Plan was in the works for quite some time.  I agreed to go to see Pete at school.  He reminded me over and over again the school is in Olean.

I was and still am so bad with geography/directions/listening to people that I did not remember him telling me that he is not close to Buffalo - but Olean.

Along with my best friend, Davis, we went to Buffalo to visit Pete for a weekend.  When we arrived, we called a cab and they told us it would be $150 to get to the University ($150 back in 1969 - a lot of money).  We did not take the cab and called Pete to come pick up up.

I was annoyed at Pete - imagine the nerve of me.  Here is where my memory is fuzzy (and Pete cannot confirm or deny my account).  He hitchhiked to meet us and that's all I remember.  The one important memory is that he was so understanding with my stupidity with where the school was located, he was just  happy we came to visit. 

Seeing the pictures on this site is very touching.  He never lost the side twinkle in his eye.  

It's great to share old stories, but sad there are no new stories.   


 

Thinking of my old friend with some sadness, but mostly smiles.  Also, a longing for "one more talk"..

xoxoxox

Tomorrow, Monday September 26th is Peter's birthday.

For some of us it's Peter C. Gerrer Day now and always will be. The last time I had spoken to him was on his 65th birthday last year. In some ways I cannot believe it's been a year and in other ways it seems longer. He passed away on October 1, 2015 and I know we will be thinking of him that day. I miss him terribly but believe he is in a better place.

For now though, it's Happy Birthday Peter, or as he often would say, Happy Dirthbay. So tomorrow, if you're looking out the window, staring up at the stars or even just sitting down and taking a break at lunch, just remember they don't come no better than Peter Gerrer.

God bless you Peter.....and put aside that harp music for an earthly minute and crank up your speakers

Some folks say there ain't no bears in Arkansas
Some folks never seen a bear at all
Some folks say that bears go around eating babies raw
Some folks got a bear across the hall

Some folks say that bears go around smelling bad
Others say that a bear is honey sweet
Some folks say this bear's the best I ever had
Some folks got a bear beneath their feet

Some folks drive the bears out of the wilderness
Some to see a bear would pay a fee
Me I just bear up my bewildered best
And some folks even see the bear in me

Some folks drive the bears out of the wilderness
Some to see a bear would pay a fee
Me I just bear up my bewildered best
And some folks even see the bear in me

So meet a bear and take him out to lunch with you
And even though your friends may stop and stare
Just remember that's a bear there in the bunch with you
And they just don't come no better than a bear

So meet a bear and take him out to lunch with you
And even though your friends may stop and stare
Just remember that's a bear there in the bunch with you
And they just don't come no better than a bear

No they just don't come no better than a bear

No they just don't come no better than
No they just don't come no better than
No they just don't come no better than a bear

 - "Bears" by Steven Fromholz as performed in the video by Lyle Lovett

I moved to LA in the early 80's and didn't know a sole. Just knew the people at work and a couple of people on my street in Manhattan Beach. On a return trip to LAX I was trying to grab a taxi at the airport back to Manhattan Beach   I met a nice girl who was also headed to MB- we decided to share the cab. On our ride I mentioned I was new in town and didn't know many people (yet).  She said she would be meeting a bunch of friends at Panchos and asked me to join her. I didn't realize that this was going to be one of the best and luckiest days of my life. One of the friends of my cab sharing friend was none other then  Peter C. Gerrer. Peter took me under his wing and I instantly had dozens of friends and plans every night of the week ( if I could afford it - and survive it.) 

I have remained under Peters wing for over the last 30+ years. He has been a true friend to me in so many ways. We always remained in touch. He moved to Florida and I would go to see him many times over the years- some times I'd go see him alone or if I went on a family vacation we would figure out how to meet up and visit.  By the way he was a great friend but an absolutely shitty golfer!  I moved back to Boston many years after LA and got married- Peter was at my wedding and I wouldn't have had it any other way. 

He was full of fun and energy. He was contagious , hard to be in a bad mood around Peter. I have so many stories of crazy crap we did in LA together, the stories keep me laughing and will keep his memory alive in me forever. Meeting Peter was truly one of the best things to happen to me. He changed my life by opening me up to so many new people and experiences that with out him I would have never had. To this day I remain in touch with some of the same friends he helped me to meet , like Brooks and Jodi Brookshire. 

Peter I love you my friend and you know I do because I was able to tell you many times through the years. 

Until we meet again "Pedro Barbone Gereraro Ballistaros the III" 

Beep beep ungowie the devils got the powie- go back go back go back into the woods

Cause you ant got the good like the Sun devils do !!!

