Singing together somewhere in time
Tom & Gwen
Tom Hunter
For information about Tom Hunter, his ideas, and his music, visit www.tomhunter.com.
Tom Hunter left all of us a legacy of celebration, music, compassion and giving to our communities. Throughout his lifetime, Tom worked with people of all ages and backgrounds to teach new ways of learning and living. We all are committed to "keeping it going" by remembering his smile and his music and his voice.
There was a tremendous outpouring of support for the Hunters during this transition, and the family is deeply grateful.
Tom Hunter left all of us a legacy of celebration, music, compassion and giving to our communities. Throughout his lifetime, Tom worked with people of all ages and backgrounds to teach new ways of learning and living. We all are committed to "keeping it going" by remembering his smile and his music and his voice.
There was a tremendous outpouring of support for the Hunters during this transition, and the family is deeply grateful.
TOM'S HEALTH
Tom Hunter was diagnosed on May 20, 2008 with Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease and died on June 20, 2008.
On September 2, 2008, a letter from the National Prion Disease Pathology Research Center confirmed that Tom had what's called 'sporadic CJD' (sCJD). His was an extremely rare type of sCJD that one in 4.5 million people are diagnosed with annually. We're very grateful that he did not have the inherited form, but it's critically important that a cure for all forms of CJD (caused by scrapy proteins in the brain which can take up to 40 years to manifest and kill their victims) are found. All forms of CJD are fatal.
The most accurate and up-to-date site for learning about CJD and supporting efforts to find a cure is http://www.cjdfoundation.org/ .
On September 2, 2008, a letter from the National Prion Disease Pathology Research Center confirmed that Tom had what's called 'sporadic CJD' (sCJD). His was an extremely rare type of sCJD that one in 4.5 million people are diagnosed with annually. We're very grateful that he did not have the inherited form, but it's critically important that a cure for all forms of CJD (caused by scrapy proteins in the brain which can take up to 40 years to manifest and kill their victims) are found. All forms of CJD are fatal.
The most accurate and up-to-date site for learning about CJD and supporting efforts to find a cure is http://www.cjdfoundation.org/ .
Tom and Gwen
2007
Tom and Aeden
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May 8,2008
Tom and Irene
May 24th, 2008
To live on this earth
you must be able
to do three things:
To love what is mortal;
To hold it
against your bones knowing
your own life depends on it;
And when the time comes to let it go,
to let it go.
mary oliver
DONATIONS
Please help provide financial support by sending whatever you can. We are hoping for lots of $25. hugs- or whatever works for you - to help the Hunters with medical and transition expenses. They also want to protect the wetlands, forest and farm* that have seen so much of their love over the years and to help keep Tom's work alive in the world. (*Contributions given specifically for the mortgage have been moved with overwhelming gratitude to the new Tom Hunter Memorial Account described above.) If you wish to make a donation please make checks payable to Tom Hunter Family Donation (or to Tom Hunter Memorial Account) and mail to:
Whatcom Educational Credit Union
PO Box 9750
Bellingham, WA 98227
If you'd prefer to donate safely and securely using your credit/debit card, use this button:
Whatcom Educational Credit Union
PO Box 9750
Bellingham, WA 98227
If you'd prefer to donate safely and securely using your credit/debit card, use this button:
Now the focus narrows to just the steps ahead. You have a chorus of knowing, loving voices all over this planet to sing you home.
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PHOTOS - NOW ON A NEW PAGE
Many of the photos from this page and also new ones have been moved to their own page and can be viewed by clicking on the link below. If you have photos to share please send them to us at tomhunterblog@gmail.com Thanks.
Pictures of Tom, Family and Friends
Singing with friends
Salem Oregon 1990
Laughing at a story
June 7th from Marie
"All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today" Indian Proverb
with love from Gege Manolis
with love from Gege Manolis
Tom and Irene
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June 2008
COMMENTS and HOW TO HELP
To leave a comment for Tom and his family please scroll to the bottom of this page, and then come back up to today's date on the left side. Click on "comments" and leave your message in the box on the right side of the comments page. Your comment will not show up immediately as all comments go through the postmaster. They will be posted as soon as possible. If your comment is not posted within 24 hours please contact the postmaster at tomhunterblog@gmail.com
There are many ways to help. Please click on www.tomhuntersupport.blogspot.com under Music, Meals, Flowers, Yard Work, Farm Work below or look for the How to Help section opposite the daily comments on the right side of the blog towards the bottom.
