It was easy with Jerry. The "it" was just about everything. Sure I knew him since I was little, but he was 6 years older so we weren't really paying much attention to each other. At 16 I went to visit the Rivlins in that far away foreign land known as Porter Ranch. I wasn't easy, at least I never felt easy. But in that summer with Jerry, driving over the hill through the canyon in his MG to the Jewish Community Center he showed his core uniqueness, he made it seem easy. He made me feel easy. Perhaps that's why he introduced me to Bob Dylan and Lay Lady Lay became the theme song.
I came to see that everyone's life was easier in Jerry's presence. Playing basketball with Jerry was easy. He played with such an awareness and such a natural ability that everyone who played with him just got woven into their best basketball. Somehow, like driving in the MG you knew on the court that the only thing that would matter was the present moment, he just made it that way. We played so much basketball together we were even willing to drive from West LA to Magic Mountain Parkway just to play for an hour in a league game. You gotta really like hanging out with someone to do that.
We lived together in that duplex on Masselin and there was no better model for an easy roomate. Everything just seemed to work out, whether it was painting his bedroom walls dark brown (who does that), so he could sleep late, or filling the freezer with prime rib or just hanging out on the couch with ruffles and coke. Even the edgy thing like visiting the bookie in the towel room at the JCC seemed easy and natural.
There was this inclusiveness that emanated from Jerry. Whenever someone walked in the room he was there to not just offer them something but welcome them. Any new basketball player was welcomed like he had been playing with us for years. At the family gatherings he was no spectator, he was in the mix serving up his most valuable currency, a welcoming conversation and drink.
He would say "hey, want to help me bar tend at Sinai this weekend?". What the heck did I know about bartending, no worries, Jerry effortlessly showed me the ropes and after one time it was like I had been doing it forever. He set up the gigs, he did most of the heavy lifting, it was like playing basketball or being in a room with him, he just made it easier for me to be there. Didn't hurt that those gigs for that 5 or so years paid for my college and supplemented my meager teaching salary.
Then there was midnight basketball played every Sunday night from midnight to 2:00 a.m. by sneaking into the gym at Beverly Hills High. Who does that? Somehow, someway Jerry just seemed to make that happen, once again, I showed up and he delivered. Assist Rivlin. After the games we'd stay up for an hour or two reliving plays, eating junk food without a care in the world, cause with Jerry on duty we did not need to be. Sure, we touched the edges of some activities, but hey, no harm no foul.
He was rare and special and our times were rare and special, When it came to enjoyable times he shot in the high 90% with me, quite a hall of fame talent.