Cartoon Moment and The Life Lesson

One of the first things I do when I get up is look back at Facebook Memories. I didn’t need it to know that today is the birth anniversary of my high school band director, my mentor, and friend Tom Shaner.

He passed away before Christmas in 2020. I wrote an emotional blog about him here:

I’m Gonna Miss You, “Sir”

The memory that came up with a montage of photos read:

Remembering one of the best on his birthday. He was probably one of the most important role models, mentors, and friends I have ever had. What a blessing it was to remain friends long after high school. I miss our telephone chats and email exchanges. Every time I hear a bad pun or long joke with a bad punch line, I always think, “TS would have loved this joke!” Whenever I see an old Far Side cartoon, I wonder if it might have been one that he ripped off his wall calendar and put in my mailbox while at school. There are so many wonderful memories of our friendship. I miss him a lot. Happy heavenly birthday, Tom.

I shared the memory again, along with the picture montage. I used to call him on his birthday every year. I’d always ask how old he was and he would always swap numbers. If he was 75, he’d tell me he was 57. I always enjoyed our chats.

Shortly after I posted the memory, the kids and I were sitting out in the living room and Bluey was on Disney Plus. One of my favorite episodes was on – Camping.

In the episode they are camping and Bluey meets a friend. They play together for a few days and have loads of fun, despite a language barrier (Jean Luc is French). They pretend that Bluey’s dad is a wild pig and they plan to catch it (you’ll see why I mention that shortly). One morning Bluey goes to find Jean Luc to play, but he and his family have gone home. Bluey goes around to all the various places they played at to look for him, but she cannot find him. When her mom (Chilli) tells her she saw them leave, she is sad to hear that they have gone.

She asks her mom why he had to go. The following exchange occurs:

Bluey : Why did Jean-Luc had to go?

Chilli : Their holiday was over, Honey.

Bluey : But I want to keep playing with him! He was my friend!

Chilli : Well look sometimes special people come into our lives, stay for a bit. Then they have to go.

Bluey : But that’s sad!

Chilli : It is! But the bit where they were here was happy, wasn’t it?

Bluey : Yea, we caught a wild pig together!

Chilli : Maybe that makes it all worth it?

Bluey : Will I ever see him again?

Chilli : Well, we’ll never know. The world is magical place!

This above exchange took on a whole new meaning when I thought of my friend.

Chilli : Well look sometimes special people come into our lives, stay for a bit. Then they have to go.

Bluey : But that’s sad!

Chilli : It is! But the bit where they were here was happy, wasn’t it?

I asked myself that question. Yes, the bit when he was here certainly was happy. It was certainly a time of music, laughter, fun, and friendship.

It’s funny how a cartoon exchange can offer a simple life lesson – one very much like the life lessons Tom shared with so many of us.

While we might be sad that some loved ones are no longer with us, may we always remember the happy bit of time we shared with them.