Hello Peeps …
Welcome to several new subscribers to our TSJ journey of life together! It is a delight to share life’s journey with new peeps. I am sorry today’s blog is mostly an announcement but that is what life is about….mystery and surprise… moment by moment…..
It is with great and overwhelming waves of sadness that I am sharing with you this morning. Tom’s struggle with cancer is over. On the positive side, we did it! His “flight” was as smooth as one could ask for given the circumstances of his disease……his “take off” was December 15th at 10:50 PM (his mother’s birthday) ” just after we settled on the couch by his bed for the night vigil. Only the Christmas tree lights were on.
Our children had been there all day giving him loving messages along with me and two dear medical friends who helped us by the hour that day to keep him comfortable. As soon as we settled down we heard Tom call out…. “Oh. OH!” We jumped to our feet. It was different. His voice was strong and clear. Tom’s soul took flight and the room was literally flooded with a mysterious and magnificent Peace that was so unmistakable as to be palpable.
As you know already, we have been at Tom’s side for weeks to help him with transitions from health to illness, from active living to confinement, from positions of leadership to influencing us all in a new way, and from what we call life to what he called “a shortened runway” toward death. But on that runway he did the prep work needed for a smooth flight Home… to the Shepherd’s ultimate care and freedom from pain and suffering.
His transitions are over and he is transformed. But somehow that does not feel good right now except that his suffering is over. As you can imagine, there were moments I thought I could no longer stand one more moment of seeing him in pain or short winded. It is truly awful watching someone you love as much as life itself suffer and you cannot take it away. I am sure all of you know that from some of your own experiences on this journey of life.
I am embracing many of our last conversations and one of them he brought up was about “TSJ, peeps, stories, and ‘the boys.'”
He was extremely clear (if not a bit firm with me) that he believes in TSJ (The Shared Journey) and the messages of love and wisdom about life in general. His favorite part has been the messages given through “the boys.” You know that each Wednesday he placed Solomon and SJ near me. And he waited to hear what they had to say. Even last week when he could no longer talk much, he had me read the WW twice because he was “foggy” with medicine. He has been as touched as I have been by TSJ subscribers who have mysteriously become our “peeps” (remember that is a combo of sheep and people…according to Solomon) and with whom we enjoying sharing the pastures of life.
One of the things people loved the most about Tom and was a strong element that brought us together 32 years ago was his humor. He needed an audience and I loved being that audience (yes, so did others). He did anything he could to make me laugh and laugh more. One of the things Tom loved about me is my playfulness in a different way that shows up using Solomon and SJ to help us share about life. While being intelligent, strong, and serious about necessary things, Tom loved the lighter side of life and that is a gift he has breathed into every heart who knew him.
So here at the headquarters and everywhere else, we are deeply sad and vigorously exercising our faith muscles while clutching our happy and wonderful memories of one amazing and good man. It feels like our world has come to a stand still but instead it is swirling madly around us. We are tired but we are being carried through many people’s love, prayers, and compassionate energy.
For the many of you who are local TSJ peeps, I am sharing the schedule for celebrating our wonderful Tom.
Calling hours: Friday 12/19/ 1-3 pm and 5-8 pm at ….
Profetta Funeral Chapel..1650 Empire Boulevard Webster, 14580
Memory Service: Saturday 12/20 3 pm
Pultneyville Reformed Church ….. Hamilton Street Pultneyville NY.
Although the calling hours are at Profetta’s Funeral Chapel, our funeral director is from Young Funeral Home in Williamson so Tom’s information is at youngfuneralhomeny.com
I am wobbly on my feet these days but will do my best to peek in next Wednesday.
Thank you for reading and for celebrating our beloved Tom.
Crying in the pastures and believing the Shepherd is here.
Margie
