rio, I was hearing plenty of stories here in New York. Such stories were about the possibility of tribal pagans capturing Graham because he was an "outsider" or about him being a political prisoner. I even heard the possible suggestions of his running away or committing suicide. Before brushing all of the above aside as pure lunacy, I had to go there and see with my own eyes whatever evidence I could gather. So after eleven days of hearing no news and weighing the options of what action to take, I decided to go to Rio. Whatever the final outcome, I had to see it form myself. I remember while my brother Peter (thanks Peter) was driving me to JFK, I had the feeling that I was walking the plank, blindfolded, hands tied behind back, not knowing what was before me. But I had to do it -- for Graham.

Ana met me at the airport with Francisco Faria. It was the middle of the winter in Rio and the middle of the summer in New York, and there was very little difference in the weather. Ana had just started going back to rehearsals the day before, so we dropped her off at the Municipal Theatre. Francisco drove me to Ana's apartment, where I saw her parents, Dr. Ernani and Maria Dulce. As I put my luggage down in Graham's den, I stopped. There, sitting all by itself on his library, surrounded only by his most prized possessions -- was the anniversary card I had sent. Tears streamed down my face as I read it again.

The next thing I knew, Francisco was driving me to the site where the event took place. Once I arrived there, I immediately knew that only nature could have been responsible for this occurrence. It was on the side of a mountain, where there was a narrow walkway called the "Fisherman's Path," which stretched out over the water below. Even at high tide, there was at least twenty feet between the ocean and the walkway. When I arrived the tide was low and there were people actually diving off the ledge into the water. I couldn't believe it.

Francisco explained to me that the current was going out toward the Atlantic Ocean and he did not expect the body to be found. On the surface I was content with this explanation. It seemed logical. But I knew that if I went back home with this conclusion, I would spend the rest of my life doubting that Graham was gone forever.

Most of the next few days were spent with Francisco and his wife, Bebe. Although Graham was constantly on my mind, I was reminded of the many attractive sites Rio has to offer. But even those beautiful women could not keep my spirits high.

Then came Sunday night. A few of us went out to eat at one of those all-the-food-you-can-eat places. I ate non-stop for about one hour. Then we went back to Ana's place at around midnight. Ana was in her bedroom with Maria Dulce and her aunt, Marguerite. I entered with Dr. Ernani, Naninho and Marcia. I told Ana that I was so full, I would not eat for the rest of my visit. She laughed. Then the telephone rang. We all froze. The next several hours seemed to drag into eternity. Whatever pain I had experienced in my life before had been nothing compared to the upcoming events.

To add frustration to pain, the English language disappeared. My head was already spinning from hearing Portuguese constantly spoken since my arrival. I didn't know the details, but I knew what the person on the other end of that phone was saying. I could decipher Ana telling the man something about the red sneakers that Graham was wearing. (They were red Nike hightops, which Graham was the only person anyone ever saw wear.)

Then Dr. Ernani spoke to the man on the phone, as Ana was shaking. Once again, everything was spoken in Portuguese. I didn't know what they were saying, but I knew that I would be going somewhere soon.

Then we were in the car. It was Dr. Ernani, Naninho, Marcia's father (a lawyer) and me. We drove over the bridge to the city of Niteroi. It is a dark, dingy, dreary and ominous city. Quite the opposite of the splendor and magnificence of Rio de Janeiro. Upon arrival there was more Portuguese as Dr. Enrage spoke with the man behind the counter. Then he went in past the door marked "Do Not Enter." He came out within three seconds, shaking his head, saying not to go in. But I had traveled thousands of miles to see the truth myself. And since there is nothing in the universe that I trust more than my own eyes, I walked straight in without a thought about future consequences.

I knew immediately that it was Graham. But I stayed looking for at least fifteen minutes. Because it was unbearable, I had to bear the pain of looking at him. I don't remember how many times I circled that body but each time it was more painful than the one before.

Naninho later told me that my face was completely pale when I came out of the door. I wouldn't have known. All I knew was that if someone had told me that America had been bombed out of existence, it would not have had any affect on me at that moment. I was too absorbed in what I had just experienced.

The only good thing I learned that night was that Graham had a fractured skull, and therefore the death was immediate.

A few hours later we were back at Ana's apartment. We spoke a little bit more and then I assumed the responsibility of calling Grahams' family. I tried calling both of his sisters but neither answered. Then I called his parents' home. His sister Carola answered the phone, but since I had met Mirella before, I asked for her. Mirella came to the phone and I introduced myself, but it was obvious to everyone why I was calling. I told her that I had news. I explained that the body had been found, that I had gone to identify it, and that I was certain it was him. She repeated out loud each sentence I told her. I apologized for bringing such news and promised to call later, after they spoke amongst themselves. It was fortunate that Graham's immediate family were all together when the final news came from me. Mirella asked me if I wanted to speak with Kenneth. I said I'd rather call later and she agreed. Then Margot, here mother, came on the phone to thank me for calling. Then she uttered something that sounded like, "My son is gone!" I hope never to hear a human voice sound like that again.

The next few days were completely unbearable. I arranged to have my flight postponed a couple of days, so I could be with Ana. But I soon came to regret this decision because I felt that I was the one who needed help. My only desire was to leave that city, that country, that continent, that hemisphere, and come back home to New York. I felt that my job was done. I went to Brazil as a complete human being. I would be leaving with a part of my soul gone forever.

