One of the "labels" that I use is "travel planner," and right now I am planning a vacation to the Pacific Northwest (Seattle, the Olympic Peninsula, Vancouver Island and Vancouver).  I've been to these areas several times over the past 15 years, and while I enjoy exploring new places, sometimes you find a great restaurant, hotel or B&B, and you would be crazy to not return.

I had found such a great B&B while planning my second trip to Seattle, and that's where I stayed during each of my several subsequent visits to Seattle during the 1990s.  So, even though I had not been to Seattle since 1998, I was eager to return to Landes House with my traveling companion, and introduce her to this Seattle home away from home, and to the inn keeper extraordinaire, Tom Hanes.

I had always enjoyed interacting with Tom, from laughing with him about his various exploits, to helping him prepare the breakfasts each preceding night, to discussing esoteric spiritual traditions and exotic lifestyles.  He was just a great guy, and I was excited to reconnect with him.  I started googling, and kept coming up short.  A few more searches, and suddenly I felt like I was suffocating:  Landes House was closed because Tom had died of lymphoma on December 6, 2007.

In my life, I "touch" many people, and many people "touch" me (in sociological terms, I'm known as a "nexus," but that's another story).  It seems like just yesterday that I was standing in Tom's kitchen in Landes House about 9pm, discussing the pros and cons of life in Seattle; in reality, that was a decade ago. I could never say that Tom and I were friends; we were barely acquaintances, but that doesn't diminish that Tom and Landes House represent focal points for many happy memories of my trips to Seattle.  I felt the need to honor Tom's memory in this blog for two reasons.  First, I wanted to publicly express my gratitude to him, albeit late.  Secondly, I wanted to offer Tom as an example for all of us, as he lived life fully, having lots of fun while being a successful entrepreneur, and enhanced others' lives when we were in his presence.  That's what I hope we all strive to do:  using our lives to enhance others' lives.

Here's one last hug for you, Tom!  Thank you, and Blessed Be!

Bret S. Beall, www.god-dess.com

Tags: Remembering Example Lifestyle Enhancing Gratitude

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