Tales by Tom

Welcome to Tales By Tom. This is the fourth installment of Life is an Attitude ---pick a good one

This series takes a look at people's attitudes and how that attitude effects the world around them.

Traditions Are Ties That Bind: My scoop won't be yours, but I know six things that have worked in the past for us and might make you believe.

Free Gas: I tell you---pumping gas can be a real experience, like getting panhandled (showing my age. aren't I?),and other disappointments and intrusions. But this would be my lucky day.

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 nineth installment of Tom Cagley Sr's Novella entitled, “The Medal, Revisited. A Blessing from Rome”   

The Medal, Revsited. A Blessing from Rome is a multi-installment story.  This version of The Medal is a reimagining of a story Tom Cagley Sr has returned to many times.  The story is a powerful mixture of memories and imaginings that will paint a vivid picture for the listener.  

Story so far: Charlie and Cal play golf and visit an Irish pub afterwards. Charlie tells his brother that his “affair” with Amber is over. Charlie describes what Amber meant to him. They drink to Charlie’s health and him losing a lot of dangerous weight. 

Next segment: Maggie

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 eighth installment of Tom Cagley Sr's novella entitled, “The Medal, Revisited. A Blessing from Rome”   

The Medal, Revisited. A Blessing from Rome is a multi-installment story.  This version of The Medal is a reimagining of a story Tom Cagley Sr has returned to many times.  The story is a powerful mixture of memories and imaginings that will paint a vivid picture for the listener.  

Story so far: Maggie had said it might come back. If it did, she said it was supposed to. If Cal had sent it to the wrong person, he had to find the right one, maybe someone in the same family. Cal pays Charlie a visit in Oklahoma.

Next segment: Charlie and Cal play golf and visit an Irish pub afterwards.

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 Tom Cagley Sr's Novella entitled, “The Medal, Revisited. A Blessing from Rome”   

The Medal, Revsited. A Blessing from Rome is a multi-installment story.  This version of The Medal is a reimagining of a story Tom Cagley Sr has returned to many times.  The story is a powerful mixture of memories and imaginings that will paint a vivid picture for the listener.  

Story so far: The Phone Call.

Rhoda called Cal at home early one morning and brought up ugly memories from the ancient past for which there was no good response except Cal did what Charlie had asked. Charlie leaves his wife and house, renting an apartment.   Later, Cal plays the devil’s advocate and questions his brother’s decision. 

Next segment: Later he flies to St. Andrews to play golf---and Rhoda, his wife, shows up.

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 Tom Cagley Sr's Novella entitled, “The Medal, Revisited. A Blessing from Rome”   

The Medal, Revsited. A Blessing from Rome is a multi-installment story.  This version of The Medal is a reimagining of a story Tom Cagley Sr has returned to many times.  The story is a powerful mixture of memories and imaginings that will paint a vivid picture for the listener.  

Story so far: I receive pictures of her that Charlie sends me and tells me he intends to marry her. His wife, who knows by now, blames me for everything. I find out where the medal is going next.

Next segment: Maggie’s advice comes back to me. She is correct again.

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 Tom Cagley Sr's Novella entitled, “The Medal, Revisited. A Blessing from Rome”   

The Story So Far: I visited Charlie while he was having open heart surgery. He asks me to contact someone for him without his wife, daughter and son knowing of it. I do as he asks because---he is my brother. Soon I am talking to his student “friend” also---against Laura’s advice

Next segment: Jim sends me pictures of her. And I find out sad news about the medal.

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 Tom Cagley Sr's Novella entitled, “The Medal, Revisited. A Blessing from Rome”   

The Medal, Revsited. A Blessing from Rome is a multi-installment story.  This version of The Medal is a reimagining of a story Tom Cagley Sr has returned to many times.  The story is a powerful mixture of memories and imaginings that will paint a vivid picture for the listener.  

Story so far: At the suggestion of the mysterious sales clerk at Sak’s (who called herself Maggie) I passed my one-of-a-kind medal on to my only goddaughter at her wedding. Following that, we decided to have a family reunion in the summer. Gifts were exchanged that June which further solidified the family Dolan.

In two weeks: My brother Charlie asks me for a favor. The results are catastrophic. 

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 third installment of Tom Cagley Sr's Novella entitled, “The Medal, Revisited. A Blessing from Rome”   

The Medal, Revsited. A Blessing from Rome is a multi-installment story.  This version of The Medal is a reimagining of a story Tom Cagley Sr has returned to many times.  The story is a powerful mixture of memories and imaginings that will paint a vivid picture for the listener.  

Story so far: On his first day in Rome Cal Dolan bought a medal which the next day was blessed by the new Pope John Paul I along with three crosses and a rosary. The pope died two days later after only 33 days in office. Because of his lifelong devotion to Mary, Cal sees the medal, called Madonna of the Streets, as a strong sign that he will reunite with his father after 25 years. Why else, he wonders, would this come to me?

In May Cal shops for a chain for the medal and meets Maggie.  In September, he returns looking for Maggie. The very friendly supervisor gets the time sheets from her office and shows Cal who was in the department that day he visited in May. No one named Maggie---“and certainly no one without a name tag. Not wearing one in a cardinal sin here.”

In this installment, Cal gets a letter from Oklahoma which after many long years brings his disparate family together---at least for a short time. And the medal is part of it.

In two weeks. . .  reunion plans.

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 Tom Cagley Sr's Novella entitled, “The Medal, Revisited. A Blessing from Rome”   

The Medal, Revsited. A Blessing from Rome is a multi-installment story.  This version of The Medal is a reimagining of a story Tom Cagley Sr has returned to many times.  THe story is a powerful mixture of memories and imaginings that will paint a vivid picture for the listeners.  

The story so far: On his first day in Rome Cal Dolan bought a medal which the next day was blessed by the new Pope John Paul I along with three crosses and a rosary. The pope died two days later after only 33 days in office. Because of his lifelong devotion to Mary, Cal sees the medal, called Madonna of the Streets, as a strong sign that he will reunite with his father after 25 years. Why else, he wonders, would this come to me?

But his father died before that can happen, and Cal felt that the promise of the medal has not been fulfilled. 

In this part of the story, Cal goes to St. Patrick’s and sits though Mass, then ventures next door to Sak’s to find a gold chain for his medal. A lady named Maggie waits on him. She does not remind Cal of the typical sales associate who works in Fine Jewelry, but they relate. She suggests that possibly the medal had another purpose---and Cal listens---but leaves without buying the chain.

In September, he returns looking for Maggie. The very friendly supervisor gets the time sheets from her office and shows Cal who was in the department that day he visited in May. No one named Maggie---“and certainly no one without a name tag. Not wearing one in a cardinal sin here.”

In two weeks, Cal gets a letter from Oklahoma that brings his family together---for the time being.

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 Tom Cagley Sr's Novella entitled, “The Medal, Revisited. A Blessing from Rome”   

The Medal, Revsited. A Blessing from Rome will be a multi-installment story.  This version of The Medal is a reimagining of a story Tom Cagley Sr has returned to many times.  The story is a powerful mixture of memories and imaginings that will paint a vivid picture for the listeners.  

 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