Like a ripple in a calm lake, this heartshattering news finally reaches those of us who lived farther away, and yet remain blessed by Tom Dundee's influence.

When I put his CDs on this morning, for some reason, it just seemed right. Then I went to the Internet to see if there was any new news about Tom.

We were last in touch in November before he died in April last year. He sent me his CDs; I sent him a scarf. Scarves were a running joke between us.

We put a tile in the Pike Place Market floor in '86--"Right Lane Man." I had the certificate mounted and framed as a coffee cup coaster and gave it to Tom. Last time I saw it, he kept it in his truck.

I believe he's circling around us all--up there--somewhere, singin', hummin' and laughin' with us.

Tom told me a story about his father's death. He told me that his father was in a bank (I think) and felt 'not right', so asked for a place to lie down. He laid his body down on a bench and said "I don't feel good," and then turned his head and he died. Tom said that he wanted to go that way, quickly and quietly.

It's good news that he had a partner and that he went out on his bike. It doesn't sound like he suffered: God just came for him because He needed a storyteller with a voice and a heart.

Part of Tom will always be with us and we are all blessed.

Love, ET