Tales by Tom

Welcome to Tales By Tom.  Today we begin a new series titled "Quesitons to Ask and Answer."  In this series my father challenges the listeners to contemplate a wide range of questions generated from experience and observation.  Each question is a uniuqe glimpse into a life in our times.  

oday we have two stories

Who am I to argue? Certainly it wouldn't be with Charles Dickens who penned, "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times." It was for me.

Questions you could ask. First there are some that defy answering, then you should consider some new and unusual Leisure Classes at LSU and finally eight gifts you can give at absolutely no cost.

Have you purchased a copy of the book my father, Tom Cagley Sr published?  The  book is titled, I Was Your Son: A Troubled Journey.  The book is a view into Tom Cagley Sr's soul.  When asked why should anyone read this book ?  He answered, "Because the end effect is restorative and invigorating and because everyone who’s ever had a father like this wants to believe there is a happy way out." 

A recent review stated it even more powerfully, "I love this book; it is a very telling, touching story of one man's troubled past with his father who obviously had problems of his own. He had no love for his son in his being beyond childhood. I feel so very much for Tom; he was disconnected from his Dad for no good reason; never able to see or talk to him again---not his problem, but scared him none the less.

This story is a lesson in how not to act as a father. His father did not apply the story of the prodigal son in the bible; that is the kind of love we should have for our children. I pray that in telling his story, this book will be help Tom heal and go forward and help those who read it never to make the same mistake, as his father."Buy  "Was Your Son: A Troubled Journey" on Amazon http://ow.ly/ug4ru

I encourage you to provide feedback on these stories or any of the earlier shorts by email at [email protected] or by voicemail at 1 206 339 5456.

Check out the podcast http://www.talesbytom.com and on downloadable iTunes at http://bit.ly/yk9BC 

Welcome to Tales By Tom. This is the ninth installment of Family Affair or Two and Some Dogs. In this series my talks about event in his life that have shaped his life and if you reflect on them the ideas at the core of these event perhaps can influence your life.

This week two stories:

Jackie's big birthday party: Again, like with mine, hers was a surprise, too...for being just 60. And it turned out to be more of an experience than anyone expected, especially the limo driver.

Sara took charge: Sometimes I sit for Sara alone when her school is out and Mary's school is open. We have a good time, letting our imaginations run wild, hers especially, as I try to get her ready for naptime. In this story, she played every part and was serious the whole time. She was indeed the "head gal."

Have you purchased a copy of the book my father, Tom Cagley Sr published?  The  book is titled, I Was Your Son: A Troubled Journey.  The book is a view into Tom Cagley Sr's soul.  When asked why should anyone read this book ?  He answered, "Because the end effect is restorative and invigorating and because everyone who’s ever had a father like this wants to believe there is a happy way out." 

A recent review stated it even more powerfully, "I love this book; it is a very telling, touching story of one man's troubled past with his father who obviously had problems of his own. He had no love for his son in his being beyond childhood. I feel so very much for Tom; he was disconnected from his Dad for no good reason; never able to see or talk to him again---not his problem, but scared him none the less.

This story is a lesson in how not to act as a father. His father did not apply the story of the prodigal son in the bible; that is the kind of love we should have for our children. I pray that in telling his story, this book will be help Tom heal and go forward and help those who read it never to make the same mistake, as his father."Buy  "Was Your Son: A Troubled Journey" on Amazon http://ow.ly/ug4ru

I encourage you to provide feedback on these stories or any of the earlier shorts by email at [email protected] or by voicemail at 1 206 339 5456.

Check out the podcast http://www.talesbytom.com and on downloadable iTunes at http://bit.ly/yk9BC 

The music is a song titled "Rhapsody" by Andy Guthrie and was supplied Music Alley from Mevio (www.musicalley.com).

See you in two weeks

Welcome to Tales By Tom. This is the eigth installment of Family Affair or Two and Some Dogs. In this series my talks about event in his life that have shaped his life and if you reflect on them the ideas at the core of these event perhaps can influence your life.

This week two stories:

A grandson's wedding in Lake Charles: It would give me a chance to give a toast, but when I listened to the letters Michael and Nadie had written to each other and read from the altar, I knew I had to reach a long way to even come close to what they'd said. I wonder how I did.

