Tom

My grandpa Tom is in the hospital in the last stages of heart failure. He is all the way in south Georgia and I can't get there to see him, but he is not far from my mind. I wish I could go and see him and hear him tell me stories about our trip to Australia or to hear him say his coined phrase "I hate old people". He's a wonderful, caring, tough, funny man who I love dearly.

The thing about him that I want to always remember is that to him family is not just about blood relation. He is not biologically my grandpa. Not in any way. He is the step father of my step mother, but he is my grandpa just as Betty is my mother. His story of becoming Bettys dad is one that makes me shake me head and smile.

In 1961 he met a woman, my step grandma, name Betty Fremont. Betty had 9 children (one of them my 8 year old step mom, also named Betty) and had been widowed not once but twice. She was older than him by a few years and like I said before she had 9 children. Tom had never been married and had no children, but he took a chance on Betty Fremont. They dated and decided to marry. 50 years ago on February 20, 1963 they were married. Together they had 3 more children, moved from Texas to Florida to Virginia and then finally to Georgia where they still live today. I hear them tell it and I just can't believe that a handsome young fella like Tom was willing to take on a woman with 9 children! He was in love and he also loved those kids. He was there father in every sense of the word. He is their father and he taught them so much about loving people as family even if they were not family. In a big sense he helped make Betty as willing to love and embrace 2 young kids who needed the love she had to give. I am forever grateful to Thomas Salter for that and for so many other things.

In 1998 I had the privilege to travel with him for 3 weeks to Australia! It truly was a trip of a lifetime and I am so thankful to have shared it with him. He was stationed in Australia in the Navy in the late 1950's and he was and excellent tour guide! I learned so much from him and about him in those weeks. Each time I see him we reminisce about our time down under and crack inside jokes about our  trip.

He is such a joy in my life and I have a heavy heart as I pray and wait for news that will shock and sadden me deeply, even though I know what is coming. People can't live forever. We are all mortal. Yet it is still so hard and feels tragic even when a life ends after years of happiness and fulfillment. Tom knows Jesus intimately and I know the Lord is his shepherd.

I love you forever, Tom.