There are many ways to help. Please click on www.tomhuntersupport.blogspot.com under Music, Meals, Flowers, Yard Work, Farm Work below or look for the How to Help section opposite the daily comments on the right side of the blog towards the bottom.
Music, meals, flowers, yard work & farm work
The Hunter Family
Jeanne Herrick has put many photos from the blog into a beautiful slide show. Click below to watch
Words from Tom's Dad
May 26
Somebody noticed what you did today
Somebody noticed little things along the way
How you watched how you listened to what children do and say;
Somebody noticed what you've done alway
'Tis grace has brought us safe thus far,
And grace will lead us home.
May 29
And the Angels took care of him.
May 31st
The Lord bless and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you, your family, the city of Bellingham, and the world, peace-- both now and forevermore. Amen
Somebody noticed what you did today
Somebody noticed little things along the way
How you watched how you listened to what children do and say;
Somebody noticed what you've done alway
'Tis grace has brought us safe thus far,
And grace will lead us home.
May 29
And the Angels took care of him.
May 31st
The Lord bless and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you, your family, the city of Bellingham, and the world, peace-- both now and forevermore. Amen
Tom with the love quilt
From First Congregational Church of Bellingham
Aeden, Tom & Willard Hunter
Three Generations
Tom and Cindy
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Prayer rocks from Lummi Island
"Sometimes healing is more than getting better. Sometimes it's love revealed....." - Tom Hunter
Aeden and Tom, April '08
May 20, 2008
Here I sit, feeling my feet on the floor
An image of grounding you’ve used lots before
Trying to make sense of this surreal, difficult time
While loving where I came from with infinite pride
It’s been amazing how many lines from your songs
Have been lights in the darkness when it all feels wrong
Have comforted, questioned, been profound and fun
Your capacity for humanity is second to none
This world is a better place because of who you are
And that’s known widely – near and far
In music, education, and matters of the heart
You’ve bettered lives right from the start
I’m so proud of you, of where I’ve come from
You’re a huge part of me and have taught me a ton
About being human, love, laughter, and tears
And how to keep going despite life’s fears
Please don’t worry about the rest of us
We’ll take care of each other and will always feel your touch
Your laughter, music, compassion, and voice
Will always be with us in the midst of life’s noise
So here I sit, feeling my feet on the floor
With love and gratitude deep down in my core
I’m so grateful for the time we have had
You’ll always be my mentor, my best friend, my dad.
-Aeden
Irene and Tom last summer
The very best dad in the world
i’ve always loved your laugh lines,
the way you smile ear to ear
and you always have this easy way
of crushing any fears.
we’ve shared so much so far in life
and i’m so proud and glad
that i can say with confidence
i have the very best dad.
from raspberries to hasty moves
and the cutting edge again?!
to times when you have comforted me
over troubles with my friends.
you know how to relieve the weird feelings
when things don’t feel quite right
you let me put them in your hands
and throw them into the night.
we’ve shared trees against the sky
and books, poems, songs and walks
you taught me respect by looking again
and i’ve always loved our talks.
from dream stories to lake padden eagles
and coloring outside the lines
i can say with ease and confidence
you have the most lovely mind.
i remember all those wakeful nights
and running down the hall
you and mom sang lullabies
and sound asleep i’d fall.
i’m your goofball now—
i’ll always be whether we’re near or far
i’ll hold you close in who i am
no matter where we are.
i know it’s getting harder
to take in this fantastic world
just know i love you—i always will—
as daddy’s little girl.
Irene
May 22, 2008 After baptizing little Maddie
Exchanging blessings
To My Old Brown Earth by Pete Seeger
To my old brown Earth
And to my old blue sky
I'll now give these last few molecules of I
And you who sing
And you who stand near by
I do charge you not to cry
Guard well our human chain
Watch well you keep it strong
As long as sun will shine
And this our home
Keep pure and sweet and green
For now I'm yours
And you are also mine
with thanks to Cori Dusmann
May 22, 2008 At the Shepherd's
"I want my music to be grounded in the realities of what kids and teachers know. I want it to 'ring true; as it helps people laugh, cry, remember, celebrate, and learn."
— Tom Hunter
Tom in his backyard Labor Day 03
"I've been visiting schools to sing songs for almost 30 years. I've been in a lot of classrooms, presented a lot of workshops, talked with a lot of teachers, and sat on a lot of floors with kids. If I bring reminders of what's important in education, they come from finding those moments when the heart shows up, moments that peek around the corner and need to be invited farther into the room so we can see them. Such moments might seem ordinary but they are way too important to be captured in test scores. They fill teachers (and sometimes children) to overflowing."
