The Weekend

Just a quick note about the weekend that is ahead. I am so excited about it. We are all going to Johnson City for a wine tasting and then on to an exotic animal farm. I love animals. I love zoos and the chance to be close to the animals and feed them and pet them.

One of my favorite weekends was when we all went to Lion Country Safari in Waco. We spent the whole day there. In fact we were in front of the feed wagon in the morning so all the animals were hungry and happy to see us. We had our cups of food and got to feed them. One of the deer was so hungry that he stuck his head in the window. Scared me good. But looking into those beautiful eyes was wonderful. We saw all the animals and the shows and petted and fed to our hearts content. Then after a restful sleep, we went to the Waco zoo before we went home. It was a lovely small zoo and we got to watch the otters swim around and play. Once again we got to feed and pet the animals. It was a perfect weekend for me and my family.

So tomorrow Serif gets to go to her first petting zoo. I can't wait to see her eyes when she see these animals. Maybe she'll even be able to feed them, but probably not because she thinks everything should go into her mouth. I really enjoy spending time with my family and this should be great.

Then Saturday night I have to bake a birthday cake for my baby. I can't believe she is going to be 29 on Saturday. It seems like just yesterday she was crawling up on my lap and now she's a grown woman and mother. She wants a yellow cake with chocolate frosting. I will make that and then Sunday will be the family get together to celebrate her birthday.

It's going to be a busy weekend but a good one. Of course any weekend I spend with my wonderful family is good. I'll fill you in on everything on Monday. I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe weekend.

The Baptism

Once again we had a very full weekend. Since Serif has come, I am so busy on the weekends and I love it. Weekends can be very lonely when you are alone. Now I have a beautiful grandbaby to talk to and visit. She is getting so big and has such a great personality.

My weekend started early. My boss came in and said I could go home at 4:45 on Friday. Just what I needed. I jumped in my car and sped to Serif's day care. This is the first time I've done this but they remembered me and were so sweet about my being there. Serif was sleeping so I loved on her back and talked to her. She woke up slowly. Then she opened her eyes and saw me. She was surprised but gave me the biggest grin. I picked her up and my day was completely. She was so loving. We talked and visited with her friends. I fed her some but she was more interested in the kids. When I got there everyone was crying except Serif. During my time there she didn't cry at all. Just talked and laughed with me. And of course stuck her fists in her mouth. She is so precious. Her father came and picked her up and we all went to Serif's house. I cannot tell you how happy that baby makes me. We all went shopping and out to eat and that beautiful baby just smiled and talked the whole time.

Saturday was busy too. Serif got to go to her first birthday party for another little girl. Violet turned 2. All those kids running around. Serif was so interested in all the kids. She did have to take a little nap while she was there. She went to sleep on her mommy but I got her and held her so her mommy could go and play some. It was so wonderful sitting there and holding this beautiful child in my arms. What more could I ask for? Well I'll tell you. After all the snuggling and kissing while she slept, she woke up and looked at me and smiled that beautiful smile of hers. It was wonderful. Plus Serif got to go down her first slide. She loved it. It was a great birthday party but we were pretty worn out and we still had a big day ahead fo us on Sunday.

Sunday was perfect. Serif looked so beautiful in her baptismal gown. On her gown she wore her great grandfather Dunn's bib pin and on her wrist she wore the beautiful bracelet given to her by Missy's godmother. The serivce was very nice and Parker, our favorite priest, baptised her. Serif was so good and didn't cry. She was a little confused when he poured water on her head but other than that she was perfect. Unfortunatley, I don't think her father's family was very comfortable with the service but I'm glad they could be there with us. Missy and Terry picked two of their closest friends to be Serif's godparents. They could not have picked a better couple for this task. They are perfect. I love them both and had already considered them members of our family. Now they offically are.

After the service we all went to the park for lunch. It was a perfect conclusion to everything. It was relaxing and fun. Everyone was able to visit without having to deal with the restaurant crowd.

