Memorial for a Wonderful Person

I had 4 younger brothers as I grew up and now I have 3.

My brother Pete died of natural causes in January 2002, and I thought I would share what I wrote for his funeral. It is not morbid, but full of life in reflection of the wonderfulness that my brother embodied. I turned him on to Daoist thought at an early phase of his life, and he lapped it up and lived it the rest of his life. "Up a Tree" was the name of his remote spread of land in Northern California, and Calvin the name of his dog who is still living with my youngest brother.

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Where is Pete?

nestled in a bed of sweet smelling sinsimilia
marveling at a mist strewn mountain landscape

Where is Pete?

the ultimate lost boy in never never land
not caring for the conventional and never ever growing up
what for? says he.

Where is Pete?

living for the moment with a sense of awe
following the unfolding of life’s little wonders
nature’s boy deeply attuned to the natural order of things.

Where is Pete?

Landscape artist communing with the trees, rocks and animals.
Calvin’s best friend – Mr. Hobbes himself mischievously adventuring in this “awe”some world.

The only man who could hide his own easter eggs!!

Where is Pete?

Disc Golf King of Up A Tree – throwing UFO’s here and there, cultivating magic herbs for his friends to share. Fearlessly joy riding with his neat toys.

Where is Pete?

Flitting here and there as a hummingbird delighting his friends, honking as a goose and buzzing the world with his electric energy.

Hanging in a tree with his Cheshire cat grin, jumping off into a misty abyss to forever cavort with his spirited friends.

Where is Pete?

A gentle gentle gentleboy, a gentleman farmer, a sweet and kind soul communing with his plants and living his dream in Up A Tree land. An aspiring sustainable biodynamic farmer.

A raconteur, spreading his stories far and wide entertaining most generously in his magic faerie place on the mountain.

Pete, Peter, Pizza

What is in a name? Feeling Holy on Red Rock, rivaling his namesake at the pearly gates, nibbling a cabbage as a cottontail, eating summer pumpkins, and generously spreading Pan’s magic fairy dust far and wide.

P. G. C.

Free at last of the physical, free of his identity, free of the ever broken down body he inhabited. We have all benefited from his free spirit for 40 great years, and Pete through this incarnation gave great joy and wisdom to all who could hear his message.

Peter never grew up and we all loved him for that. He had a wonderful life. He loved and was loved in return.

Peter’s passing into the natural world of free spirits is not something to be mourned, but rather something to be celebrated. He lives on in the memories of all those who were privileged to know him. He is now truly free to cavort and play, having transcended all that is mundane and physical

Peter gave great joy to all who knew him, he lit up the prison and lit up Northern California with his herbal wonders.

It was a tremendous privilege to have been blessed with a brother like Pete. To have helped an old soul with the discovery of his course in life.

May his inspiration live on in all of us. His flame forever burning brightly for those who love what is magical and beyond words in this plane of existence.

Forever a beacon of love, freedom and playfulness.

I love you Pete.


T. C. January 27, 2002