Well, it is 2015 and it still seems like Ted was here yesterday. I feel him around a lot, as I know many people do. About a month ago, an intuitive person–who didn’t know me or Ted—told me that he sends us “feathers,” and that she saw him flying with eagles. Also, that he said we can talk to him anytime we want—that if we calm our minds, we will be able to hear him. She added that he said I’m not listening to him enough! That was funny, because he always used to scold me for not listening to him. (I even wrote a poem last year about him telling me that.) I don’t know if the intuitive was accurate, but I do always think of Ted when I see birds---hawks, ravens, crows, eagles. I do have more feathers in my life than I used to. And I think it’s likely that he is still telling us stories, in the way only he can tell a story. All we have to do is listen:)

Looking at Ted's deck (click on photo to see it right side up!) on a beautiful day, thinking about how he would show me drawings of what it would look like & explain it in detail & shake his head that I still couldn't imagine it. I'd say, "Build it & just don't take out too many trees." We hauled a lot of bricks and wood across LA. Of all the beautiful decks and patios, fences and sheds he built for us, this one stands out--a work of art. He had to dig out the side of a hill, add an extension and plan two levels. I thought the spaces between the planks were too wide but Ted said I just had to find the right chairs. I told him they didn't exist but I was wrong. A few months after he left us, I found patio chairs with round bases at Big Lots. Then I found a firepit at a garage sale down the street. Now we use Ted's deck the way he always wanted us to. Tonight Lois, Rod & I will have a fire on the deck for Ted.

February. 2013

Thanks to Ted's friend Courtney
for posting this recently....

 

Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away to the next room.
I am I and you are you.
Whatever we were to each other,
That, we still are.

Call me by my old familiar name.
Speak to me in the easy way
which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed
at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me. Pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word
that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect.
Without the trace of a shadow on it.

Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same that it ever was.
There is absolute unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind
because I am out of sight?

I am but waiting for you.
For an interval.
Somewhere. Very near.
Just around the corner.

All is well.

--Henry Scott Holland

...So, Ted and I were at Target in San Diego getting a Charlie Brown Christmas tree and he was on the driver's side of the car tying the tree down when I looked inside the car and realized that I didn't recognize anything that was in the front seat. ..

"Ummm, Ted?"
"Yeah?"
"This isn't my car"
"Oh, shoot! Get it off, get it off!!"

I've never seen him move so fast! And then to see us walking slowly and ever so non-chalantly away from that car (while in both our minds we were doing that, "Ted-leaving-fast motion while swinging our arms and not really moving" thing that he would do.) He was probably even whistling like nothing was up, if I recall.  We must have been quite a site and luckily, no one but us was ever the wiser. Oh, how we laughed about that all the way home - and for many Christmases thereafter : )

  On Sep 18, 2012, The Bering Star and crew celebrated the life of Ted on his 43 birthday. First time, Ive seen the whole crew plus processor's off the boat, taking part of this event. The whole harbor of Dutch heard the fireworks that were displayed, and seen the flares that were set a float in the water, and fired in the Alaskan air. It was a fitting tribute for Ted, since Ted, loved to fire off the safety flares, that had expired. This time...the crew and staff fired them for him. Who would have thought 43 years ago...this baby that was born on Sep 18, 1969, would have an impact on some many folks from all over the world. A great send off to a great man!

One of my favorite Ted creations is the little cat door he cut out at the bottom of the fence on the side of our house so our cats Harvey and Harry could glide through easily. It's simple but cute--like a door to a tiny world. He constructed a more elaborate one with a doorflap in our old garage, adding an outdoor play area out of chickenwire. He did let me know that he felt his talents weren't best used for cats & joked that our cats were too pampered (which couldn't possibly be true--) But I do remember how he used to pick up our 3-legged calico, Tigger, and carry her around on his shoulder late at night when the dogs were in bed, and she liked it.

Most of Ted's inventions were when he was young...the hot air balloon with garbage bags, the Freddy fingers he made from the dump pile appliance metal and of course the "drool bucket" he wanted to fashion for Alex when she was just a baby :). What I am remembering today and I'm not sure why is not an invention, but just funny. I needed caramels for a baking project for the girls and drove all over Eagle Rock looking for them. When I explained this to Ted, he said "I know where you can get caramels, I just had a bag 2 days ago" Sure enough, he found the store and got himself another bag just in case. Caramels and circus peanuts now always remind me of Ted...
 

