Thanks to Bob Ingle for passing along the news. I had a feeling things
might've gotten worse over the last week. The normal routine was that Terry
and I would e-mail each other. Then, he started calling to talk instead. His
vision was failing, and he told me that the latest news on his illness wasn't
good. He sounded as upbeat and hopeful as ever, which always impressed me. I
asked if I should come down to visit, and he said he really couldn't do
anything, but would let me know if things got better. I e-mailed after that
and he responded, but the last e-mail went unanswered, and I think that's when
I knew.
Terry was a great friend. We had lots of adventures together, and those
memories are forever. He was funny, and enjoyed a good conversation and a good
laugh. He had his way of looking at things, and in many ways, we were very
different people. The main common threads were birds and travel. We both
liked sports. We were both in health science, so he always liked to talk about
that. He'd send me books and articles on all sorts of things. We had a fun
time for a lot of years.
I think what I'll always remember (besides just the thought of him smiling or
laughing) is Terry's penchant for misadventure. I'm laughing right now, just
thinking about some of the things he did. I won't go into detail, but certain
things stand out in my mind because I'm a cautious person, and Terry was the
total opposite. Most of all, I think Terry was a great birder, and perfect for
me as a teammate out there. He had traveled the world, and had seen the
majority of what can be found in the U.S. He helped me learn about which
species you'd find in which habitat. He taught me how to identify birds by
song. I always enjoyed helping him get a lifer because he helped me get so
many.
I'm glad Terry introduced me to so many people I would otherwise never have
met. I'm glad he took me on trips across the state and out of the state to
find all sorts of things I'd have never found on my own. He really enriched my
life since we started hanging out a few weeks after I met him at Discovery
Center in Murfreesboro. He was my good friend, and I'll remember him, and be
glad for the time we spent together as long as I live. RIP, Terry.
Chad Smith
