Absence

I had mentioned in one of my previous posts that I take a part of America with me wherever I go, but I also leave an important part behind. Certainly, one of the most difficult things about living abroad is being separated from friends and loved ones for extended periods of time. Yahoo messenger with video, internet phoning, and emailing make the distance seem smaller but it is never enough. Friends go out, children grow up, relatives get together for dinner, all without my presence. The opportunities and adventures of living abroad must be weighed against what is lost. It is a trade off that many people can not accept, and I understand why. It is a way of life I accept often with regret and some small measure of guilt. And there are days when it is filled with deep sadness.
Thomas Dayon of West Milford New Jersey died on June 2 when his single engine airplane he was flying alone in crashed in New York. Tommy was and is a much beloved man in West Milford, and as much a fixture of the town as the Post Office or the Library. He owned Hewitt lumber supply for many years. I knew him for nearly sixteen years and if I had half of Tommys energy my webpage would instead be called expatmillionaire. He was a decent and generous man, even after having a houseful of three beautiful girls he and his wife adopted a Korean boy. Never have a man and boy been more suited to be father and son as Tommy and Travis, forever putting to rest the lie that only blood makes a family. He had the exuberance of a man half his still young 53, doing everything from water skiing, sky diving, to martial arts- you name it, Tommy tried it and was good at it. If they have team sports in heaven then I say watch out St. Peter and make sure you are on Tommys side if you want to win. He will be forever missed and always in our hearts.