This was the time we tried to create our own air conditioning with a fan and a bowl of ice. How disappointed we were to find that it really didn't work too well, but as always, we had fun trying!  LIke the "double boiler" we (mainly Ted) made out of picture hangers hanging upside down over the edge of the bottom pot (That was probably one of the most successful "inventions" we came up with.)

I was able to channel Ted's genius and use a cup hook in my mailbox (he originally built it and made improvements every time he visited) so now it finally works to keep the door closed and mail from falling on the ground. I think he would be proud of me.

Anyone else have Ted invention/"how can I rig this to work" stories? (Or, perhaps, how can I get rid of this wasp nest?)

This isn't a story...but I am so glad we finally know where the monkey reference in the boat pictures came from. Thanks William!
 

after reading the things others had to say it brought back flood of memories that make me laugh and cry one thing i remember most was when we worked in the freezer myself and the others started walking to the freezer after an already long week and we where running on auto pilot. someone out of the blue started singing the monkey march song from the wizard of OZ (you know oh e oh no hope) that kind of thing. and ted not missing a beat said you guys are like the those monkeys. for the rest of that season we where the freezer monkeys crazy singing freezer monkeys and we couldn't have been prouder then to be ted's freezer monkeys and i know for myself i will wear that badge with honor. ted instilled pride in his men and would back them to the end if they where wronged. he was a man i respected and admired. i will miss him every day. the freezer will never be the same nor the world. -Big paulie

i met ted for the fist time in 2007, while working on the bering star at the time i was pitching cod and realy wanted to do something else thats when i seen these crazy guys that worked in the freezer with a lead that looked as if he belonged on the cover of a moly hatchet cover. ted gave me a chance and even though he pushed us hard he treated us like equals and was always there to explain the right way to do the job. but ted was more than a boss he was a friend on and off the boat. a good man and hard worker i will miss him and will fondly remember the impact he made on my life. to all of his friends and family my hart goes out to you for this tragic loss.
raise your glass and join me to toast our friend, leader, and just all-around good guy. the world without you will be a  much darker place to be.

We think about you always and are missing you terribly. In the morning I can still hear you singing loudly in the shower as you get ready for a day of work at the farm with Tony. I miss watching “Raymond” with you till way past my bedtime. Our games of Scrabble were so much fun – I think you let me win often because you know what a hard loser I am!

All the many things you have done for us, like making our hill safer with a strong railing, designing the patio on the upper and lower deck – and remembering the fun we had building it together – schlepping sand and patio stones down the hill and how it rained when you put in the cement and then had to go back to the boat, and how it turned out beautiful anyway!

Most of all though we miss your smile, laugh, voice, and your constant optimism. We miss you and will never forget you, Teddy J. Guide us all in your kind ways – and save room for us up there too.

Love Forever,

Mom and dad

Thank you to the many faithful and good friends of Ted for all your emails that have made our burden so much lighter. Just knowing he had so many great friends on the boat gives us a better understanding of why he could not wait to get back to you all after his visits home. Ted truly loved you all and thought of you as his second family – and so do we. Please take care out there and keep in touch.

Ted’s mom and dad

I took this picture at the end of one of the Bering Star's fire drills, the regular crew was supposed to stay in their rooms but I went out with my camera to take some pictures, Ted was yelling at me about this when I took the picture, he later told me this was one of his favorite pictures!

I was usually the designated photographer of the freezer and offload crew so I don't have many with Ted, but I took a lot of pictures of Ted not very many together and that is something I regret, I think Dustin Olson took this pic. of all the pictures I do have with Ted I think this is my favorite. We had been working down in the freezer hold chipping ice off the floor and talking about stuff probably the Halo game we played last night , we had our 360's lanned up on the boat and played almost every night, Ted was just a big kid the same as I was and I think thats why we clicked. R.I.P. Brother!

One day, while eating in the galley of the Bering Star. I went to get up, and noticed something stab me in the butt cheecks. I literally hobbled towards the restrooms where Ted was. Knowing that whatever sliced into me, was in really deep. I asked my good buddy Ted to close the door, and to take a look at a place I was unable to see. Teddy shut the door to the laundry room, (where the batherooms are located) and proceeded to check out my situation. He told me it was a aplinter, and that it did indeed look like it was in pretty good, because I was bleeding. Teddy actually went to pull the splinter out, I stopped him before he did, and told him I thought I could manage the task. Teddy said okay, and went to go about his business, having no problem opening the door to the laundry area while a hundred people were returning from lunch...and there I was, with my pants down, thanking Ted for the help...needless to say, we got a few stares.

