How do we regard the fade of the body in this life is what I wonder about. Pete will be Pete until his breath fails and then until his friends and those of us who remember him are gone, and then it's in history's hands.

Those near him see him diminished perhaps but still the same, and he is no doubt the same, to those of his friends who can perceive him. Remembering songs is no longer his task here; and our task may be to remember his singing and let him go in the manner in which he wishes and is able to leave us.

It all ends in forgetting, whatever we wish. Pete's done more than most to ensure and justify remembrance, and to his credit, seemed never to care about any of that. Pete seemed to me to be all about the present moment. I recall him emblazoned in his archetype, singing, "The time is now quite early morning".

But we all know better, despite our love.

I once shook his hand.