The "Re-living History With Another Good Friend" Story

It was an ordinary day. I was leaving Root's Sale in East Petersburg with my grandson Caden. I picked him up at kindergarten and we headed to Root's for lunch and a treat. Can still remember when my Grandpap did that with me. Only difference, he always brought me home with a box or crate full of animals that he had purchased for me at the animal auction. Caden and I do look at the animals up for auction, but have never bid on any. I'm afraid that my son and daughter-in-law would refuse to allow him to keep the animals and I'd be stuck with them. Don't need that anymore. Well, while at Root's we stopped by Keifer's Meat and Cheese stand to talk to Tom Keifer. Hadn't seen him for a few years and recently read that he and his wife Doris were closing their stand at the Central Market House in downtown Lancaster. Seems having market stands in 4 different locations is taking a toll on the two of them and they want to have more time to themselves. Recent story in the Lancaster newspapers told how they met at Central Market over 35 years ago when Tom worked for his mom and dad at Keifers Meats and Cheese stand, while Doris worked for her family at Shenk's Cup Cheese stand, two aisles away. She was 16 at the time and he was 20. They married in 1980 and eventually took over the Keifer's stand at Central Market. They have two grown sons who help run the 4 stands. Small side story here would be about Tom's dad, Paul who was my first baseball coach. When I was 11 years old, my dad, knowing I wanted to play organized baseball, saw an ad in the paper about tryouts for the Schick midget-midget team. Took me to the south end of Lancaster for tryouts and I made the team after the first day. One of the two coaches was Mr. Paul Keifer and his son Bill was on the team with me. Through Bill, I met Tom, Bill's younger brother and have been friends ever since. Today, Tom and I shared a few memories between customers. And ... Caden found it interesting that I was actually a kid at one time and played baseball. We talked about growing up in Lancaster and eventually playing on a softball team that I formed to play in the slow-pitch softball league in Manheim Township. This was in the mid-60s and his brother Bill played on it also. Called the Superjocks and we managed to come in 2nd in the league one year. Talked about some of the players that were on the team and what they are doing today. He mentioned Barry Kline and was totally shocked when I told him he died four months ago. How quickly time flies. Time for Caden and I to say our goodbyes and head to find some whoopie pies for our treat. Had an enjoyable time reliving past memories with a special guy who always had a smile on his face. Can see why Doris snatched him up over 31 years ago. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - pixs from the top are: skyline view of Central Market House in downtown Lancaster, photo from the Lancaster newspaper of Doris Keifer at her Central Market stand, pix of the Keifer's stand on Central Market, and pix of Tom at his stand at Root's Market.