This web site is dedicated to our friend Gary Brickman, who passed away on June 26, 2000. My Time With Gary Cheryl Eastabrooks Salter, 14 July 2000 My time with Gary was of a different nature than the ones mentioned. Our time goes back to when he was 8 years and I was but a child myself barely arrived to California from the Midwest — on a quest, as so many of us were during that time. His mother Linder and I became close and steadfast friends immediately. They welcomed me into their lives and family. My memories of that time (1969–1975) almost all include Linder, Gary and Daniel. I was part mother, sister and friend. Gary was a child but often preferred our adult company. He was never shy or afraid to voice his opinion and often differed even then from the majority. We were a diverse and very close group of friends with Linder and her family being the touch stone for many of us. There was a New York accountant, a sweet New York social worker, a college math professor/chess player, Midwest flower child and dreamer, an Italian romantic, a physics major, an Iranian flower merchant/student, a landscaper/chef, a Texan Vietnam vet, and his uncle Robbie the French teacher, to mention just a few of the bunch. He soaked us up as we did him, for how could you not love a child who had all the gifts that Gary had. He loved his daschund Gretchen, as well as their great danes Athena and Sergeant Pepper. Snoopy was his ally and macaroni and cheese his favorite item on the menu. Gary loved life then and only continued to love it more. Because of what he had to endure physically his empathy for the world spread immensely. I see him in my mind’s eye on the long sloped driveway in the Los Altos hills house where he lived during that time, riding up and down on his big wheel with Gretchen chasing after him. He was having the time of his life. Such a lovely picture that is to me and their are so many more than that. My only regrets are that I haven’t seen him or his family in a long time. We are all scattered all over the planet. For who is to know such things can happen like this. My love for them has never lessened; it always seemed like we would have lots of more times together. My husband Tim, my kids, Derek and Drew and I can’t be at the memorial. We now live in Illinois and the times don’t allow the journey. So this memory of mine is for all of you out there who I love dearly. Please remember those days with Gary as I do and be grateful we all were together. I can only hope that Gary truly knew how very much I love him now and always… Cíao, sweet man. — Cheryl Eastabrooks Salter Gary Brickman, 1997 »home