Koog, Tom and I had many messages. He told me in early December that he had only a few days left, which shocked me. I knew that his health had deteriorated, but I really believed that he died of a broken heart with the passing of his wife, Denise, in late 2011 or early 2012.
Tom wrote her a short and touching story titled: The Christmas Kitty
Just after Christmas, I wrote my last message to Tom:
"I have not heard from you in a few weeks and I pray that somehow you had a rebound. If you're reading this message, I want to thank you for C2C and more broadly your interest and contributions to the prepping movement. I hope and will wait for a reply from you."
He responded "Hanging on Eddie. Mostly I would just prefer to go."
I knew Tom was in great pain and all I could do was pray for him until the end.
Having lost a great friend, who I never met in person, I changed part of my garden plans for this year. As a tribute, I will plant more rhubarb, asparagus, and strawberries, as Tom and I were planning what he could plant in the sunny breaks of the forest where his cabin was located in the north woods of Minnesota.
When I see my garden this year and beyond, parts of it will remind me of Tom and life as it should be.