Magazines in my life: There were the old ones, the classics, some magazines I have saved from the past, and the new ones which think the readers are idiots and won't read inside unless bombasted by bold headlines on the cover. Does that work? I guess it depends on what you interests are---how to lose 100 lbs in three days, whether or not Victoria's only secret is the acclaimed push-up bra or whether George Clooney looks better with or without a wig.

Have you purchased a copy of the book my father, Tom Cagley Sr published?  The  book is titled, I Was Your Son: A Troubled Journey.  The book is a view into Tom Cagley Sr's soul.  When asked why should anyone read this book ?  He answered, "Because the end effect is restorative and invigorating and because everyone who’s ever had a father like this wants to believe there is a happy way out." 

A recent review stated it even more powerfully, "I love this book; it is a very telling, touching story of one man's troubled past with his father who obviously had problems of his own. He had no love for his son in his being beyond childhood. I feel so very much for Tom; he was disconnected from his Dad for no good reason; never able to see or talk to him again---not his problem, but scared him none the less.

This story is a lesson in how not to act as a father. His father did not apply the story of the prodigal son in the bible; that is the kind of love we should have for our children. I pray that in telling his story, this book will be help Tom heal and go forward and help those who read it never to make the same mistake, as his father."Buy  "Was Your Son: A Troubled Journey" on Amazon http://ow.ly/ug4ru

I encourage you to provide feedback on these stories or any of the earlier shorts by email at [email protected] or by voicemail at 1 206 339 5456.

Check out the podcast http://www.talesbytom.com and on downloadable iTunes at http://bit.ly/yk9BC 

The music is a song titled "Rhapsody" by Andy Guthrie and was supplied Music Alley from Mevio (www.musicalley.com).

See you in two weeks

Welcome to Tales By Tom. This is the seventh installment of Family Affair or Two and Some Dogs. In this series my talks about event in his life that have shaped his life and if you reflect on them the ideas at the core of these event perhaps can influence your life.

This week two stories:

It started out to be just another Wednesday in August: I took the 80th birthday card my wife presented me literally...it was simply a more formal idea than the one from Tampa/St. Pete in 1994 when I was a spring chicken/rooster of 60. Little did I know what was coming until I turned over the card and looked at what had been "printed" on the back.

Comparing two SEC football weekends: Texas A & M vs Ole Miss at The Grove in Oxford, Ms OR LSU vs Florida here in Baton Rouge. Jackie's cousin, and A & M alumni went to Oxford and won but not convincingly; we let Florida play here and won handily. But that wasn't the only differences between the events as we found out by phone on Sunday.

Have you purchased a copy of the book my father, Tom Cagley Sr published?  The  book is titled, I Was Your Son: A Troubled Journey.  The book is a view into Tom Cagley Sr's soul.  When asked why should anyone read this book ?  He answered, "Because the end effect is restorative and invigorating and because everyone who’s ever had a father like this wants to believe there is a happy way out." 

A recent review stated it even more powerfully, "I love this book; it is a very telling, touching story of one man's troubled past with his father who obviously had problems of his own. He had no love for his son in his being beyond childhood. I feel so very much for Tom; he was disconnected from his Dad for no good reason; never able to see or talk to him again---not his problem, but scared him none the less.

This story is a lesson in how not to act as a father. His father did not apply the story of the prodigal son in the bible; that is the kind of love we should have for our children. I pray that in telling his story, this book will be help Tom heal and go forward and help those who read it never to make the same mistake, as his father."Buy  "Was Your Son: A Troubled Journey" on Amazon http://ow.ly/ug4ru

I encourage you to provide feedback on these stories or any of the earlier shorts by email at [email protected] or by voicemail at 1 206 339 5456.

Check out the podcast http://www.talesbytom.com and on downloadable iTunes at http://bit.ly/yk9BC 

The music is a song titled "Rhapsody" by Andy Guthrie and was supplied Music Alley from Mevio (www.musicalley.com).