   Me, Ted, and Kelly went to Ameila's( a popular eating place). It was 630pm, and our curfew was 800pm. I told him, we were rushing it, but he said, it will be alright, and not to worry.  Well this picture was taken, as we were waiting for our taxi, to get back to the boat. We were 10mins late, and Bryan and Rocky were both there waiting for us. The only time, Ive ever been late back to the boat. Truth be told...it was well worth it!! BTW...for folks that didnt know this...Ted had a crush or a thing for Kelly!!

  This was taken 1 year to the date(jul 22, 2011). Me and Ted were talking about Alaska. Ted would state" Welcome to my world!!"

Took this picture, the day before he left for Seattle(Apr 2012). This was like his throne...A place where he always stood, and hung out. A place where I could find him, if I ever needed to find someone to chat with. After I heard of the tragic news of his passing...it was hard to go through the freezer, without glancing or wondering, how things are going to be without him on the boat. While Ted's "Throne" is still there without him, the memories and stories will always be remebered, and the throne, will be a place to reflect on the good time he had on the Bering!!

I've used to tell Ted, these three words every time I seen him. More playing around, than anything else. I would have never thought those words would end up really describing who he was. He was the Man, myth, and the legend, and will be sorely missed, but not forgotten. We had an individual on the boat, this past season, who couldnt handle runing the freezer, and quit, after 2 weeks of being a lead....he stated.."Im not sure how your friend did this type of work, and not quit. He must have had a ton of folks helping him". I stated, " The thing that made him successful at running the freezer, is his ablity to work with oithers, not as a boss or supervisor, but as a freind or buddy" Folks were willing to work hard for him, and thats a hard trait to find in folks, that come up to Alaska, and try to work for minimum wage.

Robert Luetmerposted toTheodore Luetmer on July 20, 2012

Teddy I'm wearing your shirt tonight for our first gig (I hope you don't mind me sweating a little) - I know you're gonna help me get through this brother!! love ya

You, Sheri Schiffler Luetmer, Amy Spriggs Luetmer and 6 others like this.

Shawn Hall Ted always said you were good!

Robert Luetmer I always wished he lived in MN so we could have played together more - as it was I think we only jammed together a few times when we lived together in N Mpls. "Be My Lover" by Alice Cooper was the song...(sigh)

Sammi Linebrinkposted toTheodore Luetmer - July 2, 2012 Oh Ted! I am shocked..and sad. I have such fond memories of you when I first moved to San Diego. You were such a great guy & we became fast friends. I remember you, me and your roommates ordering pizza, having a few beers & talking about anything & everything for hours! Some of the best unfinished conversations I ever had.....In one of our many moves, I came across this embarrassingly huge box of cassette tapes I hadn't opened in years. While looking through it & reminiscing, I came across this cassette you made me - in 1994!! I opened it and it had all these great metal song you compiled for me. And, out came this letter/poem you wrote me. It made me smile. While you had nice things to say about me and our friendship, it really showed what a big heart you have. You had/have this gift for really conveying your true, genuine self through your writing & through the way you carried yourself through life. When we got back in touch all these years later, non of that had changed. I am glad we got back in touch, even if it was for a little while. I know your probably up there smiling with the Gods of Rock with a guinness in your hand. I miss that mega watt smile, but I am glad I got to see it and I'm glad I got to know you. R.I.P.

You, Robert Luetmer, Kate Fahrner Westermeyer and 3 others like this.

Aunt Pat Pat  Thanks for sharing that, Sammi. I am Ted's sister, Pat, and it is so nice to know someone else in San Diego knows and loves Ted like we do (and knows of those glory days when he lived here with us!)

