Friday, March 29, 2024
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Why We Love This Place Wednesdays: Eric Perry


By Terra Avilla

Okay folks, my motive for writing about the one, and only, Eric Perry this week is twofold.

#1- Eric is a great staple in our community and he deserves to be spotlighted and…

#2- I wanted to shamelessly plug Lassen Family Services’ annual “Dancing for A Brand New Me” which Eric volunteered to dance in this year.

Eric may or may not be my partner, and we may or may not be trying to win over the popular vote.

Nevertheless, in all seriousness, Eric lives his life like a public servant, always volunteering to help anywhere. Whether it be paying for a U-Haul to transport supplies to Camp Fire Victims, or donating extra money at local fundraisers, helping paint over graffiti, coaching sports, and on and on.

Eric makes it a point to live his life according to how he wants the world to be: wholesome and kind and generous.

Those of you who are unfamiliar with Eric, he runs and operates a home for boys who need supervision, guidance and life skills. Most of these boys first come to Eric between the ages of 14 and 17.
More often than not, Eric is the first strong male figure these boys have in their lives.

They come and stay at his house. I see them when they first get here and cannot help but be pessimistic time and time again, Eric works his magic and within months, these boys are thriving – they are making up credits; they quit fighting, quit running away.

They needed Eric. Eric cares about them, and for a lot of them, it is a completely new experience to them to have a family. To know someone cares about them. Eric becomes their forever family.

My original adoration for Eric began when I was still living in Reno, an ENT found a concerning lump in my lymphoid meaning I had to undergo a multitude of testing and screenings.

During this time, I was still driving back and forth from Reno to see Frankie on my days off. I was stressed, Frankie was stressed, and we were worried.

Eric, who at that time I had only met maybe one or twice, went out of his way to come over to our house and give me a special cloth he and his church group had prayed over. Eric had become a close friend of Frankie’s through the baseball community and Eric just wanted my family to know he was thinking of us.

This year, I was lucky enough to be assigned as his partner for the annual Dancing for a Brand New Me event. I’m lucky – Eric is not.

I feel bad for the guy because even though he is supposed to be partnered with a ‘professional’ dancer he got stuck with me – yet he hasn’t complained.

Even when I am a sweaty mess with coffee breath, Eric politely encourages me to keep going.

Eric puts his heart into everything. His family. His works, his friendships, so I should have guessed that his participation in this event would be no different. Even if you have no idea who Eric is, you should come watch him dance.

I know for a fact, if you came up to him at the event and introduced yourself, he would do what he always does – shake your hand, be polite and engaging, and within a matter of moments, you will understand why Eric is one of the reasons I love the place we live.

Jeremy Couso
Jeremy Couso
SusanvilleStuff.com Publisher/Editor
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