For years, Govert van Brakel hosted ‘met het oog op morgen’ and ‘langs de lijn’ for the Dutch broadcasting network, as well as the radio1 journaal. He is the author of the book “moet je horen…” which covers 100 years of radio.
Davy was his name. He sat next to me in the last grade of elementary school. One day he was suddenly gone. Davy from Populierstraat in The Hague had gone to America. Emigrated. With father, mother and his younger brother Frankie. Gone forever. On our black-and-white TV Trini Lopez sang, “I like to be in America….”
In my childhood, many Dutch families left. Emigration was encouraged in the 1950s by our socialist Prime Minister Drees. The Netherlands was getting too full, which back then a politician could still say out loud without being mislabeled. That gentle coercion from the government made my mom uncomfortable, but she stood her ground. We stayed where we were.
I did visit America a few times. Maybe in Davy’s neighborhood, who knows. I was in New York, Lake Placid, Elmira, Princeton, Los Angeles, Washington. Never as a tourist but each time for work. As an anchor/reporter for NOS Radio. At the Winter and Summer Olympics, at the 2000 presidential election and at the first 9/11 anniversary commemoration in 2002.
I saw the White House, the craters and grief in the heart of New York, the shining white beaches of Santa Monica, the clear blue waters of the Pacific, the health freaks running and exercising, the Hollywood letters and the studio of National Public Radio.
And yes, there I sat on a warm evening in August, almost 40 years ago now, in LA’s imposing Memorial Coliseum. Holland was asleep, but for those who were awake, I got to cover the closing ceremony of the Games.
We were waved off by Lionel Ritchie, dressed for this special occasion in tight white pants and a blue vest with glitter. Everyone stood on their seats or danced along in the center court. The little gymnast and the towering basketball player.
All night long, extended especially for the occasion to a 20-minute version. Life is good, wild and sweet, let the music play on!
Sometimes I wonder how Davy has fared in his new world. Does he still have memories of his classmates from The Hague. Has he become happy there? Does he sing along with Trini Lopez, This land is your land…this land is my land….
