How Tad Touched My Life

I never had the opportunity to meet Tad in person. And until now seeing his pictures on this site, I never even knew what looked like. So how can I comment on Tad? I'd like to share a story with everyone that hopefully adds more light to the type of person Tad was not only to his closest friends and family, but to everyone that had the blessing of crossing paths with him.

A year ago, I hurt my back badly. I had to see a spine specialist, get two cortisone shots, do 3 hours of physical therapy every day for 6 months, and had talks about surgery. I am 30 years old and very active; climbing mountains is my passion. The sheer thought of not even being able to walk normal again, let alone climb, was pretty hard on me.

One of Tad's best friends, Ted, recommended I speak with Tad over the phone to get his advice. The first time I spoke with Tad, he spent about 45 minutes talking to me, giving me advice, and more importantly, offering me his concern and a piece of his heart. I could not believe that someone who had never met me was so compassionate and cared so much about my well-being. Shortly after I spoke with Tad, I emailed him to let him know that I felt like I was turning a corner and getting better after our talk. Tad's compassion didn't stop with the call. Tad sent me emails to check up on me. Ironically enough and without his knowledge, Tad sent me an email on June 2nd, 2009, my 30th birthday, to check up on me and offer me some more advice. The email started like this [verbatim]: "Hi Rick, How have you been doing?" On June 16th, he sent me another mail, again showing his concern for my well-being: "Hi Rick, How have you been?"

It is astounding that someone I had never met cared so much about me. In our talks and emails, he always started by asking how I was doing. It was never about him; he put others, even people he didn't know personally like me, ahead of himself. I can still hear Tad's calming, soothing voice, letting me know that things would be ok.

This past weekend, I climbed a snow-covered mountain in Washington, something I could not do a year ago. It was a beautiful day and the views from the summit were breathtaking. Shortly after reaching the summit, my climbing partners started descending. I spent some time up there thinking about Tad and saying a prayer for Tad, his family, and his friends.

So back to my original question, how can I comment on Tad without ever having met him in person? It only took that one phone call and a few emails for me to realize that I was blessed to have known Tad, even at the level I did. That's all it took for me to feel like I knew Tad and for our friendship to form. Tad's ability to touch and care for others, and put them ahead of himself, is a testament to the type of man Tad was. I will never forget Tad's compassion and heart for as long as I live.

Some people live a lifetime and don't touch half the people's hearts that Tad was able to do in 34 years. And some people live a lifetime and don't get to do half the things Tad did in his 34 years. He truly managed to live a life that only others could dream about.

For those of us that had the blessing to speak with Tad, work with Tad, be friends with Tad, or be family to Tad, we should know that we were in the presence of an Angel all this time.

To all of us, Tad's family and friends, who are going through tough times right now, it is comforting to know that we are not alone. A poem that reminds me if this is below -

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,

“You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”

The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”

God Bless all of you,

Rick