In Memory of a Friend
Robert Scherrer
United States
Nashville
Tennessee
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Andy posted here under the username alibera. I have been lurking here for many years, but only registered last year at Andy's urging. This is a history of some of the games we played together over 36 years.
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Robert Scherrer
United States
Nashville
Tennessee
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February 2010
Andy was diagnosed with a brain tumor in January (he posted about it here), and I visited him in rehab while he was still recovering from complications of the surgery. He brightened up considerably when we played this. We all won and lost (a few times each).
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Robert Scherrer
United States
Nashville
Tennessee
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April 2010
Andy got out of the hospital, and I was able to visit him for his birthday. We had both owned Twilight Struggle for several years but never got the chance to play it against each other. I almost started World War III because of a foolish card play, but I came back to eke out a victory.
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Robert Scherrer
United States
Nashville
Tennessee
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Andy also wanted to give this another try, and I took the Union for a change. But we gave up after a few desultory turns. I don't think either of us was really up to it. I forgot to set up Andy's best starting general (Joe Johnston, of the aforementioned shooting incident). And why is the fine print on these counters getting so difficult to read?
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Robert Scherrer
United States
Nashville
Tennessee
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And we also played this. Andy was very proud to be one of the few owners of this game on this site. The game included an old notebook from 36 years earlier detailing a set of match-ups for a tournament we never completed, so we just did a few more of those.
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Robert Scherrer
United States
Nashville
Tennessee
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And another friend from our high-school wargaming days dropped in, along with his son, and the four of us played this.
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Robert Scherrer
United States
Nashville
Tennessee
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August 2010
Andy was hospitalized, and I came up to visit him. I had lent him an excellent CD history of the American Revolution, so he pulled this out of storage to try it out. We managed to complete the game on the hospital bed tray.
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Robert Scherrer
United States
Nashville
Tennessee
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I also brought this along to pass the time on the airplane, but since it had no board, it was easy to play a game in the hospital. I had set up a small mini-tournament of the 1950s teams, and we played one of the games.
This was our last game.
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Robert Scherrer
United States
Nashville
Tennessee
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September 2010
Andy died in September, and I came down for his funeral.
Certainly I do not wish to leave the impression that games were Andy's entire life. He had a loving family, a successful career, was active in his church, and had many other interests. But this seemed the most fitting way to remember this part of his life. And as I write this, I realize that we never did play a second game of Chinese Chess.
Rest in peace, my friend.
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Landstuhl
Armed Forces Europe (AE)
My condolences for the loss of your friend.
Willow Street
Pennsylvania
Shaka... his face wet. Mine too.
Robert, thank you for sharing this.
Aurora
Illinois
El Paso
Texas
Texas