Our good friend Tom passed away earlier this evening after
being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer six weeks ago. Our thoughts are with
Roger, his husband of eight years.
As you might surmise from the photo (my favorite of the two
of them), Tom loved to ham it up. He loved to laugh. He loved telling
jokes--all too often--VERY corny ones. And we loved to laugh with him. On
numerous occasions, Tom and I would get into nonstop giggling that could last
five to ten minutes. We'd laugh, we'd stop, we'd take one look at another and
start giggling all over again.
Tom and I made a game of tormenting one another with puns,
insults made in jest, always ending with a show of loving affection for the
other.
Earlier tonight, Stephen and I visited Tom. As we left, we
told him we loved him and that he need not linger on for us. I truly believe a
person can hear everything said to them, even when in an apparent vegetative
state. We told him we would care for Roger in his absence. We think he needed
to hear that.
When we left the hospice, we both agreed we might not see
Tom again. I told Stephen the next time I saw him I would have to say to him
our usual retort... wuv woo.
