Celebration of Life

Beautiful celebration of life service for Tommy Gilbert. Speakers included his oldest brother, a longtime friend, his son Thomas and daughter Anna, his medical partner, and Will. An old time hymn was sung, and MC sang a beautiful solo. Beautiful tributes. Poor sound quality, but I recorded Will's speech, and MC's song.

Tom’s brother Clay shared how smart Tom was growing up. As a 12 year old Tom beat Clay and his nerdy 16 year old friends at Risk. Tom stayed up late studying even in elementary school, but at North Springs High School Tom rushed for over 100 yards against Westminister.

Anna Gilbert shared how of her siblings, she was most like her dad. Thomas Jr shared show he and wife Holly had inherited his sense of adventure. Thomas encouraged those gathered to take time to enjoy life and loved ones, and not stress about work. Tom’s college friends shared details about Tommy at Furman: courting Regina, active in campus ministries and leading high schoolers in Young Life.

Will spoke about meeting up with Dr Gilbert while still in high school, to discuss dating his daughter. Tom showed young Will a video of a baseball fan who moved out of the way of an incoming foul ball – allowing the ball to hit his female companion. In med school Will shadowed Dr Gilbert, and saw what care he had for his patients, driving to the hospital in the middle of the night instead of waiting till morning.

I was really tearing up, as well as just about every time I’ve thought about Tom since he died. Hard to talk about him without tearing up.

Afterward we all made the short drive to the Tellus Science Museum, which a friend had donated for the afternoon reception. Anna and Caleb, Matthew and Monsie, Joel and Charles and Annie Norman were there. Most of Holly's family came. Her youngest brother led his Sewanee team in rebounding, but they won't be going to the NCAA Tournament this year, his last. 

Spoke with MC's grandmother Carolyn. Her husband turns 90 in October. Just learned that MC's grandfather Walter Gilbert grew up in Garden Hills.

When we were leaving the museum little Millie wandered up to the huge brontosaurus – and started climbing over the low rail. We had to grab her before she climbed onto the dinosaur.

Matthew, Monsie, and I were able to check out the extensive dinosaur exhibit. When I told Abby's young daughter there were dinosaurs, she rolled her eyes and said "They don't talk!" 

The reception was supposed to end at five, but we didn't pull out of the parking lot until almost 615. I picked up a pie from Pizzaria Lucca in Roswell for supper. A long day. 

After the reception Matthew and Monsie headed north to make their first visit to Buccees. Hope they weren't disappointed. 

That morning Ceil got ready and left without me, waiting until the last minute to get the correctly sized shoes for the girls. I made sure the ringer was off on my phone. Usually my Apple Watch alerts me to phone calls, but I was wearing my "dress" watch – so I missed several calls from C. I rode up to Cartersville with Lee and Nancy, who went to keep the girls during the service.