Tribute to Peter B. Edmonds

Saturday was the Memorial service for my step father Peter B Edmonds.
Peter came into my life when he met my mother. I believe it was around 1991.
Peter and I were two of the most stubborn, strong willed people you could imagine. I was a rebellious kid and he was a stubborn old fart. So time went on and we battled when needed, but mostly we found a common ground in our love for my fat little beagle named Randy (or Boo as I called him). Peter called me the day the vet told both he and my mother that it was time to put Boo down. I knew his compassionate heart would make the right decision, and he did. It took a few years for me to appreciate the genuine spirit and amazing intellect that has come to be my final impression of Peter. Over the last ten years Peter and I had gained a mutual appreciation for each other. He enjoyed my writings, sarcasm, humor, and reflection, while I had the advantage of his opinions, assistance, and kindness. A few years ago Peter went blind. It was frustrating to me to see such a strong will and unimaginable intellect confined by the failure of his eyes. I thought the loss of his sight was unfair and unjust. I thought that his ongoing education and gift for working with people would become a thing of the past- I was wrong.

At the memorial in a room of many people from all corners and classes there was a common theme. These were all People that had been helped and inspired by Peters amazing spirit, wisdom, determination, and never-ending desire to learn and achieve new things.

One day Ray and I were riding in the car reflecting on the amazing man that Peter was, and Ray made the comment: "He could turn Chicken shit into Chicken salad." I think Peter would have said that was a "pretty cool description." That same night we talked about his character and his astounding ability to refrain from judgement of others. He would take you for who you are today, not whom you were before or even appear to be. Peter believed in Ray. Peter will never know what an honor that was -and will always be to him. In Rays words "To have a man of that stature have an unyielding faith in me is something I will never forget and I will always work to live up to."

I had the honor of spending time and conversation with Peters daughters (and son in laws) this weekend. What an amazing mix of poets, musicians, and scholars. Their experience with their father spans a great deal more history and certainly more challenges. Peter was an alcoholic and that was a side I never knew. It seems that Phoenix was more than a destination, but perhaps a metaphor of the recreation he was embarking on.

I don't know what truth there is to the theory of fate. I don't know if we all have some Divine purpose or a great need we are destined to fill. I do, however, know that if there is some purpose or grand mission, Mr Peter Edmonds met the challenge, completed his task, and for that, will be met with the honor of a great general wherever he is today.

--As your ashes scatter across the earth, somethings tells me that the wind will carry them to the Temple in Heliopolis--