This morning I was all set to blog about this solemn day, but technology threw a wrench in my accessing this account.
Unfortunately, now that I can access the account, I’m knee deep in alligators at work, so I cannot go into any great detail at this point in the day.
My recitation of my 9/11/01 experiences a year ago is a solid account that I have no reticence in referring my fine, five readers to, given the circumstances.
Pete Flanagan was a high school buddy, who came back into my life last summer as part of the Cardinal Spellman Alumni Crew – along with Danny Cahillane, Terry Hughes and Mariann Galdi. I didn’t know it at that time, but Pete was suffering from a form of cancer that he later shared must have come from his exposure to the airborne toxins while working in the area at the time of the Two Towers fell and for the years immediately afterwards.
Funny thing about Pete was that he immediately went out and bought and read the first four books in The Claire Saga. Last fall, we started communicating regularly through texts and the occasional telephone calls, where Pete would blow me away with the depth of his insights into the story and characters. Pete got it all, the mystical, the Celtic, and the magic. He told me how much he appreciated my outlook on the other side of the veil. I had just completed WTLLM, so I couldn’t work him into that story, but I did promise him that I would include him as a character in the next book I wrote.
Since I didn’t have a book copy of WTLLM to send him, I sent him the printed publisher’s manuscript. He, of course, blew through it and gave me his thoughts.
I cannot tell you just how much I enjoyed those texts and calls. The fact that this guy was suffering through the onerous treatments, rehab and the debilitation of the disease, was on oxygen more than he was off, and still made the time to read my work blew me away.
I was so looking forward to catching up with Pete at the reunion in a couple of weeks.
The last text I shared with Pete was Monday, April 1st of this year.
As always, he kept it positive, except his outlook regarding his Mets.
We spoke that Wednesday, and I almost felt guilty with taking any of his precious time. But he insisted on staying on the call. He told me about his latest doctor conference and that he was mulling over his options. He never showed one ounce of fear or despair. Bravest man I have ever knew.
I learned a few days later from his close friends on the Spellman crew that Pete passed that Friday, April 6th.
I felt bad that I was not able to get his name into print before he passed, but contacted my publisher, Reagan Rothe and explained the situation and begged a favor.
Where The Ley Lines Meet was scheduled to begin deliveries later in April. Indeed it had been in presale for a couple of months.
I asked RR if he could make one final adjustment to the dedication page.
Publishers don’t like their writers to fiddle with a book once it is in pre-order.
RR did it without a second thought.
I’m still going to name a character after Pete in my next book, but just in case . . . .
So, 9/11 now has another soul for me to specifically remember each year.
I’m glad to see that Pete continues to pull for his Mets from the other side of the veil, as I know, as a lifelong Yankees fan, that it takes divine intervention to keep those Queens boys competitive.
Good luck with that Pete. If you pull off that MLB miracle can you put a good word in for the books as well.
Anyway, 9/11 is the tragedy that keeps on taking.
We must never forget those friends we lost that day, and all of those we keep losing to this day.
NEVER EVER FORGET.
Well, I’m writing this after my kitty cuddles and rounds, and I’m in the middle of some onerous legal research, but I wanted to file this blog, late or not.
I know Pete will be at the reunion. He’ll be there in spirit.
Okay now, sorry for the delay in getting this posted.
Let us all make today a memorial. And let’s make it a great one.
5 Responses
Tom- thank you for posting this dedication to our dear friend Pete. Brought me to tears as it does whenever I think of him which is often. I am glad you two were able to connect again and he will be with us in spirit at the reunion. See you soon.
Mariann, I want to introduce you to my old friend Pete Sheridan, the basis for the character “Buck” Sheridan, in WTLLM. Pete’s dog, Fergus, is the basis for Fergus in the book. I had introduced Pete S to Pete F shortly before PF crossed the veil. They are of comparable Catholic minds. Pete S, meet Mariann, an old friend of mine from CSHS. Mariann was part of the crew that welcomed me back for the Reunion. There ya go, another connection made in the Claire Universe.
Very grateful for the cance to make his acquaintance, for that brief time in April. I have no doubt you will be hearing from and seeing him again.
Also certain that you will be encountering your pals Bill, Rocky (Jocko’s brother!) and Orio with the rest of the SmokeEater heroes “up on the roof.”
😥😓😥😢❤️❤️
I was looking forward to today’s blog because I knew it would l touch my heart…, we all have heartbreak 💔 but once again your words encourage us to remember.., it’s not just heartbreaking memories of those we lost THAT day but all of those we have lost because they remained there looking, searching day and night ..,after that f****ing day😥😢😓💔💔💔🇺🇸🇺🇲🎆🎇🇺🇸