See you in two weeks

Welcome to Tales By Tom. This is the sixth installment of Family Affair or Two and Some Dogs. In this series my talks about event in his life that have shaped his life and if you reflect on them the ideas at the core of these event perhaps can influence your life.

This week two stories:

What a dog can do if you'll let him: Because Nick's dog Cotton has done so much for me, now permanently in my life, I guess, I have passed along a heart-warming story from a Notre Dame classmate from Cuba. Cuba Libre? Not yet, but closer!

I more or less dared him: I'm a confrontational kind of guy, but this guy didn't take the bait. Had he come at me, I know what I would have done---step aside at the last moment and let his down-the-driveway-momentum make him open for a side attack, like a left hook which I was always good at. That's past tense----and he had a gun.

Have you purchased a copy of the book my father, Tom Cagley Sr published?  The  book is titled, I Was Your Son: A Troubled Journey.  The book is a view into Tom Cagley Sr's soul.  When asked why should anyone read this book ?  He answered, "Because the end effect is restorative and invigorating and because everyone who’s ever had a father like this wants to believe there is a happy way out." 

A recent review stated it even more powerfully, "I love this book; it is a very telling, touching story of one man's troubled past with his father who obviously had problems of his own. He had no love for his son in his being beyond childhood. I feel so very much for Tom; he was disconnected from his Dad for no good reason; never able to see or talk to him again---not his problem, but scared him none the less.

This story is a lesson in how not to act as a father. His father did not apply the story of the prodigal son in the bible; that is the kind of love we should have for our children. I pray that in telling his story, this book will be help Tom heal and go forward and help those who read it never to make the same mistake, as his father."Buy  "Was Your Son: A Troubled Journey" on Amazon http://ow.ly/ug4ru

I encourage you to provide feedback on these stories or any of the earlier shorts by email at [email protected] or by voicemail at 1 206 339 5456.

Check out the podcast http://www.talesbytom.com and on downloadable iTunes at http://bit.ly/yk9BC 

The music is a song titled "Rhapsody" by Andy Guthrie and was supplied Music Alley from Mevio (www.musicalley.com).

See you in two weeks

Welcome to Tales By Tom. This is the fifth installment of Family Affair or Two and Some Dogs. In this series my talks about event in his life that have shaped his life and if you reflect on them the ideas at the core of these event perhaps can influence your life.

This week two stories:

The Gettysburg Address, mine anyway: It was pretty much as close as I could get to the original...and would I have THAT hanging so bald faced in my study anyway. What was the newspaper worth and the 272 famous words buried on page 3, I wondered? $10 a word? More?

The Walls on the walls in my study: A picture of The Berlin Wall when it still stood, the Great Wall of China, a wall in the newly (back then) erected Warsaw Ghetto, and a low wall along the Arno River in Florence taken the year I was born. But it is not just the pictures themselves that are of historical significance.

Have you purchased a copy of the book my father, Tom Cagley Sr published?  The  book is titled, I Was Your Son: A Troubled Journey.  The book is a view into Tom Cagley Sr's soul.  When asked why should anyone read this book ?  He answered, "Because the end effect is restorative and invigorating and because everyone who’s ever had a father like this wants to believe there is a happy way out." 

A recent review stated it even more powerfully, "I love this book; it is a very telling, touching story of one man's troubled past with his father who obviously had problems of his own. He had no love for his son in his being beyond childhood. I feel so very much for Tom; he was disconnected from his Dad for no good reason; never able to see or talk to him again---not his problem, but scared him none the less.

This story is a lesson in how not to act as a father. His father did not apply the story of the prodigal son in the bible; that is the kind of love we should have for our children. I pray that in telling his story, this book will be help Tom heal and go forward and help those who read it never to make the same mistake, as his father."Buy  "Was Your Son: A Troubled Journey" on Amazon http://ow.ly/ug4ru

I encourage you to provide feedback on these stories or any of the earlier shorts by email at [email protected] or by voicemail at 1 206 339 5456.

Check out the podcast http://www.talesbytom.com and on downloadable iTunes at http://bit.ly/yk9BC 

The music is a song titled "Rhapsody" by Andy Guthrie and was supplied Music Alley from Mevio (www.musicalley.com).

See you in two weeks!

