“I Should Have Listened to My Heart”: Andris Kulbergs Talks About the Death of His American Father

Everyone is familiar with the feeling when an inner voice insistently suggests: you need to go, call, meet, say goodbye, or just spend time with a dear person. But everyday concerns make us postpone what is important. Sometimes life does not leave a second chance. This is exactly what Andris Kulbergs wrote about, publishing photos from his past and a touching farewell to Lowell Hoesing, whom he called his American dad. ### “I Wanted So Much to Come, but There Was Work, Work, Work…” “I write these lines with a very heavy heart and with great regret. I’m sorry I didn’t keep my promise to visit you this summer. I wanted so much to come, but, as always, there was work, work, and more work. I had an inner feeling, intuition told me that I should go and see you. I should have listened to that feeling. Now it’s too late. This is a painful lesson that I seem to have to learn over and over again: never postpone important things until tomorrow. Do them today,” the politician wrote. ### A Year That Changed a Lifetime Behind these words lies a story that began many years ago when Kulbergs, as a teenager, found himself in the United States and lived with an American family for a whole year. Lowell Hoesing became not just a person who took a foreign teenager into his home, but a true mentor and a second father. It was there that the future Latvian politician got to know life on an American farm, learned to work the land, harvest hay, care for livestock, and even raise ostriches. But the main lesson, as Kulbergs admits, was not agricultural skills. “You taught me to live and work on a farm, to harvest hay, care for livestock, raise ostriches, and most importantly, to be a good family man. You were an example of the American work ethic — a hardworking person, a devoted father, and a wonderful grandfather,” he recalls. According to Kulbergs, that year had a huge impact on shaping his character and life values. ### “We Will No Longer Argue About What’s Better — America or Europe” It is especially hard for the politician to realize that there will be no more familiar conversations, jokes, and friendly debates. “It hurts me very much that I missed the opportunity to say goodbye to you and see you one last time. How I regret not listening to my intuition! I wanted to joke with you one more time, hear our shared laughter, and argue again about what’s better — the USA or Europe.” These memories show how close the relationship between the two people remained decades after the year spent together in America came to an end. ### “You Helped Me Become Who I Am Today” In his farewell message, Kulbergs thanks his American father for everything he taught him. “I am sincerely grateful to you for the influence you had on my life, for everything you taught me, and for everything you showed me when you raised me as a teenager in the United States. That one year I spent in your American family changed me as a person. It shaped me. It helped me become the man I am today. I will forever cherish these memories and lessons. I will miss you, Lowell. I love you.” The post is signed: “Andris Kulbergs. Your Latvian son.” This personal story serves as a reminder of a simple yet often forgotten truth: work, responsibilities, and daily tasks will always demand our attention. And the opportunity to see a dear person sometimes turns out to be the last — even if we do not know it yet.