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Contributed by: Liz Kirby - Tom's Mother

Tom’s Mother made a gorgeous flower arrangement for Tom’s birthday and put it in a vase Tom sent her with flowers in it 20 years ago for her birthday.

She sent this photo of it to me and said it would be okay if I posted it on his site.

As a teenager, Tommy taught her to do flower arranging.

Isn’t this arrangement gorgeous! I have no doubt in my mind that Tommy would be extremely proud of his mother for creating this beautiful arrangement for his birthday. It’s deeply touching that they both taught each other many things in life, and that she is carrying on what she learned from Tom about flower arranging. Beautiful!

I see them both in this beautiful arrangement, and their love for each other.

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Contributed by: Martin & Mary

As a birthday tribute to Tommy we thought you might enjoy more entertainment from him. This is a part 2 to the last video. In this we get to see his humor and music flowing out of him. Where else would you get to hear “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” peppered with “The Price is Right Theme”, “All in the Family Theme” and rousing a cappella rendition of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, where even a dog joins in!

We hope this brings you joy and laughter on Tommy’s birthday.

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Contributed by: Mary Evans

Does anyone remember Tommy’s love for Jan Hooks?

He knew every one of her line’s in The Alamo scene in the movie “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure”. Tommy’s imitation of Jan Hook’s accent in that scene was hilarious. He would exaggerate the accent even more, so that when she said “paint and glaze”, for example, he really stretched out the word “glaaaaaze”. He used to lower his voice more too as he said that word. Watch this scene and just imagine Tommy’s voice doing all of Jan Hooks’ lines. He particularly loved to say “Well, buenas dias!” in a more exaggerated accent too.

Hopefully it brings you a laugh or warm inner smile today.

While bringing up Tommy’s love of Jan Hooks, I also have to mention her performances as one of “The Sweeney Sisters” on Saturday Night Live (which YouTube doesn’t have). Tommy LOVED The Sweeney Sisters! Does anyone else remember him singing, “Clang clang clang went the trolley… Ding ding ding went the bells…”

Speaking of bells, I’ll end this with beautiful bells, since Tommy had such a passion for the sound of big, beautiful cathedral bells.

Every time a bell rings, think of Tommy running over to listen to every ding. 🙂

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Contributed by: Mary Evans

I’m watching “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” on TV, the annual tradition, and thinking of Tommy. XO

One of Tommy’s favorite parts he used to imitate just came on TV as I started to write:

“If we shape the eyes like this, and the nose like this, and the mouth like this…” – said by Violet, while drawing a pumpkin on the back of Charlie Brown’s head, using his head as a model for a pumpkin.

Sometimes over the years, while drawing or writing something, Tommy would quote that line. Or, if we were describing something on the phone, we might give up on describing it and just say that line.

I remember Tommy wore a ghost costume once with holes cut out all over it, like the one in this show.

Here’s the music he loved, and many of us love too:

 

Tommy + Halloween = Magic. So many Halloween memories of Tommy! Feel free to share any. I will still try to write more when I can. I know I’m not alone when I say…

I miss him. And it’s hard.

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Contributed by: Mary Evans

Just wanted to share a couple Tommy photos to bring a smile.

This was at the Disney Store when Tommy visited me in New Orleans in the 1990’s.

A small group of us went shopping together, and we were obviously joking around when these photos were taken.

“With Dopey” and “Dancing under Mickey”

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Contributed by: Nyre

Just a few pictures of Tommy, Amy and I from some of my favorite days in the 90’s.  We would drive around Austin pretending to be tourists.  Check out Tommy’s HUGE camcorder!

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Contributed by: Mary Evans

Under the previous music post, Dave and I were discussing Tom playing Peanuts music on piano. I wanted to hear Tom playing his variety of Peanuts music again so badly, so I looked and found this so far. I hope to find more in the future because Tommy loved to add his own unique Tommy-isms to everything.

This video shows Tom’s love for the Peanuts and the music of his childhood. And more! I don’t want to name it all off just yet because you guys have to experience the full variety as Tommy played it – how he goes from one fun idea to the next. Maybe watch it first, then read the rest.

This was from a Christmas party in NYC at an apartment where Tom lived with other roommates. He was sooo excited about the upcoming Christmas party, and I was too!   I remember hauling a big Christmas tree with him and someone else for blocks one year, but I am not sure if it was the tree in this apartment this particular year. Tommy always loved a Christmas tree, and the whole Christmas season… as shown by his sparkly Christmas hat. Continue reading “Tom at Piano – Peanuts Collection & More – NYC Christmas Party”

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Contributed by: Mary Evans

Whether you have one song that reminds you of Tommy or many songs, please share the names of the songs. If there is a memory to go with it, we’d all love to hear it!

Please come back to this discussion & reply whenever memories of Tommy’s favorite music comes to you. Sometimes you can’t *think* of a musical memory. It just comes to you out of the blue.

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Contributed by: Liz Kirby - Tom's Mother

My brother loved to play jokes on David and Tommy.  You never knew what Uncle Bob was going to do. On Tommy’s 4th birthday, my brother, sister-in-law, and niece were here with my family and Tom’s grandmother to celebrate his birthday.  I had gotten a specially decorated cake with a train on it like he wanted and it was hidden.  We had dinner first.   Once dinner was over, Tommy was getting very excited about his cake and presents.  My brother grabbed a left over dinner roll, asked me for a candle, and lit it.  He told everyone to gather around and sing “Happy Birthday” to Tommy.  Of course Tom was expecting the cake to come out and the “Birthday Roll” came out with the singing and celebration.  You can see Tommy’s reaction in the picture.  The “birthday roll” picture has been famous in our family since 1977.  I saw a picture of Tom posted yesterday that shows his precious smile when he saw the real cake he had been waiting for!!    My family can have a cruel humor sometime.  So did Tommy and his brother!!!!

Tom’s mother

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Contributed by: Mary Evans

Tommy,

I know you’d want me to say something funny to set a funny vibe here. The last thing you’d want is to see many people you’ve known and loved crying about you. You thrived on making people laugh. One of my greatest joys is laughing with you for hours and hours over the most ridiculous stuff. But, I never imagined what life would be like trying to laugh at all our favorite stupidly hilarious things by myself. What do I do with a million inside jokes? Can you imagine me just going on stage to do a stand-up routine sharing one of our inside-jokes after another, only to be met with blank stares? You would probably be laughing hysterically at that, if you were watching me. I’d actually do it for you to make you laugh, even though I’d have terrible stage fright without you. Continue reading “Tommy XOXO”

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