Missing Person

[Kevin A]

Has anyone seen TomS? His most recent post was sometime in early september. Tom, ya still with us?

[Steve Frederick]

Has anyone seen TomS? His most recent post was sometime in early september. Tom, ya still with us?

I saw Tom in October at Nicks Lake, Camp ADK Fall Teardown.
Where are ya buddy??

[TomS]

It’s been over 2 months since I posted to this forum. During my absence, I’ve received email from several members wondering what happened to me. Apparently, several of you are concerned and wonder if everything was all right with me and my family. Since I am friends with so many of you, I should explain the reason for my sudden disappearance. Well, here’s the story…

A few days after the Fall Tear-Down, Wendy and I decided that it is no-longer possible for us remain married. After 25 years, our entire adult lives, this was an extremely painful decision for both of us. We are planning an amicable divorce and wish to remain life-long friends.

I will continue living in the house for the next few months while we get our finances in order. Sometime next year, I hope to buy a small condominium near my job in downtown Worcester, Mass. Wendy, will continue living in the house her grandparents built over 80 years ago.

I’m sure you can understand. Teardrops have been the furthest thing from my mind these last few weeks. When I do get online, I spend my time researching the local real estate market, mortgages; pricing furniture, appliances, etc. I’ve been busy accumulating items from the endless list of things I need to have to live on my own.

I know you’re all wondering who’ll get custody of the teardrop. Most likely, it will remain parked at Wendy’s house. I probably won’t have a place to park it downtown. I’ll come by and pick it up when I want to go camping. Wendy will be free to use it anytime she wants. Currently it’s under a tarp for the winter.

Going forward, I’ll try not to be such a stranger. I’ll do my best to attend at least one teardrop gathering next year, most likely the Spring Tear-Up in June.

Take care my friends,

[emiller]

Sorry to here that but seams your seeing things strait and wish the both of you well.

[mikeschn]

Sorry to hear about that Tom...

Been there, done that. It'll all work out. Starting over is hard, but not impossible.

Mike...

[apratt]

Ouch!! Sorry to hear about that Tom. Hope things gets better in the future.

[Rick Sheerin]

Tom- Sorry to hear the bad news, going thru a divorce is never easy, no matter how amicable it is. I hope you really try to make it to the ADK Spring Tear-Up, it will be a nice diversion for you.

[anonymous2]

Tom / Wendy,

Sorry to hear about the split. We wish you both the best of luck. Hope to see you{maybe Wendy too?} at the Spring Tear Up.

pateardropper

[Mary K]

I'm truly sorry to hear that Tom.

Thanks for letting us know. I made your Pineapple Pork DO dish the other night and was wondering what happened to ya.

Mary K.

[TomS]

Thanks everyone for your kind words and wishes. I really appreciate it.

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Glad to hear from you Tom, keep a good aditude, things will turn around for you faster than you think possible, if you stay positive.
In June of 2001, I gave every assest I had ever worked for away, except for a handfull of tools and kept a truck that I had made only one payment on, prior to the divorce. The amount owed on the truck was way more than what my tools were worth.... All this after giving up my dream house and dream shop.
In less than three years, I was able to buy the decomissined fire station I had been renting across the street from my former residence... Staying as close to my kids as possible.
Material possesions can be replaced, the only thing that is lost, is time... But you can make up for lost time with the right aditude and drive!
I've been worried about you, so much in fact, I gotta confession...
I did an obituary search for your area... I sure was blown away by the quantity of Tom Swenson's in your part of the country.

[TomS]

Hi Dean,

I'm truly sorry to have caused you such worry. Yes, we have lots of Swensons in this neck of the woods.

Thanks for the encouragement and sharing your story.

Take care,

[doug hodder]

Sorry to hear about that Tom...I lost everything but my tools and a 12 year old truck in 1986...but if you've got tools, you can at least build some furniture...even if it is crappy quick stuff out of 2x4's....hang in there, I'm sure there are lots of people on this forum that have gone through it, and we all wish you the best of luck...PS...I still make your chicken pot pie in the DO...everyone seems to like it...take care guy...Doug

[Steve_Cox]

Dear Tom,

Starting over is a bitch, but you get better at it with experience. Winter 1997, the company downsized me out of a job, wife of 20 years got drunk (stayed that way) and ran away from home and left me with the teenage kid. At the time, that winter of '97, it was all I could do just to hold on. I was down to nothing but a 1988 Toyota truck and a few clothes and hand tools. Spent the night of my 50th birthday homeless and alone in a roadside rest stop somewhere between Oklahoma and Florida, not having a clue what I was going to do next. Since then I've lived on a sailboat, sailed the Caribbean, met my current wife, bought a couple of houses, started a business and built a tear drop. I have fond memories of the old days, but life is better than ever.

Please stop in and visit your friends here, we do enjoy your perspective on things and your sense of humor.

[Ira]

Sorry to hear that buddy--I thought you just got sick of some of us.

It's gotta hurt a lot now, but that will pass.