Tami's Journey

Links to Artifacts and Videos of the Event Here are a few links  things I wanted to make available for anybody that would like to have or view. The Handout from the Event   - This is a PDF version of the pamphlet that has a short bio of Tami , location information, and order of events.  Slide Show  - This is the slide show with pictures of Tami throughout the years and music in the background. Bryant did a great job putting this together, using some of Tami's desired playlist. It is a large file 780 MB, so will take a little while to download.  Memorial Square with Introductions - This is the Memorial Square at the end of the event, with introductions of each of the people that danced and a bit about their importance to Taami and I.  The dancers are Pat and Monica Carnathan, Jim Maczko and Mo Ninteman, Robert Swee and Cindy McClaren, and Michael and Kimberlee Streby.  All of whom mean so much to both Tami and I. I am incredibly honored by their w...

Note from Andy When she knew that the end was approaching, Tami started planning things she wanted to happen at her celebration of life. For example, she had a list of songs or artists she wanted to be played. Thank you to Tami's brother, Bryant, for taking that and running with that. She also had a menu, which, unfortunately, due to the heat and inability to keep the food safe for the length of the ceremony, did no happen.  Perhaps the most important desire was that she wantd her final words shared. She died before "editing" this, but there is true beauty in what she conveys. So, instead of "cleaning it up," I provided it as is to Sally Bennett-Schmidt, who read it with amazing accuracy and poise.  I could hear Tami's voice very clearly in the delivery....  Thank you, Sally!  My Words (by Tami Allemao)  For the last 7 years, everyone has heard that I am so very very happy to watch my sister, Teri, be a grandmother!!! Both brothers, Woody and Bryant, are ea...

Sorry it has taken so long to get back to posting some of the key elements that I said I would post from the celebration of life. I took some much needed time away from writing about what I was feeling, and just let grief happen. Interestingly, I have found that the shock of the loss was a bit of an anesthetic, and as that wears off, the quiet moments in the house are harder than they were right after it happened. However, I am staying busy, and more grateful for the many wonderful people around me than I ever have been. I am truly blessed. This was the written version of the Eulogy I was intending to deliver at Tami's Celebration of Life. As you might expect, I ad-libbed quite a bit, as I have never been good at staying on script. However, this is what I meant to share. Please note, it was written more to be a script guide, rather than a blog post, so it doesn't quite have the clarity of most of the other posts within this blog. However, I was asked to share it, so here it is....

First of all, thank you for the incredible outpouring of love and support. It's been a rather emotional few weeks, but thanks to all of you, I feel very loved and supported. You ROCK!  I have had a number of people ask if there is a way to view the Celebration of Life if they are unable to attend.  The answer is, yes. Leo and Rochelle Catt have agreed to Livestream the event via FaceBook Live.  For those of you unfamiliar with how to do that, according to Copilot, here is the  easiest way. (Note, you will need to log into FaceBook.) Fastest way (mobile or desktop): Go directly to the Livecaster's profile Open Facebook Search for their name (Either Leo Catt or Rochelle Pratt-Catt) Go to their profile If they’re live right now , their profile picture will have a red “LIVE” ring around it Tap or click the profile picture → it opens the live stream instantly. This is currently the only reliable method in the mobile app because Facebook removed the old Live Video menu....

  Tami's Connection to the Recital Hall Tami and I were blessed to share almost every Monday night together in the Recital Hall in Balboa Park with our little hexagon group, the Lighthouse Squares.  Tami would be the first face everybody saw. She would sit at the treasurer's table and chat with whoever came in. Tami also danced with the California Heritage Dancers, who practice in this hall. So, she felt a real connection to the hall. Though Tami and I didn't discuss this as part of our planning discussions, I am certain she is smiling at the choice of the location. Some Practical Information Location - Recital Hall, Balboa Park Date and Time: Sunday, August 23 at 12 Noon Where is The Recital Hall  - The address of the Recital Hall is  2130 Pan American W Rd, San Diego, CA 92101.   For those that use landmarks, the Recital Hall is close to the Auto Museum, and fairly close to the Air & Space Museum.  For more information about the Recital Hall, cli...

This will be a very short post. An epilogue will follow with more details, insights, and gratitude after I have had some tme to process.   This post is simply to notify. Tonight, at 9:33 PM, after a heroic fight, a day with her siblings by her bedside and me crawling into her cramped hospital bed to hold her one final time, Tami shuffled off her mortal coil and went to meet our heavenly father.   As much as I am exhausted and devastated, I am grateful that she was resting peacefully when she passed. Her pain and suffering are over.  Thank you all so much for caring enough to follow this Journey. The love and support has meant more than I can possibly express in words.  More to come...