Of course it isn't Sunday without the grocery store. This Sunday it was just Terry, Serif and me. Missy had to stay home and study for her CPA exam. Serif was asleep when we got to the store. It was about half way through that Terry and I were standing there discussing a purchase when I looked over and there were these big beautiful eyes just staring at me. I smiled and hello and I got the biggest sweetest smile in return. I tell you those smiles just make you melt. Serif then continued to coo and talk through the rest of the store. I never knew the store could be so much fun until she started coming with us. I don't know what I ever did to be blessed with such a wonderful family but whatever it was I'm glad I did it. I am such a lucky person and I am so thankful for this life I have been given. Even with the bad I have endured, it's a beautiful life. Thank you God.

The Weekend

I have to tell you that I had a wonderful weekend. It was good on so many levels. First of all I got off my a$$ and actually cleaned my house. This entailed unclogging my vacuum cleaner which is a pain but I couldn't take the place any more. So I made all the little spiders go away and got rid of all the dog hair that was laying around. Of course, by the time I finished, Bosco was working on replacing all the hair for me. There should be much less now that I am down to only one dog. It seems to strange to have only one. But Bosco is coping. I know he is lonely but he will have to get used to that. He's only got me now. Anyway, I have discovered that when I let my house gets messy it affects my mood. So by cleaning I got the weekend started off right.

After a shower I headed over to Missy's for my babysitting. Now I love to spend time with Serif. Even if she's in a bad mood. Unfortunately, she feel asleep and sleep the whole evening but I could look at her adoringly and touch her. With her sleeping I found myself dozing. So I took out my contacts and snuggled into Missy's sofa. I had a nice visit with Missy when she got home from her high school reunion and enjoyed hearing about all her old friends. It's so hard to believe it's been 10 years. In many way it seems like just yesterday, and in other ways, it seems like a different lifetime. The baby woke up and it was so sweet. She was surpised to see that I was still there but gave me the sweetest smile. I love that little girl so much.

It was strange because this is the first time that I have spent the night at Missy's house. We haven't woken up in the same house since the day she married. Serif woke up around 7, but her parents have their own routine and I tried not to get in the way. I went back to see if I could help but they had everything under control. It was so wonderful to see Missy sitting there feeding her baby and Terry sitting on floor in front of them loving on the baby. It was such a beautiful family site that I didn't want to intrude and left them to their daughter. I am so happy that Missy has found such happiness in her life. I know how much she loves Terry and how much he loves her. They have built a beautiful life together. It is something every mother wishes for her child. I am very grateful.

So I guess old age and love of sleep won out and I went back to sleep and left Missy and Terry to take care of the baby. Missy slept but Terry took over daddy duties. It was so sweet when I walked in to see him at the computer and Serif happily playing and watching her daddy. She is such a daddy's girl. She can't get enough of him. It is so wonderful to see. I'm so glad that they can have that wonderful relationship. I know how important my father was to me and how much Patrick meant to Missy. I think that's something every little girl should experience.

So all in all I got to spend 24 hours with my wonderful daughter, her husband and my fantastic granddaughter. It was strange and wonderful. I hope I didn't outstay my welcome but I have to admit it felt so natural. I really enjoy their company. Even if I'm watching TV or knitting while everyone sleeps. Thank you Missy and Terry for always making me feel so welcome. And thank you Serif for being such a wonderful addition to our family.

Fantastic Weekend

I can't believe I was so busy at work yesterday that today is the first chance I get to blog. Oh well I guess I have to earn my paycheck sooner or later.

I had the most fantastic weekend I have had in ages. Actually it started out on Thursday with dinner with my whole family. Tom and Patti, Missy and Terry and, of course, our beautiful Serif. We had a great visit and a good meal at Tres Amigos.

