My 100th for Tom Bradbury

My ninety-nine posts on Vocal have left me to ponder what I would publish for the one hundredth. Ninety-nine poems, articles, and short stories, both fiction and non-fiction. A few were silly art poems for fun. The one hundredth had to be unique.

The 99 Bottles of Beer song came to mind, but I've consumed far more than that in the past two years. As I pondered the gospel song The Ninety and Nine, the parable about the one lost sheep crawled into my thoughts and led me to remember our lost brother, creator, and friend, Tom Brad (Tom Bradbury).

Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn't leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that was lost, until he found it? When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

Vocal has published many memorials and honored Tom as an avid supporter of the creator communities after the tragic fire took his life in September 2021 in his mill in France. Call Me Les led the complex and emotional charge with two collections and published,

The Vocal Creators Chronicle who appreciated Tom's energy, involvement, advocating of Vocal, and constructive criticism, honored him with a special edition article in Journal.

As a novice member, Vocal creator Tom became a mentor to me. He critiqued with total honesty but offered solutions and encouragement. Critiques of my work were a mix of Simon Cowell, my first-grade schoolteacher, and my college track coach. Tom is why I stayed with Vocal after my first daring attempts to enter the creator fray. At best count, it has taken a dozen other friends and creators to offset his loss for the past fifteen months, and to each, I am grateful.

Why the ninety-nine and the lost sheep? What is nagging my mind? Of Tom's fifty-nine publications, my favorite was his second-place finish in the A Day in the Life Challenge, he published in Petlife,

Tom was a shepherd and laid out a day in the life of his farm and mill and the death of his ewe 'Petite Vache.'

"After the vet left, I lifted 'Petite Vache" out to the back field and placed her under a big tree. The entire flock came and one by one said goodbye to their pal. The only way to describe it is a procession. It was truly one of the saddest, most beautiful things I have ever seen in my life. I left her with her family for three hours and then returned to carry her back over the river to be with her son." (Excerpt from What Becomes of the Broken Hearted, Tom Brad.)

The story ends with this poem.

I'm searching though I don't succeed

For someone's love has a growing need

All is lost, there's no place for beginning

All that's left is an unhappy ending

Now what becomes of the broken hearted?

Who had love that's now departed

I know I've got to find some kind of peace of mind.

I'll be searching everywhere.

(Excerpt from What Becomes of the Broken Hearted, Tom Brad.)

I found my lost sheep in his publication, and it haunts me. What still needs to be completed?

Tom advocated for Vocal to create a community for men in a world where the male voice would have a place to express itself.

"I love the voices on Vocal. I also wholeheartedly support the platform for raising a spotlight upon all of these communities. I still however could not find a home for my voice."

(Excerpt from A Cowboy is More Than a Stetson, Tom Brad"

Taylor Sheridan has cashed in on this with the Paramount shows Yellowstone, 1881, and now 1923. Vocal should do so as well. The masculine voice gives context to the multitude and varied voices Vocal has done so well to provide. I agreed with Tom then, and I agree with him now. Men need a voice, and Vocal would benefit from this added balance to the community platforms.

Would Vocal tend to the lost sheep, the Englishman who lived in France, Tom Bradley's voice by establishing a community for Men and allowing his inclusive spirit to perpetuate forever? I humbly request the Stetson community be established. Let us be his voice. Tom spoke for me then and still speaks for me now on the need for this community.

I dedicate my one-hundredth publication to the refined man and English Cowboy Tom Bradbury, my mentor and friend from across the pond.

If you agree and support this request, please share, and comment below to Vocal. I do not seek gain with this publication and authorize Vocal to deduct any count proceeds from my account.