The tragic and sudden loss of someone close and/or someone remarkable is typically met by a plethora of emotions, deliberations, self-analysis (usually loathing) and at the very least the quest for answers and justifications for the path we have, to date, chosen to follow, meander or, dare I say, blaze.
Tom Sparks, my KSKI radio morning show co-host for almost four years, was a true life blazer. Even before Tom left us, suddenly on Nov. 5, I considered the correlation between speed of living and longevity of life. Almost as if those remarkable souls (those we can only blink after as if staring at the sun) somehow know the duration of their current existence and so live accordingly—fast!
Tom passed away from the effects of a sudden stroke, most likely induced by a disorder known as APS, which causes unnatural clotting of the blood. If I was ever looking for my "answers," Tom answered. I believe there are souls sent to blaze and those sent to follow. We cannot all be leaders (relief for most!) but without these powerful beings who exist for the benefit of us all, we would in fact, not be who we are.
I wrote the following to Mr. Bill Sparks (Tom's dad), on a "Friends of Tom" Facebook page:
"Mr. Sparks, if it's not wrong to cheer, I would like to, to you and your incredibly strong and remarkable family. It is from you all sweet Tom inherited his spirit, soul and passion and because of the strength of all of you, on whom he relied, more heavily than he would admit and loved so dearly, that we (his worldwide assembly of friends) will miss a shining star in our lives and a void in our hearts. I thank you for Tom and the "too fast ... too furious" experience, too few of us enjoyed and none of us will forget!
"On Nov. 6, I 'chatted' with my mum, who passed away nine years ago. I told her to be prepared to meet someone remarkable and to expect to never again be without a smile. I hope he found her and I hope she had a beer waiting for him!"
With the deepest love and devotion to the memory of Tom and special thanks to all his friends, fans and locals who have extended their wishes and support to the Sparks family, whose loss I cannot imagine. I'm reminding us all to embrace life and live like you mean it. Some of us may still live to be 90—that's a lot of energy, use it wisely, (eat lots of spinach).
Nicky Gulliford
Wood River Valley