Quoted from Tom's introduction to his book of essays : "Visits to the Heart of Education: Remembering What's Important" (available from Song Growing Company - see link below)
Quoted from Tom's introduction to his book of essays : "Visits to the Heart of Education: Remembering What's Important" (available from Song Growing Company - see link below)
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"But what if we can't get there?
What if it's too far?
What if we can't find our way from right here where we are?
What if it doesn't matter
that we can't find our star?
What if God comes anyway
right here where we are?"
-Tom Hunter
What if it's too far?
What if we can't find our way from right here where we are?
What if it doesn't matter
that we can't find our star?
What if God comes anyway
right here where we are?"
-Tom Hunter
Northwest Teachers Camp
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from Cori Dusmann
Photos
If you have photos of Tom that we can use on the blog, please email them to us at tomhunterblog@gmail.com
Today, like every other day, we wake up empty
and frightened. Don't open the door to the study
and begin reading. Take down a musical instrument.
Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.
Rumi, the Sufi Poet
and frightened. Don't open the door to the study
and begin reading. Take down a musical instrument.
Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.
Rumi, the Sufi Poet
Clarification -- How to Comment
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If you have questions about the blog or if this does not work for you -- send your message to the postmaster at: tomhunterblog@gmail.com and it will be posted for you.
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Tuesday, June 24, 2008
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17 comments:
Although I can't be in Washington this Saturday for Tom's memorial I'm going to stop whatever I'm doing at 2:00, face north and sing The Time We've Been Together. I so wish our time with Tom had lasted longer but...we will remember.
Debbie, that's a great idea - I've been bummed out about not being at the memorial, too. I'll be about 100 miles southeast, singing along with you. (Think we can harmonize over that distance?) I've been so grateful for the support of our NWTC friends over the past few months - I love and appreciate you all.
Robin
One of the beautiful things about this idea is that since we are scattered all over the US, and therefore, all across the time zones, there will be a cascade of song across the land, over the course of the afternoon . . . what a beautiful notion.
A quick addition, the morning after Tom passed away, I had to get up early to teach (yeah, about that 5AM time you all have been using to reflect and be together in solitude) -- and I was driving across rural Iowa to get to my teaching site and there was the most amazing *double* rainbow -- I couldn't help but smile and feel blessed on my travels. He's with us.
Kelly (Central Time Zone!)
Debbie and Robin~ From out here in Wisconsin,my voice will be joining yours and so many more... and we will all remember and be so grateful for the time we did have together.
Tom and family, thank you soooo much for all of the positive memories I've been so lucky to look back on... Every time he came to my school (Fremont Open Plan) I was extremely excited to hear him play. His influence in my love for music was wonderful! :) I am a lifetime musician, well... a drummer! And I have a home recording studio that I feel blessed to have. I am going to get the old songs tonight on cd's and look forward to hearing his special songs. Take care and God bless... Matthew Cox
We all miss Tom very much. The concert here in Modesto is such a great honor to a wonderful man. We send our hearts and love and prayers to you Shelly Scribner
DEAR FAMILY, Wilma and I had Tom to our 50th birthday party in Columbia to be the program. She used his music in her school regularly. I used his music constantly in Shalom Retreats on the mountain and it was a blessing to all. I will miss him greatly and wish for all of you God's care as you move on in your lives. With great affection, Charles Lindberg - charles-lindberg@att.net
Debbie, Robin, Kelly and Billie, I am close enough and I will have the opportunity to attend although if I could not i would be facing the north at 2:00 with you all. Penny Thedens
Debbie and Robin,
We'll be with you, we'll all be together.
We can't begin to say what this will mean to us.
It's truly amazing how people from all over feel their own special loss, whether Tom sat in our kitchens or we saw him sing in a workshop.
I think when Tom would say, "You come too", those four words say it so simple and plain that only a child can truly understand it right off the bat. For us grown-ups it takes a few seconds to sink in, then you understand those words oh so well. An invitation to get to know ourselves again, to fill up, and sometimes we didn't give ourselves the time or the opportunities.
With your special way, Tom, that you put the words together, the way you knew a song can be the most powerful thing in this world, you kinda showed us a way to care for ourselves. And then it all radiates out to our families, to our friends, to our co-workers, to the children in our classes, even to strangers. Because everyone can come too-that's the wonder and the beauty of it all.