Then Friday was Emily's birthday. I got off early and went with Missy to pick up Serif from daycare. Then on we went to Dave and Busters. We had a nice dinner. Actually, for a change Missy and I were smart and shared a sandwich so we could each have dessert without being too stuffed. It was perfect. I got to play some games and then hold a sleeping baby. I loved holding her while she was deep in sleep. I could feel her breath on my neck. I could hug her all I wanted because she didn't care. She is such a good baby. We gave all our tickets to Emily so she could buy lots of things for herself. She seemed to have a good birthday. I hope so because I had a great time.

Then Saturday was my special day. Missy and Terry asked me to come over early and watch the bug while they got dressed for their big night out. It was my pleasure. I couldn't get there fast enough. Serif and I had a wonderful evening. We stuck tongues out at each other. We talked a lot. We sucked on each others fingers and we both sucked on her toes. She was in such a good mood and smiled the whole time. In fact the only fussing I got was when she was sleepy. She cuddled right into my shoulder and went sound asleep. That would have been great but it was only 8:15. I guess I wore her out. So I spent the rest of the evening finishing up the baby blanket that I knitted her. It didn't turn out too bad. I don't think the mistakes are that noticeable. I even got cheesecake for baby sitting. Guess they don't know that I'd do it for nothing.

Then Sunday morning Missy, Terry, Serif and I all went to church. It was great. I do admit that I missed some of the service because a sweet baby Serif was talking so much. She liked church too. She got her first blessing. She had fallen asleep on her daddy's shoulder but when the priest said her name she opened her eyes and watched him while he blessed her. She was so good.

Then we all went back to Missy's and Serif, Missy and I took a nap. Tom and Patti came over but I'm afraid we weren't much fun. We hadn't quite woken up and Serif was a little fussy. We had hoped that they would come to Rebecca's in the evening but they didn't make it. I had a good time at Rebecca's. It was great to see everyone. I hadn't seen them in ages. Everyone of Missy's friends are so nice about including me when they do things. I really do appreciate it. The food was good and we caught up on everyone's lives. The only bad thing was that James and Erin weren't there. I do miss them. They are very special people to me and I feel like they are part of our family.

So as you can see it was a busy and wonderful weekend. I didn't get any housework done but I did get to spend time with my family. That's always something I look forward to.

Fall

I love fall. I love all the seasons (except summer) but I love fall the best. I love the crispness in the air. One thing I miss the most living in Texas, is the beautiful colors of the trees. In Texas it seems that, except for a few days, we go straight from air conditioning to heating. I loved having the house opened up and the fresh air blowing through it. I can't do that these days because all my screens are bad but when your mother was little I would open up the house and air it out. I also love to bake in the fall. I love to make cookies, cakes and pies. The house open and the smell of fresh cookies baking in the oven is just a wonderful thing. I also like hot chocolate or hot spiced wine. Sitting beside a nice fire in the evening. Guess I'm getting ahead of myself. That's more for winter.

Yesterday I caught everyone outside when I went over to visit. It was so nice to stand out there and visit and not feel like you are melting. Of course scaring everyone when I came around the corner was fun too. And I hadn't even planned on that. Maybe that wasn't such a good idea since Terry was holding an axe but I kept my scalp so everything turned out fine.

I had so much fun last night. We had a very nice dinner with Tom and Patti. Missy and I got tickled on the way home and I laughed so hard my face and stomach hurt. That doesn't happen that often but I love it when it does. Makes me feel so good to have a really good laugh. Laughing is good. Sometimes life gets in the way and we forget to laugh. I had forgotten to really laugh for a few years but lately I've had a few really great belly laughs. Laughing until you cry. Those are so good. Hopefully there will more of them. I don't ever want to forget to laugh.

Friends

Friends are a wonderful thing to have. But when you think about it, there are many types of friends.

You have your fun friends. The lets go shopping, to a movie or out to eat. These friends are great but, usually they will come and go throughout your life. These are the superficial friends who never know the real you. These seem to be the majority of friends.

