Eric James Tate1989 - 2022

Our friendship started in grade school when we stood outside together in the mornings before school for assembly and I was always freezing. I don’t know why I never wore my jacket. Eric was NEVER cold, at least that was his story when he insisted I wear his jacket. At first I would fight him because I never wanted him to be cold but he always won and bundled up in his jacket I’d be, comfortable and warm. Over the years, it became our custom and now looking back I now know why I never wore my jacket, it was always better to be in his. He was the first person I ever saw turn Pringles into a duck beak too lol.

Fast forward a couple of years when Pokemon came out, to this day I couldn’t tell you how it works or what a pokeball is but Eric did, and every Thursday after school he’d go to Burger King to trade cards and get new ones. So every Thursday I’d BEG my Mom to go to Burger King just to hang out with him. Every fall my family would stop by Eric’s boy scout troop to buy our pumpkins, that too became a tradition.

As we got older and we were ‘allowed’ to hang out at night, Friday night movies was where we were. That was stressful for my parents but if they knew Eric was going to be there, I was safe and all was well. In high school Eric invited me to my first concert, Next Big Thing 5, I’ll never forget it, he was so excited about it and although I really didn’t know all the musicians, Eric was there so I wanted to be too. I told him I wanted to be in a mosh pit (I had no idea what one was, I had only ever heard of them) He begrudgingly said “okay, lets get you in” and as we stood on the border of one and I realized what the heck I got myself into, it only took one look to Eric for him to lift me up and pull me out. lol I can still picture the chaos that was right in front of us!

As we grew up we spent many nights chatting on the phone and he got me through some rough stuff. Unfortunately, I only learned about Eric’s passing a few months ago.. I’m so sorry we lost touch. So, love you bud, and I’ll be thinking about our good times often. Happy Birthday old friend <3