PixlBit

I used to try and keep the various components of my life separate – gaming with the gamers, music with the folkies, park stuff separate but equal, etc. I have come to realize that I am unable to keep these things compartmentalized. Bits of all of them had a tendency to bleed over into the other areas and there wasn't anything I could do about it. I came to realize that all of these things are the threads that make up the tapestry of who I am. Hopefully, people from all the circles of friends I belong to will read this and understand what I'm trying to say, because it's all tied together and I can't unknot any of it without the whole thing unraveling.

A year and a half ago, the game Journey was released. After having played it through twice, I was still at a loss for words about how to explain it. I replayed it again a couple of months ago, attempted to write about it, and was again unable to really describe it. It wasn't until I was in the car on Thursday, coming home from seeing my friend Tom off to the Great Beyond, that it struck me, but more on that later.

For those of my non-gaming friends who might be reading this, Journey is a video game. In the game developer's own words: “Journey is an interactive parable, an anonymous online adventure to experience a person’s life passage and their intersections with other's” Grammatically incorrect, I know, but that's not the point. Journey is what is referred to a co-op game, which means you play it with others. In most games, you have control over who you are playing with. Co-op games can be either couch co-op (playing with someone sitting next to you) or on-line co-op, where you either set up games with your friends or play with a bunch of random strangers. You can communicate with one another via headsets, if you so desire. The difference with Journey is that you are paired with a random, anonymous stranger, and you can only communicate by a musical ping. You can travel together as long as you wish, help one another out, or completely ignore the other person. Your choice. I recommend looking up game videos referred to as “Let's Plays” to get an idea of what I'm talking about if you are unfamiliar with video games. It's worth it, trust me.

Anyway, back to Tom. He'd been sick for a while. He'd lost his voice and was losing his sight, and was increasingly more and more frail. Linn was with him every step of the way, navigating bureaucratic red tape, hospital stays, and being a 24/7 caregiver. He'd gone into the hospital a week earlier, and the medical folks finally admitted that the end was nigh. We didn't realize just how nigh, though. Wednesday, Linn posted on the folk forum that he'd taken a turn for the worst and had been moved to the hospice and that the end could come at any time. I'd been planning on going down early to the sea music session on Saturday to visit him, but realized that he probably wasn't going to be around that long. I needed to say goodbye, but didn't want to intrude. I decided that I'd call Linn in the morning and go down then, if that was acceptable to her. I slept poorly, I thought he'd go in the wee hours of the morning, quite honestly. When I called in the morning, he was still with us, just not awake. I drove down on a beautiful, sunny day, thinking about how much I would have enjoyed the day more if my friend weren't dying, and that it seemed a shame to die on such a beautiful day. Which is totally idiotic, by the way. I was the second friend to arrive, and more followed me. We took turns hugging Linn, holding Tom's hand, and saying our goodbyes to our friend. And most importantly, we told stories about him, and sang, and played music. He never woke up, and peacefully slipped away among friends who sang him on his way. Actually, he slipped off during the tune Whiskey Before Breakfast, which seems appropriate, as he was the person who introduced me to the joys of fine single malt. We stayed with him for a bit, still singing, and finished up with The Parting Glass. All in all, a good way to go. Painless, surrounded by friends making the music that he loved.

He and Linn spent his last days together in conversation about many things. One of the things they talked about was how Tom was looking forward to this new experience. And I think that may be what made things finally click in my head about the game. As I was driving home, once again admiring the beauty of the day, but thinking instead about what a beautiful day to finish up one's time on this earthly plane, it hit me. My first two play-throughs of Journey were two totally different experiences. The first time, I met a bunch of different people, we traveled together for a bit, and then went our separate ways. The second time, I had the same companion on my journey all the way through. Tom and Linn's relationship was like that second play-through. They'd been together for 33 years, and they had walked together that whole time. The rest of us, Tom's friends, walked with him a little while for just parts of the journey. I wish that I could have taken my Playstation 3 down and showed Tom the game. I think he would have found it interesting. I may try and show Linn at some point.

I feel honored to have been with Tom when he passed, and in being there, I was able to do something for Tom that I couldn't do for my dad: say goodbye, be with him for the start of his final journey, and sing him onward in the company of good friends. I don't know where we go when this turn of the wheel is over, but I like to picture Tom in Valhalla, concertina in hand, being a complete historic anachronism.

I'll finish this up with a couple of music selections, because the common thread we all had with Tom was the music.

The man himself: Tom Hall singing Bound Away for Australia

This one is Si Bheag Si Mhor. It's one of my favorite tunes and one that was played for Tom. I really liked this one, just skip the first 30 seconds and get right to the music.

Keep You In Peace - based on an old Celtic blessing.

The Parting Glass - Iknow many of us know this song from the movie Waking Ned Devine, but Linn hates that version, so I went with a classic.