Tom Sonday

What was on each alley’s scoreboard at bowling tonight (opening night of the season), for the league Tommy was president of for many years …

I was going to start this with the usual “LAAARD Wife here …” but, like a blow to the stomach, I realize I’m no longer the LAAARD Wife.

Sigh.

But, I still have the biggest smile on my face, and pretty much have had it once I got past going into the church and seeing the awesome, exactly perfect display my sister orchestrated in Tom’s honor, and totally losing it.  (If someone has a picture of it (the display, not me using all the tissues I’d stuffed in my bra), please send it to me, thanks!)

Today wasn’t anywhere near as arduous as I thought it would be, for a few reasons.  First, we were surrounded with such amazing, incredible love — thanks to all of you who were physically there, or carrying us in your hearts.

Second, God’s grace.  I didn’t know how I’d get through today, but about 20 seconds into singing “How Great Thou Art” I was overcome with the peace that surpasses understanding and knew I’d be OK.  It was a glorious celebration of Tom’s life.

And the third reason for my joy?  It was a glorious celebration of Tom’s life.  The eulogies from our kids and his siblings were so uplifting and authentic.  And golly, I was so proud of our kids.

And this is this minor fourth reason for my joy:  I beat son Benjamin and his buddy Sean at Scrabble!  I’ve beat Ben once in the past probably six years, and haven’t beat Sean since 2006.  And, these guys didn’t give me a break due to circumstances either.  If I’d been bleeding copiously from numerous wounds, they still would’ve gone for blood.

I emailed this victorious news to a number of friends and relatives about 35 seconds after I won.  Our friend Ann’s reply really resonated with me:  “Congratulations on two fronts; the most obvious of course is beating the snotty little brainiac that is your son and the second is for going home after today and doing exactly what Tom would have wanted you to do – enjoy life with family and friends.”  (Ann says “snotty little brainiac” most endearingly as she would’ve married Ben if he’d have had her.  Ann, Ben and I skiied together out west a number of years when he was a teen.)

Yes, we came home and had fun and laughs.  I swam most of a mile with the mermaids even though the water is quite chilly; Rose and I unshrouded the hives; the kids and I and a few friends had a casual dinner where we reviewed the day, reminisced, and cracked jokes.  Well, not so much Ben and Sean, who were still reeling from my walloping them at Scrabble.:)

Anyway, today was amazing and awesome, as was Friday evening when Tom passed yet his spirit was infused into all the special people who were with us.  As I find writing theraputic, and received such positive feedback about the blob today, I will get around to describing both events in the near future.  We will also post eulogies and some photos, as well as some staggering numbers (to me, anyway) about donations for Loaves & Fishes, a local food bank, as soon as we tally up everything.

Thanks to everyone who is in our lives.  We are so blessed.

Please send suggestions for a new sign-off line …

Charlotte

This entry was posted on September 1, 2009 at 10:44 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.