Every Saturday I wake up to watch Central Texas Garden and I even record and watch it over and over. It’s being my therapy when I feel down. I always wanted to make a visit there one day. I was worried when I did not see him for awhile and searched why Tom is not there. I missed seeing his calm voice and demeanor. I came across this only today. I wish the happiness he has given us will turn it around and he be happy and come back to do the show again.

Hi Tom,
We have never met, but you have been an inspiration to me for years. Thank you for visiting me in my living room for years on Central Texas Gardener, even back when the theme song was “thun, thun, thun, thun, thunn, nun, nun”.😄. I always appreciated your contagious passion for gardening and the courage you gave me to attempt gardening myself. When you would get excited about a new plant, I would get excited too. You always helped set us for success on our own little pieces of the planet. Thank you for all those gifts. I miss you.
I send you white healing light. The body is amazing and the cells know their jobs. Sometimes we just have to remind them of their perfection. May the lights in your cells shine bright. This is my meditation for you.
I would love to send you some chocolate. What is you favorite brand and style? Milk or dark? Gourmet or Hershey’s?

Mutual gardening and chocolate fan,
Anna Pittala

Diana, thank you so much for your voice message. It made my day to know Tom heard my message and that it was helpful to him. And what a great sister you are to provide Tom with chocolate! I was so glad to read that because I knew from that that Tom is able to safely swallow and has been cleared to eat. When I had my stroke, the last skill that came back for me was my ability to safely swallow, so I had to have a feeding tube the entire time I was in the Rehab Hospital. I missed water the most (but also chocolate). I continue to think so much about you, Tom. My church is a small progressive United Methodist Church on West Lynn, St. Luke United Methodist Church, and I am lifting your name, Tom, in prayer to the church. Of course, all of our services and events are online now since we can't meet in person. The Sunday worship service is broadcast on the St. Luke Austin facebook page at 11:00 am on Sundaysmornings. I think you would enjoy our pastor, Bonnie How. Our talented music director, Adam Roberts, plays his own jazzy arrangements of hymns on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm, and that is broadcast live on that same Facebook page. I think you might like the events. As I said, it is a very progressive church. In fact, after my husband and I joined,that church, I told my more conservative employer at the time (also a Methodist), and she said, "Oh, the hippie church?" She belonged to University UMC when the Rev. Chuck Merrill was the senior pastor and it was, as you may know, not a conservative church either. You may have a church which is probably holding virtual services, too. But, if not or if you'd like to explore others, please check out St. Luke UMC Austin. And Diana, please let me know if you can think of something I can do that might be helpful for Tom. I'm in an at-risk group so can't get out yet but if there is anything else you can think of like mailing Tom anything, or arranging to have anything delivered to him, let me know or calling Tom. And let me know If he would like to receive mailings (as in snail mail), please post his address. During this stay-at-home time, I have rediscovered the USPS. Best wishes for you, Tom.
Sincerely, Sharmyn Lilly