Families come in many shapes and sizes. They can be big, little, normal, dysfunctional, traditional, non-traditional and myriad other things. I have the privilege of being a member of several wonderful families. All of which have influenced me in many ways and helped shape who I am today.
Twenty years ago I had the privilege of being welcomed into a family that still has strong ties to me to this day. Though I rarely get to see all of its members in person I get excited when I see their names on television screens and movie titles. I thrill at seeing their new children and I grieve when we loose a member of our family.
This second family has several moms and a dad or two. I'm sure we have a crazy aunt or uncle. We are made up of several generations which include our real brothers and sisters as well as our adopted siblings. We are all the colors of the world. We never cared who you loved or what gods you worshiped. We are all very different but came together for one purpose; theater.
I met Peter in 1994 when I auditioned for Much Ado About Nothing and become a member of The Company. He had such great talent that when we did our next show, She Loves Me, he won the lead.
1995 and 1996 were whirlwind years. I spent the first half of it with my arms held up screaming "screw 'em all" thanks to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and I spent the second half amazed at the beauty and color of The Secret Garden.
The Company also managed to pull of an amazing coup that year with my parents. They threw me my only surprise party. To this day I don't know how we got so many people in that hot tub but there was no such thing as personal space. The art that was drawn on the walls still amazes me.
The years 1996 and 1997 brought more shows. This time The Foreigner and George Bernard Shaw's St. Joan. The Foreigner was by far my favorite role that Peter played. Though there were not many lines for the lead character he was so good at pantomime and just being goofy that the role was absolutely perfect.
Peter was a kid at heart and an old soul. He saw things in was that amazed me and did nothing but try to surround himself with genuine people.
I'm still happy he was there to stand up as a groomsman at my wedding. I will never forget us all table dancing at the reception.
The last time I saw Peter in person was at our theater director's retirement party. It was such an amazing night and as with true friends the years melted away and we were all together again.
In August Peter and his partner Ethan were in a major car accident as they were moving to Portland, Oregon to start a new chapter of life. Unfortunately, Peter could not overcome the battle with his injuries and he passed away. Like many of those who's lives he touched I was, and still am, heartbroken. He was one of those people that no words can truly describe. He was an experience.
My job has forced me to be away from my other family more than I like and it has forced me to be away again today.
Today, January 3, is Peter's birthday. Today that family gathers again to celebrate and grieve. We will party for him and I know he will be with us.
I can only thank his family for sharing him with us all.
"It is not for us to know what will come next, those who have gone before us only know for certain. We will all make that crossing when the time comes. However it IS our responsibility to do the most with the time we have while we are still blessed enough to walk this Earth for another day." -Peter Jose Bernardini
No comments:
Post a Comment