Tom’s last post follows this at 11am.
Yeah, I know, he says he will be back after a short breather, but,
like many in the past from other great writers, short breathers became long goodbyes.
I have witnessed a lot of great people leave this site over the
past 20 years that it has existed. In particular, David Rubin, Ernest Dove, and John From Albany come to mind. Tom is
now added to that list.
He’s not going to tell you this, so I will. Tom retired recently
and has passed the magical age of 70. “60 may be the new 40”, but 70 is the new
nothing. Trust me. I know. I passed it eight years ago. His hobbies were
writing here and Christian standup. I used to joke with him, asking how long
that set was. Five jokes? (Trust me, it’s a lot more than Israeli comics have
these days).
Let me tell you a secret.
Tom is now embarking on a series of Christian music events in
which he plays his ax, sings songs, and interjects his humor. Lately he has
been getting standing ovations, though they still need to be tempered since
they took place in Jersey.
Tom has chosen to follow his musical dream and expand on that in
the future. I fully understand this because we both share the love of being a
sidebar singer-songwriter. I have had the pleasure of standing on the stage,
singing a song I wrote, and listening to people clap when I was done. It wasn’t
the Ryman, but this is all any singer-songwriter wants.
Tom now has the bug. Good for him. Go for the Christian Ryman,
wherever that is.
The site has survived past exits, but this one particularly
hurts. Who am I going to argue with about fences? Who is going to tout Wyatt Young? And don’t even get me
started on Danny Muno.
Happily, this is not goodbye for Tom and me. We text daily and
talk on the telly around once every change of season. But this is your
loss and I am sad for you for that.
Will he come back? Will he keep commenting or will that fade off
too? Will Ronny Mauricio ever play another game in a Mets uniform? Is this the
last time we hear about his brother?
Only time…
9 comments:
I hope you're wrong about his absence being a long one. I enjoy reading all the writers here, but you and he are at the top of my list. You might think the two of you are old, but I'm way ahead of both of you and I'd like to keep reading both of you for as long as I'm still on the right side of the grass.
I too hope to read him again
Me?
I will write til I pass and the site will remain open forever
There is something prophetic about Tom's last post being on the.opening day at Citi.
Tom, I feel like I'm Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz...I will miss you most of all scarecrow.
Thank you for all you have given me since my arrival. Enjoyed our exchange of liked minded ideas (EXCEPT FOR SOTO) lol.
You were actually the first person to acknowledge me on this site...thank you and the best of luck.
Tom, Best of luck in your future endeavors. I have always enjoyed your writing and commenting. I usually agree with you, but even I don't, you are thought provoking and I can understand your thoughts.
Hope to see you in the comments and maybe an article or two.
Tom wrote with both insight and humor. I always enjoyed the puns that he inserted in the midst of a serious article with well-researched factual information. That is a talent that few have - to be fun and serious at the same time. His love for the Mets has come in conflict with his passion for entertaining, and for now entertaining has won. I hope we will hear from him again on this site, even if it is just a cameo. Thank you Tom!
Good to know. Keep it going!
Thank you all, gents, and you guys are all terrific, as is Pete, who is a man on a mission, and Megill the Thrill with the Chill
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