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.
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.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
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12 comments:
Irene - thank you for sharing the memorial service with those of us who couldn't physically be there but were there in spirit. You have been sharing your father's last days with us, and what a tremendous gift that has been. Thanks to you and your Mom and brother for your generosity of spirit even in your grief and despair.
The missing him will be hard and sweet and real, just as the loving him is easy and sweet and real.
I am grateful for your father's thoughts and the music he left behind for us, and very grateful to you all for letting us into your lives at this difficult time. You showed us the way to help a loved one go from this plane of existence to the next. None of us could ask for a better transition.
"Angels watchin' over me..."
Blessings to you all,
Hope Moffatt
Hi
Just wanted to let you know i am keeping it going by continuing to think of you all.
cousin ruthie
hi
keeping it goinging-you all in my thoughts.
cousin ruthie
Hey
I found about 10 songs Tom wrote around 1971 and before. I will send them to you with a copy for Richard.
Ruthie
That was an incredibly brave thing you did yesterday my friend, coming to this part of town….
I know this neighborhood holds so many memories for you. I’d like to think that as hard as it was, you found some comfort as well.
I thought about what drew you to make the journey here yesterday, and I (being the drama queen that I am) thought maybe Tom wanted you to be in another space he loved so much, as much as he loved the farm, Teacher’s camp, the lake and you.
You know that Tracey Spring song “Love is around”? I keep hearing in my head “Tom is Around”
Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. You should know that the kind of tedious painful necessary stuff you are doing right now is the stuff I do at work, for people I don’t necessarily love. It would be an honor to be of assistance to you.
(If nothing else, let's make your computer able to download your e-mail...)
Love
Marla…
Teacher's Camp was officially canceled this year, but over forty people gathered anyway. It's become a community with deep ties. Many of us needed to be together this year.
Yesterday, I did some writing with Kelly and Ellen at Camp Brotherhood, facing the rose and the apple tree we'd planted for Tom the day before. I wanted to explore what "Keep it Going" means for me in my life as a teacher.
Here's some of what came out of this written reflection. I started out rambling about what I think Tom believed. I feel a little funny putting Tom's beliefs into my own words without him here to agree or disagree with my interpretations of what I've heard him say over the years, but I think he'd be O.K. with it. I needed to think about what I want to keep going...
"What does it mean for me as a classroom teacher to keep it going? What did Tom care about? He believed in the power of music. He believed in how vital it is for children (and adults) to feel like they belong, to know that their presence is valued and their absence is noted, with a spot saved just for them. He believed in teachers being real with children, and in giving children space, time, respect, and an environment where they can be themselves. He believed in celebrations and rituals, and open-ended invitations. He believed in not shying away from hard subjects like death. Even little kids have things to say when the old gray goose is dead. He believed in big and loud, and encouraging kids and adults to take risks. He believed in thinking about time generously -- allowing the time for children to think, feel, and learn, and allowing teachers the time and space to create a classroom community. He believed in sadness and anger and wonder and joy and profound thoughts. He believed in curiosity and wondering about things, even if the questions can't be answered. He believed in words, in all three forms -- spoken, sung, and written. He believed in savoring words, in rolling them around on your tongue and delighting in them, and spitting them out just to see how they spit. He believed in noticing details. He believed in the power of teachers to effect positive change in children's lives. He believed in the power of connections and in relationships of all kinds -- "Let's have coffee", "I'm coming to see you", "I'm so glad you're here." He believed in the importance of communities -- in classrooms, and in people's lives outside the classroom. He believed in getting comfortable with open spaces. He believed in gratitude. He believed that our biggest job as educators was to help kids become as human as they can be.
So what intentions can I bring into my 4th grade classroom? Here are some very specific ideas I came up with. I'm trying to stick with ones that are "do-able".
• I can protect the time I have for singing and not feel guilty when it cuts into the time spent on "the content areas."
• I can create a time to reflect about my teaching and my children, either before school or after school. I need to build in the habit of feeling gratitude for each one of my students. Maybe a candle ritual would work for me too.
• I can make time to write about my teaching, to notice the details, and share my writing with others.
• I can take on this issue of standardized testing and look at how much time I'm spending "covering" what will be on the test. I really do believe that a rich, creative curriculum and a community in which students feel safe taking risks will lead to students who do just fine on the tests. How much can I put this belief into action?
• I can be intentional about creating a daily schedule that incorporates music, movement, creativity, and the invitation for children to bring their glorious quirky selves into as many assignments as possible.
• I can be thoughtful about each new mandate and new initiative from above, and remember to ask the question: "Does this make sense for children?" I can be gentle but firm in standing up for what I believe and I can be brave in opening up dialogues with my colleagues."
Oh, how I wish Tom were still here. It's hard to accept that he's not. But what I can do is think about what of Tom can stay alive in my teaching. Penny Mann's words at the memorial service about Tom's gift for being amazed leads me to another way to think about it. What did Tom bring out in me, for us both to look at in amazement, that I can now resolve to keep alive on my own?
