Time to visit the "T" cafe

[Canuck]

Kilted Gents and Lasses,
Tom posted a moving message, I think it would be a good idea to check it out and respond if you wish, as some of you have done already.
I raise a glass to Tom, Hang in there guy, I think of you often
Cheers......
Robert

[Graham]

Thanks for letting us know, I'll be sure to send an email of support and prayer.

[bear]

Kilted Gents and Lasses,
Tom posted a moving message, I think it would be a good idea to check it out and respond if you wish, as some of you have done already.
I raise a glass to Tom, Hang in there guy, I think of you often
Cheers......
Robert

Nicely done, Robert.

For those of you who don't know, Tom has cancer and he's struggling.

A lot of the new guys here at X Marks won't know how much Tom did to make kilts popular. Tom's Cafe was the busiest forum for a long time. There, and at Kiltmen.com, the kilted or kilted wannabbees could go to get advice on any subject related to kilts.
Tom's has changed in the last year but there would be no X Marks without Tom leading the way.

[highlandtide]

I may disagree that there would be no X Marks without Tom only b/c I didnt know about Tom's before I created X Marks...

HOWEVER the truth is that X Marks would not have the following it does without pioneers like Tom.

I wish him well and I show my gratitude to him. My hat is off to Tom Manuel.

[Alaskan Celt]

[Hamish]

.............................. forums do not create the interest; interest creates the forums.

I visit the forum(s) for options and ideas, the interest is in my blood.

That may be true - for some, but not all. I know full well that I would certainly not be where I am today had it not been for Tom and his most excellent "Tom's Café".

I did not find the Café; I had no idea such forums existed - I was introduced to it by a friend. It was Tom and the Café 'patrons' of six years ago who gave me every encouragement to come out of my shell and to face the world face on. It was they who introduced me to the early forms of contemporary kilt, who showed me that there was more to kilted life than the formal and semi-formal Scottish 'uniforms' I had been wearing exclusively for Scottish Country and Highland Dancing appearances for so many years. It was because of Tom that I was able to re-invent myself after I retired. Yes, I have much to thank him for and, in my case, it WAS the forum that created the interest.

Most of those whom I am now able to call close friends, I first encountered through 'visits' to Tom's Café. Tom, himself, became a particularly special friend at the time of my first visit to Washington DC last June - a year ago next week! It was he who organised a splendid restaurant evening there so that I could get to meet so many wonderful people whom I'd previously known only by name. It was he who, despite his illness, took the best part of a week away from his home and family to guide Dave W. and me around the sights of the Capital, some days in extreme heat. He was a cheerful, amusing and caring host, and he IS a wonderful man, a gentleman, to whom I shall always be indebted.

[Alaskan Celt]

[bear]

.............................. forums do not create the interest; interest creates the forums.

I visit the forum(s) for options and ideas, the interest is in my blood.

That may be true - for some, but not all. I know full well that I would certainly not be where I am today had it not been for Tom and his most excellent "Tom's Café".

I did not find the Café; I had no idea such forums existed - I was introduced to it by a friend. It was Tom and the Café 'patrons' of six years ago who gave me every encouragement to come out of my shell and to face the world face on. It was they who introduced me to the early forms of contemporary kilt, who showed me that there was more to kilted life than the formal and semi-formal Scottish 'uniforms' I had been wearing exclusively for Scottish Country and Highland Dancing appearances for so many years. It was because of Tom that I was able to re-invent myself after I retired. Yes, I have much to thank him for and, in my case, it WAS the forum that created the interest.

Most of those whom I am now able to call close friends, I first encountered through 'visits' to Tom's Café. Tom, himself, became a particularly special friend at the time of my first visit to Washington DC last June - a year ago next week! It was he who organised a splendid restaurant evening there so that I could get to meet so many wonderful people whom I'd previously known only by name. It was he who, despite his illness, took the best part of a week away from his home and family to guide Dave W. and me around the sights of the Capital, some days in extreme heat. He was a cheerful, amusing and caring host, and he IS a wonderful man, a gentleman, to whom I shall always be indebted.

Well said, Hamish.
There would be no Bear Kilts without Tom, either. Tom's Café was the first kilt forum I found and I learned much about what was wanted in casual kilts there. The Café welcomed me and gave me many suggestions that I used to make my kilts better.
How many casual kiltmakers started by advertising on Tom's?
I'm not getting into a chicken or the egg argument in this thread. This thread is about Tom.
If you have anything to say to Tom, it's starting to look like now is the time. If you just want one more coffee served up by the Master Barista, get your orders in.
Tom has arranged for a replacement moderator for the Café and a message in the case of his death.

[bubba]

I don't even remember how I stumbled on Toms, but it was an eyeopener. I'm continuing to pray for a miracle. Tom sure deserves one if anyone does.

[Blu (Ontario)]

Hamish

Sounds like Tom and Tom's occupies a warm spot in your heart, and I respect that... Excuse me for being trite, but you can take the Celt out of the kilt, but you can't take the kilt out of the Celt...

This is the truth of it.
Personally, my passion for tartan and kilts existed long before computers, the internet, or forums. A forum is only an extension of ones interest or passion. A forum may prove to bring ones passion to the surface and nurture it, but that kernel of interest must be there.

blu