Then there is what I call the middle friends. They are great friends that you share things with. These will stay with you and you enjoy their company. But they never really get below the surface of the real you. They know you but not the deep down you. These are special friends that you care for and hold dear to you. Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between middle friends and best friends. Usually it take a crisis and when you need them, they aren't there.

But a true, dear, best friend is a very special person. If you have one or two of them in your life then you are truly blessed. A best friend is someone you can bare your soul to and who will never judge. They will sit and hold you when you cry and cry with you. They understand your hurt and hurt with you. When you need them, they never question they are just there. They think of you before themselves. There is a special bond and love between you. You never know when you will meet this person. Sometimes the bond happens right away and sometimes it grows over time. Shared experiences, both good and bad help bond you. A best friend does not have to be a special gender. It can be male or female.

I have had many friends throughout my life. But I have had few truly best friends. Moving around as much as I did as a child taught me early to guard myself against getting too close to someone. That can be good and bad. It takes me a long time to truly open up to someone. I have had hundred of friends in life but I can count my true friends on one hand. That is not necessarily bad. Your Grandfather was the closest friend I have ever had in my life. He was my friend before he was my husband and he knew me better than I know myself. I also found that special friendship in your mother's Godmother. Nancy and I hit it off the first time we met. What is special is that we could go for months without talking and pick up where we left off. I never doubted that when I needed her, Nancy would be there for me.

Your mother and I are fortunate to have a bond that most mother's and daughter's don't have. We have found that we can honestly be friends. I really like the woman that your mother has grown into. I respect her and admire her. I will always be her mother but I like to think that I am a close friend to her too. I know she is my dear friend. I feel doubly lucky to have her as both a daughter and a friend.

Learning to distinguish middle friends from best friends can be hard and many times is a hard lesson to learn. You will get hurt in the process. I have watched your mother struggle with this when she was younger. Luckily, as she has grown, she has found that one true friend. Not only in your father but in your Godmother. They have found that special bond that is so special. I truly believe that this will be a friendship that will last forever.

I wish for you, my sweet Serif, many many friends. But I truly wish for you those one or two very special friends that will see you through all the life's bumps.

My Babies 

Grammy's Love 

Patrick Herbert Patterson

What can I tell you about your Grandfather. I could tell you the normal stuff. He was born in Dallas, Texas on November 17, 1945. He was raised by his mother and grandmother. He went to Catholic school until he entered Austin High School. He was very talented and played the piano and violin. He sang in the Austin High School Choir.

But that's not really him. He was a loving and caring individual. A bit of a lady's man. Women were attracted to him because of his gentleness. The fact that he was good looking helped too. It was always a joke that an old girl friend called him the night before we got married and another called him on our wedding night. He was gentle but there was a strength around him. You knew you could depend on him.

He taught himself the guitar and at one time in late 60's, I heard, he was considered the second best guitar player in Austin. He was also a very talented artist.

He was very poor as a boy. His mother worked for the phone company at night. That way she could walk him to school in the morning and then sleep while he was in school. His grandmother would be there when he came home from school. His grandmother did the cooking and his mother did the cleaning. Granny cooked old fashioned country food. Patrick always said he was eating soul food before there was soul food. He did have a problem with oatmeal. He had it almost every morning growing up so he would never eat it as an adult. During that time he had a close friend named Orville Anderson. Orville grew up to be your mother's Godfather. His wife, Nancy, her Godmother and one of my closest friends.

He was funny and loved to drive your mother and me crazy with his jokes. He had your mother convinced that the cabinet in the garage would make her disappear if she got in it. We loved to laugh and we did lots of it in our marriage. I remember one time your mother was sick so I asked him to bring me a two Bayer (baby aspirin) from the back of the house. When I looked up, here comes Patrick skipping down the hallway with two teddy bears under his arms saying, "But you asked for two bears."

