Uncle Tom

My uncle Tom, who was also uncle Tom for the kids, passed away last night after a year spent living with brain cancer.  I found out when James called, having only left their house half an hour earlier and having spent some time sitting with Tom (I’m not sure he knew I was there, but I’ve decided to believe he did).

I handled telling the kids very badly in my rush to go and be with Janet and her kids – there’s isn’t a great way to break such news, and I certainly didn’t hit upon it in my distracted state – but Claire stayed with them and calmed them down.  That was something of a task with Sam, who was in floods of tears.  He’d certainly bonded more with Tom, and had been reasonably comfortable visiting him even while he was stuck in bed abd obviously fading.  Sam was there with me last night, though didn’t go up to see Tom, which was for the best.

I’m about to go home now, and will get be distributing extra hugs for both of them.  I’m not sure who they’ll benefit most.

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