Welcome to Tales By Tom. This is the fourth installment of Family Affair or Two and Some Dogs. In this series my talks about event in his life that have shaped his life and if you reflect on them the ideas at the core of these event perhaps can influence your life.

This week two stories:

Cotton: Nick's dog, Cotton, is on permanent loan to me, we all think, and Cotton needed a new bed. Because I wouldn't want someone else to choose my new bed, I thought Cotton should have that same chance.

Ducks in my yard: They were a wonderful addition, and we loved to have a glass of wine on the patio out back and watch the four of them waddle in and out of or yard. Then there were three.

Have you purchased a copy of the book my father, Tom Cagley Sr published?  The  book is titled, I Was Your Son: A Troubled Journey.  The book is a view into Tom Cagley Sr's soul.  When asked why should anyone read this book ?  He answered, "Because the end effect is restorative and invigorating and because everyone who’s ever had a father like this wants to believe there is a happy way out." 

A recent review stated it even more powerfully, "I love this book; it is a very telling, touching story of one man's troubled past with his father who obviously had problems of his own. He had no love for his son in his being beyond childhood. I feel so very much for Tom; he was disconnected from his Dad for no good reason; never able to see or talk to him again---not his problem, but scared him none the less.

This story is a lesson in how not to act as a father. His father did not apply the story of the prodigal son in the bible; that is the kind of love we should have for our children. I pray that in telling his story, this book will be help Tom heal and go forward and help those who read it never to make the same mistake, as his father."Buy  "Was Your Son: A Troubled Journey" on Amazon http://ow.ly/ug4ru

I encourage you to provide feedback on these stories or any of the earlier shorts by email at [email protected] or by voicemail at 1 206 339 5456.

Check out the podcast http://www.talesbytom.com and on downloadable iTunes at http://bit.ly/yk9BC 

The music is a song titled "Rhapsody" by Andy Guthrie and was supplied Music Alley from Mevio (www.musicalley.com).

See you in two weeks

Welcome to Tales By Tom. This is the second installment of Family Affair or Two and Some Dogs. In this series my talks about event in his life that have shaped his life and if you reflect on them the ideas at the core of these event perhaps can influence your life.

This week two stories:

The Unseen Wind: When I heard the wind suddenly come up from the southwest that night in April 1951, I knew something bad had happened. It had, indeed, but from tragedy can come a blessing if you let it.

I write: I hated the thought of it in my younger years, but slowly I found my way. It began with a diary to my three sons (at the time). Because of the short life of that effort,  my writing went on to a diary that started in late 1979 and ended in 2004---25 years in a row and 8,900 pages. Then a short newspaper career, a short bio published about my life with (and without) my father, a longer love story that began after the Holocaust, a still longer story entitled The Medal: A Family Affair, and almost 300 stories I have recorded with my oldest son in Cleveland and podcast every two weeks. I've found in my life that A. What you write down you don't forget and B. You only die when people forget you.

Have you purchased a copy of the book my father, Tom Cagley Sr published?  The  book is titled, I Was Your Son: A Troubled Journey.  The book is a view into Tom Cagley Sr's soul.  When asked why should anyone read this book?  He answered, "Because the end effect is restorative and invigorating and because everyone who’s ever had a father like this wants to believe there is a happy way out." 

A recent review stated it even more powerfully, "I love this book; it is a very telling, touching story of one man's troubled past with his father who obviously had problems of his own. He had no love for his son in his being beyond childhood. I feel so very much for Tom; he was disconnected from his Dad for no good reason; never able to see or talk to him again---not his problem, but scared him none the less.

This story is a lesson in how not to act as a father. His father did not apply the story of the prodigal son in the bible; that is the kind of love we should have for our children. I pray that in telling his story, this book will be help Tom heal and go forward and help those who read it never to make the same mistake, as his father."Buy  "Was Your Son: A Troubled Journey" on Amazon http://ow.ly/ug4ru

I encourage you to provide feedback on these stories or any of the earlier shorts by email at [email protected] or by voicemail at 1 206 339 5456.