Aunt Pat Patposted toTheodore Luetmer 5 hours ago

I just had to share this picture in response to Evans post yesterday about Ted and the "forest at nighttime and finding fairies and elves," which was so right on in describing Ted perfectly!
This is the little gnome Ted gave me to take care of while he was on the boat and he has been guarding my backyard ever since. Our Mom made this for him many, many years ago because of his fondness for gnomes and elves. I think my Mom even delivered it to California from MN. Ted always said it can't be a bad movie if there are little people in it (i.e. Time Bandits, The Gnome Mobile, etc.) And, when he described Germany to me he said, with that great Ted smile when you knew how happy something made him, it was so cool because it looked just like there were gnomes living in those forests! He had such a great way of describing things and I knew just what he meant and how beautiful it must have been there. Oh, how I do miss him and his "Ted"ness every day. Good 'ol one-ped Ted : )

Thank you, all of Ted's sisters who wrote me back. It must be one hell of a hearty blood line that Ted comes from. I can see the soul in the lines of y'alls faces; the mourning and sencerity that comes from losing such a person who was so full of life.

We miss Ted. We all really, really miss the man. I think the thing that draws me to Ted is the sheer amount of respect that he had for me, and every one else that surrounded him that he cared for. Ted just had a way of making me feel like I was someone, like I was important. We were the all star team that Ted had down in the freezer; the legendary team of Shawn, Clint, Dusten, myself, Ted. The team that could never be duplicated and of which folklore is sung about. There was something mystical about Ted; something akin to going deep into the forest at night time and finding fairies and elves; a link between this world and the the world of magic. All we can do is feel lucky for the encounters that we have in this lifetime and the influencial people that we meet. Until now the biggest person I ever lost in my life was my dog, who was rat poisoned down in Mexico years ago. I'd like to see both him and Ted the day that I cross that river.......

-Evan Olgesby 7/21/12

Evan Oglesbyposted toTheodore Luetmer June 22, 2012 Damn Ted, I just found out about your passing the other day. Carry on my brother. I'm crying my heart out for you. Seems that much of what I did in the last few years was in part to make you proud. I've made it far as a fisherman since I left your domain. Thanks for giving me the power and strength to believe in myself. You're the greatest of all time my brother. I can't tell you how sad this makes me. Just keep that beaming Ted smile on your soul in the hereafter and I hope to meet up with you again someday. Into the motherland the german army march!

Sheri Schiffler Luetmer, Shawn Hall and 2 others like this.

Mary Monroe thanks for the beautiful words about Ted June 26 at 10:06pm

Evan Oglesby Death is hard to take. It's hard for us here in the world who don't really understand it. I'm sure Ted's alright and doing fine, it's us who have to carry on without him. It wasn't just an average guy we lost. God it breaks my heart. June 27 at 1:44am

Evan Oglesby Whenever I pass by the Bering Star I always look for him. It doesn't matter how long we're here on this earth, it's just the imprints we leave on each other that matter. Ooooooh, how do you really deal with such a loss..... June 27 at 1:49am

Mary Monroe Yeah Ted was one of a kind. We have felt his presence in Minnesota and California and I'm sure he's in Alaska too because he loved so many people there-- June 27 at 9:03am

Rose Luetmer Pawlenty Evan, i am also one of Ted's sisters - your words mean so much to me, thank you so much for sharing your experience with the rest of us that loved Ted so much! June 27 at 10:57am

Shawn Hall I loved how concerned Ted was of your well being the night you were fired, it was storming so bad! It really shows how Ted cared and was concerned for his people For Ted I wil yell at you ROY!!!!!!! June 27 at 11:56am

Aunt Pat Pat Hi Evan, yet another of Ted's sisters here - thanks so much for sharing with us. It is so comforting to hear from people who knew and loved Ted like we do. He left a big, joyful imprint on everyone who was lucky enough to know him. I can't put in words how much I miss him and that beaming Ted smile (and how he always knew what movie i was quoting from..."shaking it up here, boss!") June 27 at 7:32pm 

Jhokton Hooper I just found out about it just now he was 1 of the best human beings I've ever met in my life I am in shock and tears I met him 2 seasons ago and the way he conducted himself have a human being influences me today and as a matter of fact I was talking about him to someone in church last saturday wow this is the shocker but I do plan to see him in heaven July 6 at 12:14am

Evan OglesbyThank you, all of Ted's sisters who wrote me back. It must be one hell of a hearty blood line that Ted comes from. I can see the soul in the lines of y'alls faces; the the mourning and sencerity that comes from losing such a person who was so full of life. We miss Ted. We all really, really miss the man. I think the thing that draws me to Ted is the sheer amount of respect that he had for me, and every one else that surrounded him that he cared for. Ted just had a way of making me feel like I was someone, like I was important. We were the all star team that Ted had down in the freezer; the legendary team of Shawn, Clint, Dusten, myself, Ted. The team that could never be duplicated and of which folklore is sung about. There was something mystical about Ted; something akin to going deep into the forest at night time and finding fairies and elves; a link between this world and the the world of magic. All we can do is feel lucky for the encounters that we have in this lifetime and the influencial people that we meet. Until now the biggest person I ever lost in my life was my dog, who was rat poisoned down in Mexico years ago. I'd like to see both him and Ted the day that I cross that river....... 