Gwen, Irene, and Aeden, there's gonna be a soft breeze floating to Bellingham on Saturday from all around.
Love always,
Jennifer and Mike
Dear Ones,
I LOVE this idea and I will be the lead voice from Mountain Standard Time!
I loved Tom. Tears just well up at the flood of feelings and memories.
I love this space to connect and learn from so many.
I love hearing your thoughts and knowing your heart and your friendship is out there.
Thank you.
I wish I could be there Saturday. My heart will be.
Love to Gwen, Aeden and Irene.
Sherry Baugh
Dear Gwen, Aeden and Irene,
I will be joining Sherry and others from the mountain time zone....bringing alto harmony from Yellowstone National Park. I'll look for a 'flat rock in the river' and face northwest.
The Montana AEYC would also like to honor Tom, who has been such a friend to educators in this state, in their next newsletter and at the state conference in October. We want to respect your grieving and your wishes. When you are able please let me know how you would like this to be done. I am leaving my contact information below.
Peace and blessings,
Jean
jwoessner@bigsky.net
Irene - your postings in Beautiful Nightime are so poignant and open, and I feel such a connection to your feelings. Although my Dad was much older than yours and his death was more predictable, he, too, was surrounded by his family in love and song at the end. I missed him and felt that sense you express of part of me being "missing" every day for weeks and months afterwards. It comes in waves.
Today, I took my African and native drums and all my percussion instruments to our seniors centre and facilitated a rhythm circle with staff and elders there. It was wonderful to see the smiles on those dear wrinkled faces, and to watch them druming and shaking along. And last Saturday night I sang a set of Tom's songs at our monthly Full Moon Cafe. It's an evening of sharing and music that we've been doing for 4 years now - at a lovely little wooden clubhouse, by the park by the river. It was such a beautiful evening (and the longest day is a BIG deal up north here) that we sat out on the porch overlooking the park.
Your dad's songs are so easily available to people - the lyrics with lots of repetition and inviting changes to include the group, and the melodies lyrical and engaging - and everyone joined in although most people there hadn't heard the songs before. What I love about your dad's songs is that children love and participate in them, and adults can really connect with them and understand the deeper meanings, and the heartfelt messages in them.
I've been singing "There was music in my mother's house..." and "May the memories wrap their arms around you..." a lot lately.
Tomorrow at 2:00 pm Mountain time I'll be the northern (alto harmony) voice. I'll stand on the ridge overlooking our beautiful river valley and belt out "the time that we have been together... has gone too fast!" and think of you all all over the continent, sharing our love of Tom, his music and his wisdom.
We will keep it going, and we will remember!
XX
Hope Moffatt
Dear Irene, Aeden and Gwen,
Tears are still close, and thoughts and feelings of Tom are every present. It feels good; it feels real.
Something I have wanted to share was validated again by your recent post, Irene. You are doing it, you are keeping it going. Every time each of you share with us the ways Tom lived his life, the choices he made, the ways he parented you two, we receive lessons from Tom. Thank you for this.
And a deep thanks for sharing this most special time with all of us.
We brought Tom to the mountains this past weekend. A bunch of families went camping and we sat around and sang with Tom. I know he will stay around in our lives like this. I hope to hear and learn from you more too.
Hugs and Love,
Mindi
Roseville Community School
In the Fall of 2008 I attended Tom's conference in Long Island, NY. As an early childhood teacher I have been to many - but his presentation was the best I have ever experienced. I am deeply saddened to hear of his passing,what an amazing contribution he has made to the world. Yesterday was our school's "Moving Up" ceremony and we did the Pirate Song. This was my class's favorite song all year. I will continue to teach young children all of Tom's beautiful music! My deepest sympathy. Lisa Kozlowsky
I was very sorry to hear of Tom's passing. I originally heard him in ~1981 when I was a child at the Cedar Hills Co-Op kindergarden (Portland, Or) around 1981. Our family had a tape of his music and listened to it so many times.
Recently my daughter started at the Co-op and was introduced to some of his songs. I'm glad that after all these years, she was able to learn some of his songs.
Thanks Tom.
June 23, 2008 10:59 PM
Dear Irene,
Your writing shows that you are surely your father's daughter. I hope I can know you some day. You and Aeden are his most prescious legacy. I know you can feel all of the arms wrapped around you.
Deb
"What is the quality of time that you spend with another person?"
--Tom Hunter, from a workshop for preschool
teachers
A memory from Marla Donaldson
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