This afternoon Diane and I drove down to Rutland to attend the memorial service for our friend Bob Potter. Bob received a Kidney transplant from Sam when he died. That kidney gave Bob another 8 and a half years of life. Time enough to travel, get married and see his kids grow. Bob had a heart attack last christmas day.. he lived a few days more.

 

We got to the church around four under a bluebird sky..

 

He was a great guy.. he found his way to us when he saw me holding a samstone on The COlony.. it matched the samstone that we’d sent to him anonymously through the transplant service. The transplant folks restrict what kind of information can flow between donor an recipient families.. .but they id liet us send a samstone without the web site info on the back. Bob called us to introduce himself.. We got to meet him.. and eventually attend his wedding here in Vermont. The fact that Bob had Vermont routes is a minor miracle. Sam died in Flrida.. so all his donations were there. We were so happy to learn that Bob had deep ties here in Vermont.

 

THis picture was taken only 4 hours before Bob’s heart attack.

 

here are pictures from Bob and Pams wedding. it was cool to see us in those earlier pictures

 

Diane randomly opend the bible .. and look what page she opened to..

 

I decided to have a go, so i thumbed the thick book open.. and here’s what I found.. for Bob Potter..

how cool is that ?..

 

Bobs son Chris played autumn leaves on tuba.. which was fun and warm to hear,

 

Bob’s sister Betty who lives in Rutland di a nice rememberence, She told sotries abotu Bob, she even told the story ofSam.. and then finding us through tTThe Colony

 

AFterwards there was a nice reception. we hung out talking to Bob’s elatives..

 

we left the event both sad and happy. It was a strange feelign knowign that there was now even less of sam on this earth.. but, it is what it is.

are thoughts are with Bob’s family..

 

we said goodbye then started the roughly 2 hour drive home. .. we saw this family of geese walking across the street

 

 

ok.. cant stay awake any longer. more tomorrow

 

nite all. nite sam

-me