Valedicere ( latin; to say goodbye)

My name is Shannon Sawyer. I am a friend of Tony and Pam Parscal. I have asked to make an entry in Tony’s blog. I know there are many who love Tony that read this, and that there are many that have never met Tony, but have been following his journey here.

Tony left this world on Sunday, November 16th at 12:51 p.m. He was at home with his family near him. His memorial service will be Sunday in Austin at 2:00.

Tony was one of the most unique and loving people I have ever known. He called me his love child - born of his love of fishing and Pam. We had several fishing trips together - some more successful than others - but we always had a GREAT time. Coming home from an overnight in Rockport where we froze and stood in vertical drizzle, we stopped for a train and got out of the car to dance around the vehicles. Such was his joy for life and fun. Tony was the kind of guy you could talk to about anything and have an interesting discussion. He always valued what you had to say, even if he did not agree with you.

Tony was blessed with an amazing family that he absolutely adored. His number one girl was Pam. What a love story! There was never a doubt about the devotion they both had for each other. They inspired others with their consideration, and I know I took a few notes about being a true partner. His number 2 girl is Erika. While not his daughter by birth, he told me over and over again how special she is to him. He loved her fiercely and I know she was able to give him comfort in his last days. Ryan, the amazing musician that is Tony’s stepson, was a rock for Tony. Tony spoke with such pride of all of his accomplishments, and Ryan was such a vital part of Tony’s last days on this earth.

Pam. You are stronger than you know. Thanks to you, Tony’s wishes were carried out. Tony stayed home. Tony had his family near him. Thank you for being so open with your journey and allowing others to be there. We are all still here for you.

I love Tony Parscal, and if you knew him, you would love him too.

He is missed deeply, but Pam says it perfectly when she describes time with Tony as a gift.
We were all blessed by knowing and loving him.
For that , I am grateful.

It very strange hearing the doctor tell me other day that instead of a couple years I probably have just a couple of months. I dont feel like someone that only has a couple of months left to live, I do not feel that way at all. Maybe the the drugs are better at this level. I feel more stable and clear, my appetite still sux But there is this terrficic natural substance that has improved my appetite. Shannon is coming tomorrow to visit for a couple of days and i am so looking forward to it. She is an amazingly speacial young woman to me. I can't but see some of this as a death watch. I have to remind myself of what kind of friends I have. we have a circle of friends that would show up at 3:00 in the morning if I needed that. I am sonstantly amazed by the fact they would really do most anything and have proven it a number of times. Shannon and I are going fishing if we we able
Always with love
Tony.

The early morning Cha-cha

I am backup again doing the 2:00 am thing again. it remends me of the mornings we got up to go fishing, many of the them. it didnt seem where we were going or how long we were gonna stay there it was always a requirement that we get up way before dawn to go fishing. and always the fishing. there was one particular trip i remember in the Bay. My Dad had planed a trip on Ray Francis's boat. That was one of the few time a catastrophe did not occur. Trouble always seemed to follow my dad, not this time. We got into the stripers pretty quick and as there is a slot limit in CA, we didnt want to run through our limit that quickly. I asked why he just didnt turn on the fish finder and get some more? this guy was about 5' " and solid muscle. His foverite saying " You dont ask a Potugee to this or that" so we would move away from rhat area and start catching sharks. Sharks are fun to catch. They fight real well and when you get them on deck you hafta either shoot em and tem em home with you or cut em loose before begin flopping. A flopping Shark on the deck of a bout is not good. The weather is fabulous here in Texas. Camping in my very near future.
Always with love
,Tony.

Unsung hero

I thinking I am feeling better, I still get nateuaus, but not so bad . I have several jobs coming up and that be will be good for my botttom line . I need to get out and work if I can and I will attempt to do just that. This Cancer thing causes me to focus on me more than anything and people have told me I need I need to do just that. The troubling part of all this though that Pammy kinda get left in the dust. Of course it is not intention to leave Pammy behind but while I am placingall of my attention on me she gets forgotten. She has no intention to draw attention to herself and she knows I need to do what what I am doing, I need to work a little better a little harder not allowing her to become a forgotten part of the relationship. There is no way in the world that I could get through any of this without her being here and helping as much as she does. Pammy I have always adored you I could not survive withthout you, I know a get a little nasty that has little to do with you and more to do with the fact that every time I am brought level with my limititations I do not react well. I am constantly rememiding my seldf and with time I think will i improve this part of me.

Always with love
Tony.

It looks like it,s gonna be another beautiful day out there today, it is is fall. I very much like fall and all the color from it. In Texas we plant our our colorful plants in October and November. I always plant a lot of Anuualas to put in when fall arrives, this year will be no different than others. I love annual color, Pannsies, snaps, Dianthus. There is nothing prettier than a bed all dressed up with annal color. I have several to take care of next week. It has been a tough transitition for Shaun, there is no doubt whatsoever he is a hard worker, he is not a gardener though and that has been difficult for him. He has no trouble with the mechanical parts of things, I think gardeneing is part intuition and just plain seeng thing otheres may not see. Gardening is placing height, texture and color in the proper combinations to illicit the most stunning affect. I do it it by intuition, I can not really explain how I go about it, I just seem to know. I have a strong passion for gardening and this is my time of the year.

Always with love,
Tony.

Lets go camping

Pammy and i are talking about taking some time and going camping, we havnt been camping fora couple of years and I would look forward to that. My brother is coming near the end of November perhaps that might be a good time to go. I will need to set it up , neither of them is very good at getting things like that arranged. If he doesnt change the date again as he has once allreadyHe had been switch work dates with a coworker and apparently the co worker needed to change the the day. Fortunately my days are not cluttered and can be changed fairly easly. I love to go camping and Ink's lake is one of my favorite places to go so we shall see how all that works out. In the mean time I think I am feeling a little better. I am gonna go get some sleep and see what Tomorrow has in in store for me.

Always with love,
Tony.

Yesterday Chemo was called off , they said my blood levels were too low and I guesss I apreciate them watching my blood levels while they pour toxic chemicals into to attempt to kill the cancer. I defere to the expertise of the Doctors always but I wonder do I shorten my presently shortened life by allow the put on hold a treatment that I may need. I will need to speak to the Doctor on this when I next see her. I am enjoying the current cold front we are having, Texas really is a wonderful place in the late fall and winter. I like to go camping in the winterand I usually take the boat out and do so me fishing as well. I hope this hold thing gets worked out, It's gonna be a beutiful day.

Always with love
Tony.