Ball, Garrett

Garrett was one of the youngest and most handsome men I've had the privilege of meeting. It pleased me that I was one of the first to meet you upon moving to SF from Florida. I will always remember on our first meeting, sending you into 7-11 on 18th Street for a 6 pack. You came out empty handed saying, They carded me sir. How old are you?, I asked. Garrett, you were always a gentleman, a very kind and gentle soul. Your smile could disarm nations, principalities and powers. You gave me so much pleasure. I wish your time here had been longer but it is not in my province to make such decisions;like the length of days and seasons we share. I will never forget going to Mr. S (where you were working as a clerk) in the days following the Loma Prieta Quake. Not only did you attend to my every need as a customer, you came home with me after yourshift to help me break in my purchases. Those were the best of times; those were the worst of times. Blessed be those times.

Garrett and I were partners for four years - from the time he was 20 until 24 or 25. We met at the Eagle - things moved very fast and we were living together. He loved gardening and animals. I have never seen anyone as kind as Garrett was to cats and dogs. He has a naturally sweet, kind and gentle disposition. We traveled all over the USA and Europe. I always knew he was HIV positive and I expected to be with him until the end. One day Garrett came to me and told me he was leaving me because he wanted to have an extreme S&M relationship before he died and he had met someone he was moving in with. This was a horrible thing to have happen to me. Two years later he died of AIDs all alone. He told me a few days before he died that he realized that what he had done to me and to himself was a mistake and that he thought there was more to life than the leather world in was in. But then a few days later he was gone. I miss him all the time and will never forget him. I wish I had the opportunity to be with him at the end. I loved him very much.

To Bob in Austin: What a beautiful tribute to Garrett. I would encourage you to watch, Harold and Maude and listen to Garrett whisper softly in your ear, Go Love some more!.