Web of Spindled Time

The author, Tom Henderson, was born in Bedford, Indiana on January 1, 1948 to his parents, William and Mabel. His brother, Joel, was two years older and his sister, Joyce, was four years younger. The author graduated high school in 1965, at the age of 17. In the meantime, the author met his future wife, Connie. They dated steadily through much of her junior and senior years. They were married May 25, 1969, the same day she graduated high school. Their first son, Dustin was born on August 17, 1970. Their second son, Jamie, was born two years later on August 12, 1972.

The author worked in several different factories, including RCA, for 20 years. In 1990 he developed bilateral, carpal tunnel syndrome. Taking a medical leave, he had surgery performed on both of his wrists. The author decided to start his college career that summer, at age 42. He received a General Studies Degree at Bedford College Center then transferred to Indiana University School of Social Work where he received a Bachelor of Social Work Degree. He then entered into the School of Social Work’s Advanced Standing Program, completing post graduate courses for three more straight semesters. He finally received his Master of Social Work Degree from IUPUI in 1996.

After he graduated the author took a job at Stone Belt Center, becoming one of two social workers there. He primarily worked with the developmentally disabled population. He was in charge of admissions and discharges of residents for six of Stone Belt’s eleven group homes. He provided counseling to residents, oversaw their finances and served as a liaison between them and the community. In addition, he involved family members and advocates in becoming guardians for several of the residents. Stone Belt developed “Milestones”, a type of community behavioral and mental health center. Milestones included psychiatrists, several behavior specialists, and several therapists. The author also served as one of the therapists there.

The author’s youngest son, Jamie, had married his wife, Devin, on July 4, 2000. They have two daughters, Mackenzie and Traleigh which made the author and his wife grandparents. Then, tragically, on June 1, 2005, the author’s wife, Connie, was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. The doctors gave her less than three months to live unless, she began chemotherapy treatment immediately. With the treatment, her prognosis was, potentially, up to two years. She began her chemotherapy treatments the next day. She endured treatment after treatment for many months, including full brain radiation. Under enormous stress, the author continued working at his job while taking care of Connie. On November 30, 2006, the author had a stroke and sank into a coma. The doctors performed an emergency craniotomy, a life saving surgery. The author remained married to Connie until she died on May 11, 2007, exactly two weeks before their 38th wedding anniversary. A month later the author had triple bypass surgery, due to a totally occluded main artery.

The author decided to make a bucket list. The first item on his list was to gather his writings into one place so he could record and print them. Buying a computer, he was determined to preserve his thinking for posterity. He gathered 45 years of his writings together. Thus, this book was generated. The second item on the author’s list was to make songs out of some of his poems. Adding this new depth to his poetry, he hoped the music would allow the messages of his words to be absorbed more subtly, consequently, impacting the minds of listeners with greater influence and meaning. The author had no music abilities but, his brother-in-law, Jerry, did. Jerry had written music to two of the author’s poems, back in 1973. Then, 35 years later in 2008, they got together again to write more songs. They have now written 28 more songs together. Should time allow, more poetry and more songs are likely to, come.