These writings. produced in the last fifteen years, reflect the journey from work as a psychiatrist to retirement. I retired in 2003. I then became a member of the Osher Foundation Lifelong Learning Institute at Brandeis University and the Fromm Institute at the University of San Francisco. I have been trying to expand my ability to play, exploring my role as husband, father and grandparent. I wouldn’t say that humor is everything. but it’s scary to think of life without it.
Pete wrote this for the back cover of his book Stepping Stones a few years before his death on August 13, 2015.
The stories in his book are available below.
Pete’s obituary is at www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/sfgate/name/arthur-reider-obituary?id=16690573
My father, who would have been 104 on July 3, 2011, was a great guy- little impatient and a bit on the frugal side-but a terrific guy. He liked to keep words economical. In an anglophile fever pitch his immigrant Jewish parents named him Norman. He changed that to Norm, then to Nor, shortened that to No and finally decided to be called Nnnnn.
His impatience was not completely unprovoked. My mother (Louise) dawdled whenever they went walking....
** He **
So… I’m feeling a little uptight about this - I guess I mean more than a little [forcing a laugh] because I don’t do this [a briefer nervous laugh] all the time. Well, no one does this really all the time. It’s just that… I don’t know what I’m doing. [He looks at her expectantly]
** She **
[almost a monotone] I enjoy hiking, cooking and yoga....