Shawn Hall Well said Roy!! you got me crying again. There's not a day go by I think of Ted. 

Mary Monroe Wow, Ted had a lot of poets in his life, not surprising as a poet himself...such wonderful descriptions of him...You're right, Ted is a wizard/magician...Who knows what he's capable of now...watch for magic in your lives--

This was Ted on the veranda of my house in San Diego the day he was finalizing his paperwork before going to Alaska. After doing some sharpenin' and figurin' he realized how much he would really be making and I just remember us both laughing until we cried talking about that and how, at the time, it seemed like such a wild and crazy idea.

Now, I'm just so happy he took that risk and went on that wild and crazy adventure. I, for one, am so inspired by him and am trying to do that more in my life in his honor. In fact, this weekend I'm going to Atlantic City and gonna gamble a whole $20 in 1 slot machine just because he would. (Okay, I know he might put just a little more in, but for me - and he would know this - $20 is pretty wild and crazy!) I am looking forward to seeing which slot machine Ted directs me to. I'm thinking it will have aliens or Ramses or something equally Ted-like but you never know with Ted, he always was one to surprise you! I have no doubt, though, that I will know it when I see it  :-)

UPDATED July 21, 2012

Well, I'm back from Atlantic City and I found it just beautiful.  The casinos rising up off that flat, Atlantic coastline was just fabulous. I can't get over how there are casinos and the beach. Righ on the beach.Casino. Beach. Its like having Las Vegas in Pacific Beach!

I found a Hee Haw machine that just screamed "Ted", but it was only 1 cent machine so that didn't seem right. Then, after wandering around and around the smokey Golden Nugget, I found a Wheel of Fortune machine that seemed like the one and proceeded to lose $20 in a record 1.5 minutes but, I have to say, it was pretty exciting to just put that whole $20 in at once! I didn't win any money but did learn a valuable lesson - it didn't kill me to live a little for a change and once in awhile its good to just throw caution (and $20) to the wind :-)

Ted's Eulogy
by Mary Monroe
May 5, 2012
St.John's Church
Meire Grove, MN  

Ted is the youngest in our family, and I am the oldest. I’m 12 years older, but... we’ve always felt connected. His birthday is one day before mine—he said that we Virgos have to stick together--and we tried to celebrate together every year usually at an Indian restaurant because we both love Indian food. I think mostly he liked to give me a hard time about being so old. Now he’ll never have a chance to put me in a home, the way he was always threatening to do.

Ted always said he wanted to come to his own funeral, so I know he’s here, and shaking his head, saying, "Mary, Mary, Mary..."

Ted, Lois, Pat and I discovered life in California together, and it has been an incredible adventure. Ted’s address has been our house in Los Angeles for many years and he lived with us, when he wasn’t in Alaska, or travelling, or back here in Minnesota. Most every night, he would sit in our hot tub with a cigar, looked up at the stars, contemplating life the way only Ted can do. I’m sure Maggie and Joe remember having those deep moonlight conversations with Ted. Many of you know what a philosopher and storyteller Ted was.

Ted believed life was much bigger than just this world. Ted knew there was life after death. Talking to Ted was an out-of-body experience in itself. He and I both like to stay up late at night and we had many, many conversations about, you know, "little" things like the meaning of life, death, UFOs and traveling through time. Ted always thought big. Maybe that’s why he loved Alaska so much.

Most people are happy to have a home and a family, but Ted was an international man of mystery, and he had many homes, and many families. He knew San Diego like the back of his hand. He spent a lot of time in Seattle and Los Vegas, too, and he travelled to Florida, the Ukraine and Germany. He saw the Eiffel Tower, the site of the Berlin Wall, and the Black Sea. Ted lived a big life.

