Our friend, tomcatt
05-25-2006, 05:48 AM
#41
There is a guestbook associated with his obituary that you may want to sign. I just made my entry.
05-25-2006, 05:56 AM
#42
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First I cried, then 
I couldn't help but smile as I remembered what a wonderful, determined and upbeat person our TC (I renamed him TopCat because he was, in my book) was. I think I had a chance in Ohio to tell him what strength I drew from his courageous struggle and I will be forever grateful that he shared it with us. He always took extra time to answer even my dumbest car questions and that endeared him to my heart forever. We will celebrate his life at SF-06 as we're doing here, we'll raise a glass to him and Hilly, we'll do whatever it takes to honor his memory. What a great person, what a great, though all too short, life!Hilly, please dont' hesitate to let us know if you need or want anything. You know 'ol Granny will be praying you through as always with lots of love because you and Tom showed me what true love is all about.
Please feel all of our love during this time especially.PS: That grits picture will always be my favorite because I never saw anyone jump out of his seat as fast or as high as TC did when KB surprised him with that bag of grits after we'd "talked smack" about them for months before the meet. I'm taking comfort in the great memories our S-family has made and will continue to make. Chins up, gang, I'm sure that's what Tom would have wanted.
05-25-2006, 07:14 AM
#45
Very sad, indeed.
Pretty obvious how profoundly 'tomcatt' touched so many of our lives. Everyone knew Tom was a realist, yet amazingly he never saw life's glass as anything but "half full". There aren't many people in this world as kind or considerate of others as Tom, and when we lose one, it leaves a really huge hole. It was my priviledge to have known him.
Hilly, you and your family have a lot of extended friends thanks to this "one-of-a-kind-special-car" that introduced us to one another. We know each of you as half of a 'team' of very special people. Geography may keep most of us from being able to physically be there to offer support, but you and your family are very much in our thoughts and prayers. Please let us know if there is anything we can do.
God Bless you, Tom.
-Carole & Roy
Pretty obvious how profoundly 'tomcatt' touched so many of our lives. Everyone knew Tom was a realist, yet amazingly he never saw life's glass as anything but "half full". There aren't many people in this world as kind or considerate of others as Tom, and when we lose one, it leaves a really huge hole. It was my priviledge to have known him.
Hilly, you and your family have a lot of extended friends thanks to this "one-of-a-kind-special-car" that introduced us to one another. We know each of you as half of a 'team' of very special people. Geography may keep most of us from being able to physically be there to offer support, but you and your family are very much in our thoughts and prayers. Please let us know if there is anything we can do.
God Bless you, Tom.
-Carole & Roy
05-25-2006, 07:15 AM
#46
Damn, what sad news. Tom RIP. Hilly you are in our prayers. Like the others, I had no idea things had changed for the worse. I know how much it would have ment to him to make the upcoming Glen meet and Cleveland meet...... he will be there in spirit.
05-25-2006, 10:51 AM
#48
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I did not know Tom. I have seen his posts, which would indicate he was an admired vintage team player. Further, based on the responses I am reading and your many heartfelt sentiments, I'm sure I would liked to be in his company. My condolences to his family and his sorrowful friends.
05-25-2006, 11:22 AM
#49
Thread Starter
Everyone,
I want to express many thanks on Hilly's behalf for the wonderful sentiments posted here. I just spoke with her, and while she does not yet feel up to posting, she has read all of your thoughts, and they bring her great comfort.
She'll be online within a few days.
JonasM
I want to express many thanks on Hilly's behalf for the wonderful sentiments posted here. I just spoke with her, and while she does not yet feel up to posting, she has read all of your thoughts, and they bring her great comfort.
She'll be online within a few days.
JonasM
05-25-2006, 01:12 PM
#50
Tom's own words from a thread titled "Motoring", written in August 2004. Read it and enjoy it. It is a fine piece of writing.
Lunchtime... time for a little stress relief, to have a brief fling, to renew a bond that never seems to grow old.
It's cool today, the temperature says 64* but it seems like only 50; must be the stiff breeze blowing. As I walk out to the parking lot I glance up at the puffy white clouds, the last remnants of the scattered showers that rolled through the area earlier. It's dry here, we got lucky; the rain avoided us here.
I approach her, sitting there glowing in the dappled sunlight, her seductive curves beckoning me. She seems to be saying "It's about time, I've been ready and waiting, let's go!!!" I press the key fob, and hear the "click" of the doorlock releasing. I open the door and easing inside I can still smell that new leather scent she wears so nicely.
I slip the key into the slot, depress the clutch while turning the key, and my finger stabs at the bright red "START" button. She bursts into song, growling and muttering as my right foot gently blips the throttle while my right hand slides the gearshift into neutral, the clutch coming back up. I reach up and flip the latches, pull back on the top switch and the top whines a little as it folds neatly behind me. The sky opens up above me in all its glory, the sun warming the leather steering wheel, my glasses darkening. I clip the seatbelt and give it a tug, ensuring it is secure and tight, my left hand reaching downward to flip the doorlock.
As I glance around to clear the area I depress the clutch, my hand slipping the transmission into first, and I gently ease her forward with a coordinated motion of both feet; my hands twist the wheel to point her towards the exit, and she burbles along, her muscles warming, stretching, preparing for the fun that lies ahead of us.
