They Brought Tommy To Me ...
@GrannyGee (3517)
Louisburg, North Carolina
May 25, 2017 8:01am CST
My cousins took many, many photos at Myrtle Beach, SC. The photos were at the very beach my son played for the first ... last time with his little son, Taban.
He barely made it to the beach in time to do what he wanted to do most ... play at the beach with his son. He and Taban slipped off to the beach while everyone took luggage up to their rooms. They were going to vacation at Sands Beach Club for a week. Tommy never got to go up to the room.
This photo is one of the many taken so I could see where my son last ran, played with his little son just before collapsing on the soft, warm sand. In my mind ... I can picture angels gently guiding his body to the beach.
I haven't had opportunity to get to Myrtle Beach ... walk where his feet walked, ran ... feel the ocean air ... smell the ocean breeze ... let the ocean spray me ... try to walk where I sense he walked with his little son. I want to so much.
Now ... I have photos to look at ... to get a picture in my mind. Not only that ... they 'brought Tommy' to me! I have beautiful little clear jars of ocean sand ... ocean water ... shells from the beach where Tommy died.
They brought me 2 wine glasses an old woman was selling at a little table ... she had a set with dragonflies someone's hands had hand-painted. My cousin told me she felt Tommy was sending a message to his mother ... she couldn't leave without getting them for me too. Also, she brought back a sand dollar with the hotel's name on it.
I began to cry when I saw all the photos ... I needed them and didn't know how much. They ... brought Tommy ... to me.
This Memorial Day ... May 29, 2010 Tommy died ... will make 7 years Tommy has been gone. I still can't believe it.
40 people like this
25 responses
@JamesHxstatic (29416)
• Eugene, Oregon
25 May 17
I can't imagine how hard it must be to lose a child. So sorry that happened.
3 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (37122)
• Toccoa, Georgia
25 May 17
That picture with those precious items are a lovely tribute to your son. I pray you get to go to Myrtle Beach soon to be in that last place he was. Hugs to you!
2 people like this
@Courtlynn (67032)
• United States
25 May 17
Sorry again for your loss. Must be tough
2 people like this
@rusty2rusty (6763)
• Defiance, Ohio
30 May 17
Oh, the gifts are a wonderful delight indeed. You are blessed with thoughtful people in your life. I am sorry about your loss.
1 person likes this
@GrannyGee (3517)
• Louisburg, North Carolina
31 May 17
It meant a lot to me, thank you 
1 person likes this
it's difficult ,hard I can understand.
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
31 May 17
It is often nice to have such things when we have lost someone. It is really interesting that someone just happened to be there selling glasses with the dragonflies, isn't it?
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
1 Jun 17
@GrannyGee It might always be a mystery. Would love it if they saw this elderly woman again!
1 person likes this
@Butchcass4 (5895)
• United States
3 Jun 17
So sorry for your loss! God bless you and your family.
1 person likes this
@GrannyGee (3517)
• Louisburg, North Carolina
6 Jun 17
@Butchcass4 I can understand your pain, Kimberly Kay. I love that he called you 'Fred'. I'm so sorry. I'm honored you shared that with me.
@DaddyEvil (137239)
• United States
29 May 17
I remembered you lost your son on Memorial Day, but couldn't remember how long ago. (I am very sorry for your loss!
)
I am glad he was able to do what he always wanted to do before he left! I am sure his son still remembers his dad on that day.
It was very nice of your family to take so many photos, collect sand, water and shells from that beach for you, too. I am sure it helps you feel closer to Tommy than you would have without them.
My thoughts are with you....
)
I am glad he was able to do what he always wanted to do before he left! I am sure his son still remembers his dad on that day.
It was very nice of your family to take so many photos, collect sand, water and shells from that beach for you, too. I am sure it helps you feel closer to Tommy than you would have without them.
My thoughts are with you....1 person likes this
@GrannyGee (3517)
• Louisburg, North Carolina
29 May 17
Thank you very much for your comforting words. Oh yes ... the ocean gifts they brought back to me has made all the difference in how I feel in a good way. I'm honored you remembered.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38755)
• Midland, Michigan
26 May 17
I, too, am sorry for you loss. I'm glad your son was able to spend even the little bit of time with his own son on the beach that day. Do you mind if I ask how old your son was on that fateful, awful day? There are several other moms here that lost sons, so you're not alone, but even so I'm sure this is very hard for you.
It's nice that your cousins did all of that for you.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38755)
• Midland, Michigan
29 May 17
@GrannyGee Oh my gosh. That is a bit too young. Lots of people are walking around with blockages of some type and haven't a clue, so he wasn't alone in that.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38755)
• Midland, Michigan
29 May 17
@GrannyGee Once kids get to be in their thirties it's probably a good idea to have a basic physical just to have a baseline for the doctors for later on. I don't think they'd need to go every year then though. I think our society equates business for exercise and usually they have nothing to do with each other. I know of many people my age and thereabouts that say they are active and don't need to exercise, but they don't get any cardio in their activity and aren't toning any muscles.
Most of us wait until it's too late to make adjustments. At least with women they get checkups yearly to prevent certain cancers and if of childbearing age to get birth control or wellness checks if pregnant, so I think probably more women see doctors because of all of that. Not that they want to do so.
1 person likes this
@GrannyGee (3517)
• Louisburg, North Carolina
29 May 17
@MarshaMusselman You are right ... if only mothers could encourage their sons to go have their hearts checked out ... how do mothers know when they look at their beautiful sons and see a picture of health ... a strong, young man?
1 person likes this
@GrannyGee (3517)
• Louisburg, North Carolina
26 May 17
Do you know what's strange? These are cousins that I've never been around and they were never 'a part of my life'. All my family is gone ... and now ... I have them. I'm so amazed they are there now ... and how much they cared. They never had to ... and I didn't ask them to. :)
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (331988)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 May 17
@GrannyGee That makes it doubly precious then.
1 person likes this
@GrannyGee (3517)
• Louisburg, North Carolina
27 May 17
@JudyEv Oh yes, you are so right. I was so grateful.
1 person likes this
@GrannyGee (3517)
• Louisburg, North Carolina
1 Jun 17
It's been 7 years now. Thank you.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (159036)
• United States
26 May 17
These losses have a way of ambushing us with memories. It is good your memories have this material represen tation to bring comfort.
1 person likes this
@GrannyGee (3517)
• Louisburg, North Carolina
27 May 17
You are so right. I'm so grateful for these material things I can actually hold in my hands.
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
27 May 17
I am sorry for your loss, but gladdened that you have some things to hold on to.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (76340)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
27 May 17
How wonderful to have these memories. I am glad you finally have something like this. It is so important to actually hold and see something concrete. Virtual hugs to you.
1 person likes this
@GrannyGee (3517)
• Louisburg, North Carolina
27 May 17
Yes! I can actually hold in my hand the sand, seashells and open the container of ocean water. I can look at the photos where Tommy last walked, ran, played with his little son. Thank you for the hug!
1 person likes this
@GrannyGee (3517)
• Louisburg, North Carolina
27 May 17
Thank you, Jo Ann. I have found peace though I write constantly about it so as not to let anything 'bottle up' inside.
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
26 May 17
Am very sorry about your loss, I do believe that Tommy sent you the message. You take care
1 person likes this
@GrannyGee (3517)
• Louisburg, North Carolina
26 May 17
Thank you. It does look and feel like a message
1 person likes this