Ted didn’t just make acquaintances, he made close friends wherever he went. He brought joy and laughter everywhere. He got a great sense of humor from my dad and mom. Ted was hilarious and he loved to be silly. It made you forget about your worries and not take things so seriously. That’s exactly what he wanted it to do. Like many funny people, Ted was wise, too.

We all tried to get Ted to settle down in one place—because we all wanted him to stay with us—but he wanted a bigger life than that.

Every year around New Years Eve, Ted would leave us in California and go back to Alaska—up to the Bering Strait—which is way, way at the top of the world, a place few people ever see. He loved the eagles that would land on the ship right in front of him, the beautiful remoteness of the sea, but most of all, he loved his friends. Believe it or not, Ted had his crew sing songs while they were working. It sounds like a movie, and it sounds like Ted.

Ted was a foreman, and his team came from all over the world—a lot of colorful characters to say the least. Many of them came to Ted for advice and help with their problems. Ted was a natural leader—he got that from my dad—and Ted was a teacher. One of the people he worked with in Alaska said: “Ted, the advice you gave and the attitude you cultivated with the people you worked with will stay with me for the rest of my life. If I could become half the man you were, it will be a blessing to the people I know. “

On the ship, they called him the shining star of their company. Ted was known for being the hardest worker there, always positive, a man of honor and a class act. They will be having a service for Ted on the ship up in Dutch Harbor, sharing memories and setting flowers afloat on the water.

Ted believed in being true to yourself, and he lived by a code of honor. For many of the people who worked for him, Ted was a hero, as he was to me. Ted gave me a lot of advice, and never steered me wrong. Mostly he told me to stand up for myself, and to go after my dreams—and to be careful around black widow spiders. He didn’t like spiders.

At heart, Ted was also an artist—he got that from my mother. He loved music, especially European symphonic heavy metal. Even I went to see Alice Cooper and Savatage and Meat Loaf concerts with him. But he liked all kinds of music. He liked Bing Crosby and Bob Hope movies. He was a good writer and could draw well. He was really good with computers, and taught me how to use Facebook. He was a good cook. He had refined taste and did everything with style. He was a designer at a printing company before he started working in Alaska, and he did many amazing design and construction projects that will last longer than we will at our house in Los Angeles and in San Diego, and at my parents home in Grey Eagle, at Rose’s house and at Tony’s farm.

Ted and I must have had hundreds of crazy--probably dangerous--trips to Home Depot, laughing hysterically with sheets of drywall and 10 ft. 2x4s sticking out of the car. Ted loved helping people. He was one of the most helpful people I have ever known. He loved my parents deeply and loved being able to help them. Ted’s bond with his brothers was important to him, and he had a special relationship with each of us sisters too. He also loved children, especially all his nieces and nephews. He loved playing board games and jumping on the 4-wheeler with Zak and Makiya. In California, Ted was a father figure to Alex and would pick her up from school.

Ted was handsome and had romantic relationships with women from around the world. He was smart, and had many talents and could have done anything he wanted. But Ted knew what mattered in life: friends and family. Ted was one of the most successful people I’ve ever known—because he had so much love for so many people, and he was so loved in return. Love is the absence of judgment, and Ted didn’t judge. That may be why he had so many friends. Right now, there are people mourning Ted from Russia to Peru.

Ted loved to give gifts. But he didn’t like it if you told him what you wanted because he thought the gift-giver should know you well enough to find the perfect thing. He was usually with us for Christmas, and this Christmas he gave me a book about the Dalai Lama. It says that most religions believe that love and compassion are the most important things in life—that compassion means the wish for another being to be free from suffering, and love means wanting them to have happiness.

Ted didn’t want anyone to suffer, and he wanted all of us to be happy—that’s why he was always making us laugh. And he wants us to follow our dreams. If you’ve been thinking about taking a trip but not getting around to it, take it for Ted. If you’ve been thinking that you want to make a change in your life, do it now for Ted. Especially to the younger people and nieces and nephews, if you want to make Ted smile, go for it, be fearless, have fun, and follow your dreams, just like Ted did.

Ted’s heart was huge, and he told me several times that people with big hearts die young. And sure enough, Ted was young when his heart just stopped beating and his work here was done .

I’m sure he saw that white light and hopped on board for the next adventure. Ted believed in the mysteries of life, and now he’s out there exploring the next dimension.

While he was travelling the world, we all waited for Ted to come home, and now Ted is waiting for us.