I’m gobsmacked to just learn of Tom’s passing. When I left Dicken’s Fair in 2014 - we were relegated to FB contact. (Then I left FB in 2023 … )

My little chum the “evil garden gnome”. (It was all about that green hat at RenFaire.) My how we laughed. We easily amused each other. (Even more so when laughing at others … lots of others … dear Lord , so many others! ) So much shenanigans at RenFair, DickFest, etc.

I had the doubious honor(?) of giving him his RenFaire name, and Miracle Sweeps name! In St.Helena’s Guild, he didn’t want to be another “Pigfirker”, he wanted to be a cousin … but … still a “Wil”. Most of the family names were about animal abuse, so, he became “Wil Weaselwacker” - adopted son, found in a muddy pig sty - of Ken E.Milliken’s character, “Wat”.  When it came time to join the Miracle Sweeps - a natural progression for male Pigfirker family members - it was time for a new name. (We tried to make them as rude as we could.). Tom became “Jism”. And, when we thought he’d balk, he just laughed his fool head off! “Beauty!” he said, embracing it as his own. Yep. Gooble-Gobble One of Us!

(Yeah, he knew any obscure reference you could throw at him! Another bonding element.)

We had a lot of great fun. There was a lot of mutual love. And always those great bear hugs saying hello or good-bye.

Until we see each other in Valhalla or that place with the red pajamas and horns …

Oh man, one of my favorite Thomas memories is from one of his visits to our college home in Arcata. Thomas was visiting Soph on his way back from the Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam. He was regaling us with many a 'high' light (pun intended) from his travels and even shared some of the fine flavors sampled on his trip. I will leave the 'how' it was brought back to your fine imaginations...but I will say we were all rather taken a 'back. 

Sending so much love to all who loved and miss him now.