Dear family of Tom Hunter,
I am so sorry to hear of Tom's death. He was a very special person who touched so many lives, one of them was mine. I learned about his passing from a teacher with whom I worked in Hong Kong - Jen Whitman.
I invited Tom Hunter to my school in Brussels, Belgium in 1995 for the grand opening of our new Early Childhood Center at the International School of Brussels. I was the principal of that division of the school at the time, and wanted a musician who was truly child centered who could help us celebrate this special occasion. Tom worked with our young students for a week to compose a school song and then we all sang it for our opening ceremony. We had a child centered ceremony which involved wrapping a giant red ribbon around our new building and having all 300+ children take their own pair of scissors and cut the ribbon. Then many of them pinned it on their clothes and ran around all day with a bit of red ribbon blowing in the wind. What I was so impressed by was Tom's spirit - he was so "real" with everyone and connected with our international children so easily. I loved his voice, how he sat on the floor with children, how he really honored the early childhood profession, how he brought out the best in all, how spiritual his songs were. His warmth and infectious laughter were so wonderful to be around. I could tell he totally understood my world and the world of our school. Tom inspired me in so many ways that I needed at the time, and when I moved on to my current school - the Hong Kong International School, I introduced them to Tom Hunter's music. Just about every year, I have played one or two of Tom's songs for school assemblies or faculty meetings - "It Takes A Whole Village" or "Thank You Teachers" are both favorites of mine. I will soon be moving to another international school - the American School of Bombay - and I will surely bring Tom's music with me.
Thank you for sharing your story about his funeral and your feelings on the blog site. What a special memory. If possible, I would appreciate hearing any further news about his illness and the days before he died. I will keep your family in my prayers and will always remember Tom Hunter.
Sincerely,
Madeleine Maceda Heide
This blog has been a blessing to me. I appreciate what Margie Singer said. Irene your maturity astounds me. I want you to know your Dad influenced thousands to be better teachers, That light will shine brighter and continue on. Anna Marie lent me a book-(we had both been doing a lot of talking about what your Dad gave us as teachers), Guiding Lights by Eric Liu was the book--it's about incredible mentors and how they change everything--that was a big part of your Dad to us and that power, engery, passion, love, whatever name you want to give it will never die.
At tonights community sing I could close my eyes and almost pretend I was in your back yard again. I've always known I love you Hunters but I was a little surprised to realize how many other peopele you have connected me to. Linda B
Hello Hunters, continued bloggers and all of the lovely people I connected with at Teachers Camp,
I only spent one evening and morning with you all but i was able to see why Tom loved being with you and understand the amazing experience that he helped create for teachers over the years. I am really grateful to Irene and Margie and others who continue to write on the blog. To me it is a way to keep it going and still be connected to Tom and others who want to keep it going. I don't want to let go of him, so through each other we don't have to.
I spent the week in Houston with child care teachers who work with the lowest income children and families in the city. We spent time in programs, hanging out with babies and toddlers and preschoolers, amazing in the details of their perpsectives and making meaning of it together. It felt just like the kind of work that Tom (and you all ) would love. So thank you for letting me be apart of your group and for the wonderful energy I got to take away with me. Let's keep this going!
Much affection and appreciation,
Deb
To all the wonderful teachers who were brave enough to come to NWTC this past week...thank you from the bottom of my heart! The week was full of tears and laughter and singing and thoughtful conversations about just what "keep it going" means to each of us. You rose to the occasion and were willing to trust and be totally open in your grief with the end result being healing more deep than we could have imagined. It turned out to be an amazing week with an overall spirit of hope and true joy...Tom would have been so proud of all of us! Having Irene, Aeden and Gwen join us was so meaningful as was sharing some of the time with Richard, and other past presenters who have been the heart of NWTC all these years.I'd also like to thank the PSGW people for their ongoing support, in every capacity-it means a great deal to all of us! I am grateful for all the efforts Flip put in to make it happen this year and for all who have promised to "keep it going" in years to come!
Teachers (and children) everywhere will reap the benefits of our commitment and passion for keeping Tom's spirit strong in the world! With love and gratitude, Billie
Dear Irene,
Your words about teachers made me feel good. Your dad has always been such an advocate for teachers. I remember thinking how radical what he'd say sounded, radical because no one thinks like that except teachers. And when there are more than 2 or 3 of us together we talk about the cards stacked against us retiring with anything, living check to check, politics in general and politics sometimes in the same school or class. But when we experienced teacher camp, what we got there was worth 100s or 1000s times more than we expected. Every person in this world should at one time in their life experience the fulfillment Jen and I felt about our jobs, our lives, and spending time and making connections with people who are so different and so alike.
We are so happy to hear that camp continued, and that you, Aeden and Gwen were there.
Love to all,
Jennifer and Mike
Dear Irene, Thank you for continuing to write on the blog. I visit it regularly because it's a way to not let go of Tom. I look forward to your posts as they are so insightful, honest and full of love. My thoughts continue to be with all of you.
Deb
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