Check out the podcast http://www.talesbytom.com and on downloadable iTunes at http://bit.ly/yk9BC 

The music is a song titled "Rhapsody" by Andy Guthrie and was supplied Music Alley from Mevio (www.musicalley.com).

See you in two weeks!

Welcome to Tales By Tom. This is the second installment of Family Affair or Two and Some Dogs. In this series my talks about event in his life that have shaped his life and if you reflect on them the ideas at the core of these event perhaps can influence your life.

This week two stories:

Sara told me she wanted to play in the backyard: I thought it was an usual request for August in Louisiana, but we had time. Later, I wondered how many times could they do this to me? Twice more, maybe?

The Kent State game at LSU: At first, thoughts of upcoming game took me back to visiting the Kent State campus from Youngstown in May 1970. On the LSU campus for the game just two years ago, with my son Nick and his family, I saw something that a fraternity had done that made me sick. Nick kept me out of trouble---I was angry!

Recently my father, Tom Cagley Sr published a new book titled, I Was Your Son: A Troubled Journey.  The book is a view into Tom Cagley Sr's soul.  When asked why should anyone read this book ?  He answered, "Because the end effect is restorative and invigorating and because everyone who’s ever had a father like this wants to believe there is a happy way out." 

A recent review stated it even more powerfully, "I love this book; it is a very telling, touching story of one man's troubled past with his father who obviously had problems of his own. He had no love for his son in his being beyond childhood. I feel so very much for Tom; he was disconnected from his Dad for no good reason; never able to see or talk to him again---not his problem, but scared him none the less.

This story is a lesson in how not to act as a father. His father did not apply the story of the prodigal son in the bible; that is the kind of love we should have for our children. I pray that in telling his story, this book will be help Tom heal and go forward and help those who read it never to make the same mistake, as his father."Buy  "Was Your Son: A Troubled Journey" on Amazon http://ow.ly/ug4ru

I encourage you to provide feedback on these stories or any of the earlier shorts by email at [email protected] or by voicemail at 1 206 339 5456.

Check out the podcast http://www.talesbytom.com and on downloadable iTunes at http://bit.ly/yk9BC 

The music is a song titled "Rhapsody" by Andy Guthrie and was supplied Music Alley from Mevio (www.musicalley.com).

See you in two weeks!

Welcome to Tales By Tom. This is the first installment of Family Affair or Two and Some Dogs. In this series my talks about event in his life that have shaped his life and if you reflect on them the ideas at the core of these event perhaps can influence your life.

This week two stories:

You've aged well: they were the only words she'd said to me for the last 17 years. What had she expected? As it had turned out. I had aged well---i guess, in her negative way of thinking, she'd bet i wouldn't have and she could have said to the rest of the naysayers, "i told you so." i took it as a compliment---is that the way she meant it?

Grandfathers do have rules: Whether we like to hear it or, when we have a grandchild in tow, there are rules. And then there's dessert.

Recently my father, Tom Cagley Sr published a new book titled, I Was Your Son: A Troubled Journey.  The book is a view into Tom Cagley Sr's soul.  When asked why should anyone read this book ?  He answered, "Because the end effect is restorative and invigorating and because everyone who’s ever had a father like this wants to believe there is a happy way out." 

A recent review stated it even more powerfully, "I love this book; it is a very telling, touching story of one man's troubled past with his father who obviously had problems of his own. He had no love for his son in his being beyond childhood. I feel so very much for Tom; he was disconnected from his Dad for no good reason; never able to see or talk to him again---not his problem, but scared him none the less.

This story is a lesson in how not to act as a father. His father did not apply the story of the prodigal son in the bible; that is the kind of love we should have for our children. I pray that in telling his story, this book will be help Tom heal and go forward and help those who read it never to make the same mistake, as his father."Buy  "Was Your Son: A Troubled Journey" on Amazon http://ow.ly/ug4ru

I encourage you to provide feedback on these stories or any of the earlier shorts by email at [email protected] or by voicemail at 1 206 339 5456.

Check out the podcast http://www.talesbytom.com and on downloadable iTunes at http://bit.ly/yk9BC 

The music is a song titled "Rhapsody" by Andy Guthrie and was supplied Music Alley from Mevio (www.musicalley.com).

See you in two weeks!