Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Tom

I would watch out of the corner of my eye for Tom's truck to pull in to the parking spot, a smile just waiting to happen when he came round. He had a crew of low-life types who hung round him, doing him minor chores and making small deals with him, dependent on him for their little doings and food and drug money and the small things of life. It's a complete mystery to me why Tom liked the people he dealt with. He took care of them to some extent, and to an extent beyond what others did. He was, to many street people, a life-line. Now that line is broken; he is no longer coming round for coffee. Tom is dead. On Saturday Tom died of a heart-attack. I'm heart-broken. I liked the man very much.

Thomas Moore. The man wasn't a saint by any means, but he was a good friend. I'm still looking out for him from the corner of my eye, hoping he's going to pull in any minute now....

"Hi, Tom."

Damn. It hurts.

Time, time, time, see what's become of me
While I looked around
For my possibilities
I was so hard to please
But look around, leaves are brown
And the sky is a hazy shade of winter

[....]

Look around, leaves are brown
There's a patch of snow on the ground....

Paul Simon, "Hazy Shade of Winter."

4 comments:

Nilk said...

Ah, my friend. I'm so sorry to see this as the first post of yours I've had time to read for a while.

I will trust that your Tom is with God, and His Grace be upon you.

It is never easy losing friends to death; it happens to us all but we don't seem to have the tools and rituals to cope with it any more as a society.

Look after yourself, and you are in my prayers tonight, as is Tom.

Dag said...

Thanks, Nilk. I appreciate the comment, and I'm happy to see you here.

Too bad about my friend, no question; but there is also the bright side of life that makes up for all the loss and pain of that: you and your own, who will, soon enough, I'm sure, be blogging bogan like a full-grown geezer.

Hugs for both of you.

My best, Dag.

Dinah Lord said...

Long time no see, Dag.

Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend Tom and I thank you for sharing a little bit of him with us.

May your fond memories of him continue to bring a smile to your face in the years to come.

Yours in fellow geezer-hood-

Dinah.

Nilk said...

We are going good here, Dag. I will send you a link so you can see she is thriving. :)