Once upon a time, in the Fall of, 1966 or 1967 Tom invited me to join him and his family for Thanksgiving, at their home in Batesville, Indiana. Tom and I were classmates at Chaminade College Prep School, in St. Louis. Somehow, Tom learned that my experience with family was really broken. On the Trailways bus, from Indianapolis, we visited a little and Tom, who was always careful with what he chose to share, just told me, he wanted me to meet his family. And so I did. The minute I entered the room, I could feel there was a connection between Tom, his mother and father and all his sisters and brothers, I had never known. There was something unfamiliar to me, in the home in Batesville; just honesty and love. Though, I was so very much at peace and so thankful to Tom for inviting me, I had little to say on the way home, because I was remembering how wonderful it was. Tom turned to me, while riding the bus home and with that great Tom Laugle smile of sincerity he said, "Well, I see you got it." Tears came to my eyes and he patted my shoulder. Once again, Tom spoke saying, "I figured." 

     My family fell apart and left St. Louis. I left Chaminade and started down a long road where I was always drawn to families, hoping to see that love and honesty, once more. 

Tom lives in the lines of my songs. 

 Here's a link to a Paul Simon song that spells out much of my life experience and maybe Tom's as well.  https://vimeo.com/channels/safronmusic/15240596 

When I look at this link, after making the edit and insertion, it's somehow incomplete 

https://vimeo.com/channels/sa…

https://vimeo.com/channels/sa…

Here's one from the same concert, for Tom. 

God Bless, Tom Laugle 

Will Safron