The funeral was beautiful. Although Ana's family wanted it to be a private funeral, the whole city somehow found out and hundreds of people arrived at the cemetery. I am sure Graham knew how important he was to me, but I wondered if he ever really knew how special he was to the hundreds of people who stood by solemnly, with their heads bowed as the coffin was carried past them.

I was unable to close my eyes for days. Each time I attempted it, all I would see was the corpse of my best friend.

The night before I left Rio to come back home, Marie Dulce cooked a special meal for me. (Lasagna, my favorite, of course.) This was one of the most pleasant evenings I ever had. Instead of being depressed, we were all speaking of the good times we had with Graham. I remember telling them stories about how Graham and I would be working on a project and how we would disagree over whose idea would be implemented. Everyone would laugh because they could clearly visualize the story, including the typical reactions of Graham, which we all knew so well. I remember thinking to myself that this is how Graham would want to be remembered. Not by having everyone suffer at his loss, but instead by being remembered for the happy experiences he gave us all.

Then I was off to New York the next evening. I was very sad to leaving Ana behind, but I was anticipating my own recovery. My job was done. As painful as it was, the trip was a complete success. I had gone to Brazil to be with Ana, to learn the truth about what had happened and, hopefully, to be there when the body was discovered. I had done all this and much more.

As always, the skyline of New York filled me with excitement as the plane circled around and then landed in the city that never sleeps. But for me it was still impossible to sleep. Even though I was home, it was too early to carry on with my life. Slowly, gradually, I went into the routine of performing my job functions, but it took a while before I began enjoying my work again.

Throughout the whole episode of Graham's death, I have heard many different explanations of the cause. As an Objectivist, I life by the guidance of reason, i.e., sense perception and logic, and I hold that human beings have free will. This means that I reject mysticism, such as the belief in God, and the concept of fate. Therefore, such explanations as "God took him," or "It was his time," do not explain anything to me. Graham was at that site, at that time, by his own choice. Nothing forced him. Graham was a risk taker; that was his nature. He lived his life close to the edge and that is how he died. He loved the excitement of the sea. That is what brought him there on that tragic day. Nothing else. And the wave was a natural event. But Graham was not negligent. If he had known there would be a gigantic wave coming that would endanger his life, he would have avoided it. There is no way he can be blamed.

One thing I can say about Graham is that he was human. But I do not mean this in the derogatory sense, I mean it in the noble sense. It is only human beings that are capable of being rational, honest, independent, productive, courageous -- and great. He strived to be the highest type of man he could. And he succeeded.

There is one particular virtue Graham possessed which stands out in my mind. He was proud. When I first met him, I immediately sensed that we were brothers-in-spirit. We had similar ambitions, standards and values, but there was a huge gap between his self-esteem and mine. I think this is why he really enjoyed my company. Graham had as much ability, endurance, and motivation as anyone I'd met before. But his self-esteem was dreadfully low, as he often admitted. I showed him how this is the most crucial aspect of one's life. That the purpose of life is to attain happiness and that this can not be done unless one has earned a deep pride in oneself. He had never heard this before. With time and conscientious effort, Graham greatly improved his evaluation of himself. I do not know how many people observed his dramatic increase in confidence and efficacy, but since this is the standard by which I judge people, it was very obvious to me.

This is what Graham learned from me. But what have I learned from him? A lifetime's supply of knowledge, experience and happiness. Graham showed me that there is a world beyond the United States. It is with him that I went to England and Brazil. He also showed me many new ways to continually improve myself. His criticisms were very constructive and he always made it clear that he was there to help. There was never a trace of mockery or malevolence when he would make a suggestion. This is such a rare quality among people that I almost forgot that it exists in his absence. Graham taught me to always strive for the highest attainable values, whether it was by finding a more demanding job with a much higher income, or by improving my standard of living by finding a better apartment in which to live.

Graham had as wide a variety of interests as anyone I've ever known. He could comfortably speak about the most complex issues of art, philosophy, or business. And although he was very intelligent, he never found it degrading to perform manual labor. He was a true builder. Within this context, Graham is the artist, the blacksmith, the ploughman and the philosopher who will always hold a high place in my life and brought me closer to the heart. But in addition to all that, Graham was a friend. It is Aristotle who once said that a friend is another self. This could very explain why I enjoyed Graham's existence so much. In his being, I had a chance to witness the very qualities which I admire in myself. And when I sometimes lapsed in my own standards, I would notice his integrity and then make an effort to rise up to that level again. This is why Graham was an irreplaceable value.

These past six months have surely been difficult for me. And although there will always be a part of me remaining in that cemetery in Rio de Janeiro, there is a larger part of Graham which will remain with me forever. It is for these reasons that my confidence in myself has risen to its highest level. I can probably say that until now I have never really been tested. And coping with the death of a loved one is something I had never done before. But death is a fact of life, and I must continue on. And I will. Since last August I have had many different opportunities to prove to myself that I could continue on my road to success. Such opportunities to prove to myself that I could continue on my road to success. Such opportunities have resulted in my being promoted to Night Shift Manager at Merrill Lynch, winning and important Sales Championship contest and being the top student in a real estate sales course. These are only the most recent achievements, but with Graham's legacy, I have very high expectations for more in the future.

Sometimes I stop and ask myself the question: If Graham were alive today, would he be proud of me? When I ask this question, the only image I see is that very familiar expression of joy on his face. I know that this is enough to carry me past any obstacles I might face for the rest of my life.