Over the weekend, I saw a bunch of 9-year-old kids playing stickball at the park, and it brought back so many memories of times I spent with Pete as a kid.   Pete, myself, Drew, Mike, Don, Jeff, and others used to swarm to the intersection of Elmwood and Blauvelt (not much traffic there) and play baseball in the street.   That's pretty much how we spent our summers.

I remember that Pete was always the one who would be shouting encouragement to his teammates, whoever happened to be at bat, trying to crack one over the 4-foot retaining wall that was our version of an outfield fence.  I can still hear his little-kid voice as I listen to these children play in my neighborhood.

Now it's Halloween, and I wish we were kids again.   Pete, Drew, and I could just walk around to the neighbors' houses, see the grown-ups answering the door, think how lucky we were to be kids, and hope that we got a penny from under an apple at McVey's house.

I miss Pete so much.   It's not really getting easier as time passes.  I thought it would.
Steve Kane, 10/31/03
This poem is from Mrs. Diane Shafer (Chief Shafer's wife, and Ken Jr's mom).  The Shafers were important people to Pete his whole life, and I know that Pete would appreciate reading these words:
If I should go suddenly
When God calls out my name
My light will glow within your heart
The sun will still remain
While I'm away, although you'll cry
Your tears will dry in time
We shared so many precious years
Our spirits intertwine
If I should go and leave you here
Hold onto yesterday
Embrace the happiness we knew
I won't be far away
Though I'll be gone, I'll still be near
You'll feel me deep inside
Absorbing the pain in your heart
Wiping the tears you cry
If I should go, I'll comfort you
With a warm and soothing touch
My wings will wrap around your soul
I'll still love you so much

Diane Shafer, 2003