tom farquhar was a childhood friend and hero of mine. he was also one of the sweetest people i've ever met. no surprise, though - his whole family was kind and inclusive in a way that seems to have died out everywhere else. tom was killed at work on friday when a lathe that he and a co-worker were moving fell on him.
his death doesn't seem real. the world is a great deal darker at his loss. tom walked me to school on my first day, and protected me from bullies until i was big enough to take care of myself. his house was where all of the neighborhood kids played. was there a house like that in your neighborhood? when our tv blew up, the farquhars let my brothers & i watch tv at their house until my folks could afford another.
tom showed me my first girlie magazine, taught me how to fight, and to always, always be kind. he was the builder of forts, the car tinkerer, and he had a smile that lit up the room.
goodbye, tom. i will miss you. we all will.