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Thomas Jef fery Schaef fer
When I was two years old, I received one of the greatest gifts of my life – my baby brother, Thomas. I loved being a big sister. It felt important and connected, so very right to care for him.
As he grew into a quiet, agnostic humanitarian artist, I became a truth-seeking, care-taking, duty-bound Christian. Thomas ignited in me a fascination with knowing and experiencing others. The more we understood about each other the deeper our bond grew. A profound insight I gained from having Thomas as a brother was: I wanted to love as he did. In my youth I was trying to love others because it was what Christ wanted me to do – Thomas loved others just because he did. It was who he was.
My creation of The Amazing Adventures of Thomas Jeffery Sea Lion is my way of celebrating the transforming effect his love had on me. The books in this series are my way to preserve his legacy.
Contemplating his refining effects on me,
I wrote this poem:
Twinkle upon the snow,
Projecting prisms of moonlight,
Transmitting warmth in steady flow.
Healing my heart’s frostbite.
You stay young, I’m growing old.
Memories of you are vivid, not cold.
You, first to cross the threshold,
A far better place I’m told.
Prisms reminding me of rainbows in spring.
Season of rebirth,
Hope
Reassures brief, the separation’s sting,
Refracts from my grief-ridden mope.
You taught much, Thomas.
Warm others with love, my promise!
Military Service
1986 - 1994
Thomas joined the U.S. Navy and moved to San Diego, California in 1986.
He received the designation of Signalman in December of 1986 and was assigned to the USS RENTZ (FFG-46). In five years with the USS RENTZ, Thomas completed three WESTPAC tours.
In 1991, he went to the Naval Dive School in Panama City, Florida and then moved onto Explosive Ordnance Disposal training in Florida and Maryland in 1992. Thomas was then assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Three at Naval Amphibious Base, Colorado, where he was officer in charge of Mark V, the division in charge of training sea lions.
Text about Thomas' love for the sea lions and dolphins.
The Beginning of Thomas' Adventures