Pete Charles Gerrer left NY for San Francisco in January 1977. After a time there it was down to LA, over to Houston and finally to south Florida, where his folks and sister lived. I'd visited him in each of those places except Florida which we'd often talk about but which somehow would just never materialize. He'd often describe how when I'd come down we would go catch lizards...together, we were never not big kids. After years in Florida he'd grow nostalgic for the northeast's seasons, often expressing a desire to see fall's colors and snow. He even talked about moving up to Maine, completing a great counterclockwise lap around the country and then some. I always suggested a few winters in Maine would surely send him back to some little latitude and he'd invariably disagree. But the place he'd speak about most fondly was Jackson Heights, where we grew up. He would return to Jackson Heights from time to time over the years and the more recent trips took on the feel of pilgrimages. After phones got cameras I'd often snap a shot or two on my own trips there and send them off to him with captions like "where the Dragon Seed restaurant used to be" or "where the Castle Cave used to be". He loved talking about this place called the Heights and as said in the song I've posted, "he'd just go on and on". I finally went to see him in Florida this year. After I took my first step onto the walkway into St. Jude's Catholic Church in Tequesta, the beautiful site of his memorial service that day, two lizards raced across the hot pavement at full lizard throttle. I knew if we could somehow just be ten years old again for just a brief moment, we'd surely have caught them. I know at this age, we'd surely have tried.

Pete

Funny;  kind; intelligent; adventurous;  good son;  generous; protector.

1965

My first boyfriend; the first boy who  “noticed” me.  Some moments you really don’t forget – although I can forget what I walked in the room to get now – I remember the day the 89th street boys were walking behind Davis and I and Davis told me “Cliff told me Pete likes you – he said you have the best legs”.  For a tall, skinny self-conscious teenager – this comment was quite shocking to me.    Amazing, that I remember what I was wearing – madras shorts and loafers – Pete – a yellow shirt sleeves rolled up (both common attire for the times).  I kept diaries for most of these years which contain pages and pages of memories.  I have a hand written marriage proposal from Pete for “sometime in the future when I will be making a lot of money”. 

1967

My surprise 16th birthday.   He was apologetic about the gift – “my Mom thought this was a better gift”.  They were leather gloves  (I am still looking for the pictures of this party) from the store where his Mom worked - Clarks.   He was so apologetic.  Being the child I was – I was disappointed it was not a more romantic gift.  A month later Pete began working overtime in Gerstenhaber’s  (a store in Jackson Heights) to save for a diamond heart for me with an inscription.    Whenever we went out, he walked on the outside nearest the street – such a little thing – but one I will never forget.  Chivalry...

1969

First New Year’s Eve date -  The Dragon Seed and Madison Square Garden for a hockey game with Cliff and Davis.   Pete’s Dad called the restaurant to let him know that he found out a bottle of Canadian Club was missing from his liquor cabinet – yes, there were fireworks from the home front. 

1994

We connected on the phone sometime before this date and arranged to meet in New York.  Met in Grand Central Station after not seeing each other for over 20 years and many life changes for us both.   I remember primping in the restroom on the train with such excitement.  We both recognized how special it was reconnecting after 20 years  (I still am a sucker for lifetime movies).   We spent the whole night reading the many letters he sent me when he was in St. Bonaventure’s.  These letters gave a glimpse into his experiences at this time of his life (although, I’m sure some experiences were left out!) and his mindset at the time.  We laughed until we cried.  Especially his accounting of his trip to the Bahama’s (which was sure to have made me jealous!!)  We talked about not only the past, but the “now”.   This remains one of the most special events in my life.  It was so much fun.

2012

Pete came to Connecticut  many times after that and we also met in New York.  One picture shows us in Rockefeller Center when we met Stormy.   The other pictures are from my daughter and son’s weddings and my best friend’s daughter’s wedding. He amazed all with his dance moves and his stamina for a “middle aged guy”.  Yes, I was worried about his health.   “Out West – why not New York, Boston or Connecticut?”    “Not such a fan of marriage – one was enough for me”

2012 – 2015 – Life

2015

September 26 – I was out in Seattle and although I remembered it was Pete’s birthday, I didn’t call.  When I heard from Cliff – I was utterly shocked at the news – probably more shocked at my reaction and my grief, which continues.    Not many regrets in my life – but for my own selfish reasons I am so sorry I didn’t call.   I never got to say goodbye.  Goodbye, Pete “r”.  Always in my heart.

When you walked into a room, it felt like someone left.

That's because they went out to tell everyone Peter was here.

You lit up not just the room, but all our lives.

God Bless You.

Hey Dude,

You always had time for your friends.

You always lent an ear.

You always made us smile.

You never complained.

Ron Ferdinand said it best - you were the rock.

This one's for you.

 Stormy

It took me awhile to think about what I was going to write until I finally realized that would take some time, and perhaps a number of times. So I posted the photo above of the big brown bear that as kids we'd all look at with awe at the Museum of Natural History. Peter was a bear of a man -- Ursus Gentle Benus, to use the scientific name, and I believe bears were his favorite animal. I suspect even at an early age he looked at that diorama and saw his reflection.

Rest in peace our friend.

December 2, 2015