Dear Editor,
Those of us who knew the man either as a close friend, co-worker, fellow public servant, fellow Guyanese, or “folklorist extraordinaire,” in whatever grouping we may have known him, one thing for sure, we will always remember the nostalgic moments he provided. The man Wordsworth McAndrew was indeed unique in very many ways. It is hard to characterize the type of person he really was, especially if you were close to him.
From a distance Wordsworth would have easily been seen as “an ordinary man” with extraordinary ways, but his relatives and close friends would have been blessed to know that he was no ordinary human being just walking around the place in sandals, and carrying that raggedy knapsack, the same one Sir Ronald referred to in his tribute. The man was so ordinary that he was never enthused about driving a motor car, more so owning one. He was not only content to ride his bicycle, even in the rain, but he was just as happy doing so as his one time “functional superior” Hugh Cholmondeley enjoyed riding around in his “MGB” car.
Wordsworth had a way about him that was most definitely a distinctive form of humility. Whether he wore a T-shirt, a Dashiki or a fancy shirt-jac his personality and charm remained the same. He was always ready to impart some philosophical reasoning about a social phenomenon that a Guyanese colleague experienced, and he would address it in a manner that gave it an astonishing reality. If you could not get it immediately, after extensive discussion he would make sure that the message was well received.
That is just the way Mac was, an interesting persuasive little man, similar to Zacchaeus who successfully invited Jesus to visit him at his house.
There was a remarkable sense of national pride, and profound cultural expression that permeated the ways, the work and the words of Wordsworth McAndrew. In light of his sterling qualities it seems fitting to have an enlarged replica of a posthumous Letter of Highest Commendation, with the name Wordsworth McAndrew inscribed, adorning a prominent wall in the Guyana Cultural Centre.
The last time I spent with my dear friend Mac, was near Christmas, many years ago at the corner of Lamaha and Albert Streets, Queenstown, at the “Gain’s Beer Garden and Variety Store.” I stopped to get myself a pack of Benson and Hedges, “Gold,” and Mr. Wordsworth McAndrew walked in, therefore, we had to sit, sip, and chat, so we knocked a few bottles of Banks beer.
As would be expected, the conversation was loaded with good ole’ Guyanese “chitchat.” How can I forget the last minutes chatting with a true Guyanese icon. He was an ordinary man with many extraordinary ways and talents.
The late Wordsworth McAndrew will be remembered for a number of different reasons by very many people, but most of all, he will be remembered by some of the words he coined to express love that is above and beyond “maximum love,” if there is such a thing.
According to Wordsworth, the three “degrees” of human emotions that one can experience when love for a lover is in excess of maximum, ranged from “typee” (positive degree), “chi-rangee” (comparative degree) and finally, “totilotipo” (superlative degree). Such coinage by my friend Mac, is strictly endemic to Guyanese.
Finally, I am not sure Wordsworth knew of another kind of love that we all enjoy every day of our life. It is called agape love, it is the kind of love that surpasses any love we as mortals can have for each other, and it is insurmountable, therefore we need to enjoy it by bonding with the Body of Christ because, … He is the vine and we are the branches … John 15: Verse 5.
Yours faithfully,
Neil Wray