We pull out of the lot onto the highway and I let her run a bit, holding her back so she doesn't strain herself. Figuring we have about an hour, I point her towards a nearby back road that will lead us to the river crossing. We follow the twisting ribbon of blacktop, short bursts of power echoing off the trees as we breeze along at the speed limit; this area is known to be watched and we have to be careful.
We come into town and head for the bridge, idling along in traffic and enjoying the sunshine. Across the bridge is a winding two-lane road that follows the river north; here is where we will play.
As we turn onto the river road, she is eager to run. I snapshift downwards, easing the clutch up while stabbing the throttle. She leaps forward, her rearend doing that little wiggle I love, her urgent growl rapidly becoming a throaty roar, and finally a banshee-like scream as the tach and speedometer flash faster than the eye can follow. I flick my wrist as my feet do their dance, another gear and another wild run up the decibel scale. My hands caress the wheel, and she responds as if she can read my mind, slaloming left and right along the narrow road, totally alone together.
This continues for a few miles, the ebb and flow of our rapid pace making my heart pound and my back tingle. All too soon we approach the next town, and I reign her in, letting her slow down easily, and we lazily make our way to the bridge that will carry us back across the river towards work.
As we head away from the town I give her a little goose and she jumps forward, and suddenly we are at the speed limit so I have to hold her back again. This continues most of the way back, as this road is a little busier and there is little opportunity to run freely. Eventually we are near work, and I have a last chance to let her go. She responds willingly, with more energy than I am prepared to handle. I glance around fearfully, but there are no local constabulary present, and I heave a sigh of relief.
We turn into the lot and she burbles along back to her accustomed spot. I allow her to idle a bit as I raise the top, gathering my thoughts as I prepare to return to work. As I open the door and climb out, her surface is shining in the sun, and I walk around to examine her from all sides. I think to myself "What did I do to deserve something like this??? How did I ever get so lucky???"
As I walk back towards the building I keep glancing back over my shoulder...
Lunchtime... time for a little stress relief, to have a brief fling, to renew a bond that never seems to grow old.
It's cool today, the temperature says 64* but it seems like only 50; must be the stiff breeze blowing. As I walk out to the parking lot I glance up at the puffy white clouds, the last remnants of the scattered showers that rolled through the area earlier. It's dry here, we got lucky; the rain avoided us here.
I approach her, sitting there glowing in the dappled sunlight, her seductive curves beckoning me. She seems to be saying "It's about time, I've been ready and waiting, let's go!!!" I press the key fob, and hear the "click" of the doorlock releasing. I open the door and easing inside I can still smell that new leather scent she wears so nicely.
I slip the key into the slot, depress the clutch while turning the key, and my finger stabs at the bright red "START" button. She bursts into song, growling and muttering as my right foot gently blips the throttle while my right hand slides the gearshift into neutral, the clutch coming back up. I reach up and flip the latches, pull back on the top switch and the top whines a little as it folds neatly behind me. The sky opens up above me in all its glory, the sun warming the leather steering wheel, my glasses darkening. I clip the seatbelt and give it a tug, ensuring it is secure and tight, my left hand reaching downward to flip the doorlock.
As I glance around to clear the area I depress the clutch, my hand slipping the transmission into first, and I gently ease her forward with a coordinated motion of both feet; my hands twist the wheel to point her towards the exit, and she burbles along, her muscles warming, stretching, preparing for the fun that lies ahead of us.
We pull out of the lot onto the highway and I let her run a bit, holding her back so she doesn't strain herself. Figuring we have about an hour, I point her towards a nearby back road that will lead us to the river crossing. We follow the twisting ribbon of blacktop, short bursts of power echoing off the trees as we breeze along at the speed limit; this area is known to be watched and we have to be careful.
We come into town and head for the bridge, idling along in traffic and enjoying the sunshine. Across the bridge is a winding two-lane road that follows the river north; here is where we will play.
As we turn onto the river road, she is eager to run. I snapshift downwards, easing the clutch up while stabbing the throttle. She leaps forward, her rearend doing that little wiggle I love, her urgent growl rapidly becoming a throaty roar, and finally a banshee-like scream as the tach and speedometer flash faster than the eye can follow. I flick my wrist as my feet do their dance, another gear and another wild run up the decibel scale. My hands caress the wheel, and she responds as if she can read my mind, slaloming left and right along the narrow road, totally alone together.
This continues for a few miles, the ebb and flow of our rapid pace making my heart pound and my back tingle. All too soon we approach the next town, and I reign her in, letting her slow down easily, and we lazily make our way to the bridge that will carry us back across the river towards work.
As we head away from the town I give her a little goose and she jumps forward, and suddenly we are at the speed limit so I have to hold her back again. This continues most of the way back, as this road is a little busier and there is little opportunity to run freely. Eventually we are near work, and I have a last chance to let her go. She responds willingly, with more energy than I am prepared to handle. I glance around fearfully, but there are no local constabulary present, and I heave a sigh of relief.
We turn into the lot and she burbles along back to her accustomed spot. I allow her to idle a bit as I raise the top, gathering my thoughts as I prepare to return to work. As I open the door and climb out, her surface is shining in the sun, and I walk around to examine her from all sides. I think to myself "What did I do to deserve something like this??? How did I ever get so lucky???"
As I walk back towards the building I keep glancing back over my shoulder...