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vanillafluffy If he was still alive, today would be my brother Peter's 75th birthday. (Next month, it'll be 21 years since he passed.) I still miss him. Despite the difference in our ages, we were good friends--or perhaps because of it: We didn't have the petty sibling rivalry of kids closer in age. None of thebickering over sharing toys or tattling to Mom and Dad...we did fun things together and I adored him.
In some ways, we were very different: He didn't give a damn about cars and never learned to drive, spent his entire life living in New York City, and had a fondness for coconut shrimp (Ick. To me, shrimp is one of those things that smells great but it's like chewing erasers.). He had a beautiful singing voice..
But the common ground was pretty broad: We both loved mysteries. Sometimes we discovered the same authors independently, others we recommended to each other. I often wish I could tell him about some of the things I'm reading, knowing he would've enjoyed them, too.
And movies! I remember how excited he was about the computer animation Disney used in "Beauty and the Beast" and "Jurassic Park"--he'd be so dazzled by state of the art today! He had tons of reference books about films, and he used to make lists constantly, on yellow legal pads with Flair felt-tip pens. I can still picture his distinctive script as he listed things like roles by an actor, films by a director,, films in a given year--he wasn't tech-savvy and of course, they didn't have smartphones in 1999, but I can't help imagine how he would've marveled at IMDb--I know I do!
I can still hear his rich, deep voice, amused and snarky, and his ringing laugh.
It's hard to believe that I'm now half a decade older than he ever lived to be.
I miss you, Peter. Give my love to the folks.
...
In some ways, we were very different: He didn't give a damn about cars and never learned to drive, spent his entire life living in New York City, and had a fondness for coconut shrimp (Ick. To me, shrimp is one of those things that smells great but it's like chewing erasers.). He had a beautiful singing voice..
But the common ground was pretty broad: We both loved mysteries. Sometimes we discovered the same authors independently, others we recommended to each other. I often wish I could tell him about some of the things I'm reading, knowing he would've enjoyed them, too.
And movies! I remember how excited he was about the computer animation Disney used in "Beauty and the Beast" and "Jurassic Park"--he'd be so dazzled by state of the art today! He had tons of reference books about films, and he used to make lists constantly, on yellow legal pads with Flair felt-tip pens. I can still picture his distinctive script as he listed things like roles by an actor, films by a director,, films in a given year--he wasn't tech-savvy and of course, they didn't have smartphones in 1999, but I can't help imagine how he would've marveled at IMDb--I know I do!
I can still hear his rich, deep voice, amused and snarky, and his ringing laugh.
It's hard to believe that I'm now half a decade older than he ever lived to be.
I miss you, Peter. Give my love to the folks.
...
(no subject)
Date: 2020-05-31 03:03 am (UTC)I feel the same way about my cousin Kip, who was five years older than me and a much better companion than my brother. He died 23 years ago last December.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-06-03 04:49 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2020-06-01 02:04 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2020-06-03 04:51 pm (UTC)