Pete was someone I knew only when we were in high school, yet I still remember the fun conversations we often had while killing time at track meets. (This was back when he was a tall skinny high jumper.) He had the kind of spirit that has always attracted me to very creative people. I don’t recall our physically crossing paths after high school, yet he has always remain the bigger than life figure I had of him from high school, occasionally embellished by stories told by the nieces’ (Vanessa & Lisa) Pete and I shared.
One story I recall my brother Tom telling me had to do with Pete leasing the gatehouse to an estate that my stepmother and I had previously leased. Tom was visiting with Pete when he noticed a painting of a woman on the wall. Tom asked Pete where he got it, and his reply was, “it was here when I moved in and I like it.”
The reason why Tom asked about the painting was he recognized that it was my painting of a former girlfriend. When I heard the story, I was impressed to hear that Pete kept it because he liked it. We all appreciate compliments from those we admire and respect.
You may know, from previous posting, Joy and I traveled to Seattle to attend Lisa and Michael’s wedding on Lummi Island. One of the reasons I wanted Joy and I to be at the wedding was the opportunity to see Pete. I was really looking forward to the opportunity, since I knew he would not miss your wedding. But, as fate would have it, his health didn’t allow him to make the long trip from Fort Myers.
I know Pete will be dearly missed by a lot of people. The Emerson line in Lisa’s blog posting is so fitting. (“It is not length of life, but depth of life.”) Some of the most endearing people have been those with whom I have only briefly traveled in life’s journey. Pete was one of those endearing, unforgettable people.
I share these feelings now, yet regret having waited too late to share them with Pete. At least, with all of today’s social media connections, I was one of Pete’s Facebook friends. We linked up in August of 2009, but like many of our generation he said, Hello. Have no idea what I’m doing with FACEBOOK. 😦
Sometimes, it’s the little things that mean a lot. Pete passed away January 10, 2011, just a few weeks before his 71st birthday.
kenne
(Image: Pete Schmieler with niece, Lisa Wheeler — Source: http://wheelskeeponturning.wordpress.com/about/ )
Becoming is Superior to Being 
THis is wonderful to read! Pete was the best person I ever met. He was my best friend, my 2nd dad, my rock, may angel…may he be everyone’s angel now…cigar in hand! 🙂
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