He was extremely intelligent and love to read. He would read anything. He was interested in everything. From history to science fiction. He read anything and everything he could. He may not have finished college but he continued to learn until he died. He taught himself surveying and became a Registered Professional Surveyor. Yet he had a lighter side too. He loved the orient and the martial arts. When we were dating, we loved going to the drive-in and watching Bruce Lee on the screen. Of course, he also loved the bad kung fu movies too. In marriage you have to take the good with the bad.

Your Grandfather loved his family more than anything else in the world. We were everything to him. He was a little afraid about having a little girl, but she became his darling. He was crazy about your mother. We had always teased Patrick about being born with his mustache because he always had it. After we started the surveying company, he decided to grow a beard. Your mother would love it when he held her down and rubbed her check with his chin while his beard was growing in. Your father worked for our surveying company while he was in college and become a member of our family long before your parents got married. You Grandfather really like your father and was happy to have him in the family.

As you know, Patrick was the love of my life. I so want you to know the real man but it's very hard to do because he was very complex. He was deeply religious and believed in God with all of his heart. He was gentle and loving. He loved to rub my feet. He had a strength that when things were bad, and he held me, I knew that everything would be fine. We loved to stay up late talking and watching terrible movies. The type you shake your head over when they are done and wonder why you stayed up. But we knew it was because we just wanted to be together. He wanted to give me so much that I had to be careful what I asked for because he would find a way to give it to me. We loved working together but I knew when it was time to send him to the field and get him out of the office. We could sit and talk for hours about nothing and enjoy every minute of it. We loved to hold hands and kiss. (Sometimes we embarrassed your Uncle Tom and your mother but we didn't care). We told each other I love you often and meant it each time. Even after almost 24 years of marriage, I still got that special flutter in my stomach when he walked in the door.

We were looking forward to having it be just the two of us. All the things we wanted to do together. Patrick was so excited about having grandchildren some day. He was excited about having someone new to tell his stories to. He was even thinking of new ones to spring on you. Unfortunately, that was not meant to be. But I know that he is here watching you grow up and is very proud of you.

Halloween

Halloween has changed a lot since your Grandfather and I were children. I remember your Grandfather telling me about what it was like for him as a little boy. He grew up in downtown Austin around the UT area. All the little old ladies would cook for a week to get ready for Halloween. When going trick or treating he would get all kinds of homemade goodies. There would be cookies, fudge, brownies, candied applies, and popcorn balls. You also got your share of candy and gum. Patrick would tell about, when he got a little older, they would go by the fraternity houses and the guys would give them beer.

My experiences were a little different. You were very sheltered on an Army Post. It was like a small town and you knew just about everyone. The MP's were always out making sure we were safe. There was the time that my father, your Great Grandfather, took me out trick or treating. He would go to the first house on the block with me and he would say "trick or drink". He'd go in and have a drink with the family while I made the rest of the block with my friends. Then I would pick him up and we'd head out for the next block and we would go through the routine again. We both had fun that Halloween. My mother, your Great Grandmother, would make my costumes for me. The advantage of being in the military is that we would move almost every year and I was able to reuse my costumes. One year she made me a complete little Dutch girl outfit. She even made a wig for me out of yellow yarn. She was a very talented seamstress.

I was not that talented so your Mom and Uncle Tom had the store bought costumes. Your mother was a little princess a couple of times and Tom made a darling little devil and Popeye. Your Grandfather loved to dress up in a mask and long coat and go trick or treating with Missy and Tom, while I stayed home handing out candy. He would hide behind bushes and jump out and scare the little kids when they went by.

The first place Tom and Missy would go trick or treating was in their Grandma and Grandpa's neighborhood. They lived in the richer neighborhood and they had the best candy. Grandpa would take Missy (by the time Missy went trick or treating Tom was older and wanted to be with his friends) around to all his neighbors while Patrick stayed and visited with Grandma. I remember Missy's first Halloween and how proud Grandpa was to take Missy in her stroller to the neighbors to show her off. When Grandpa and Missy finished their rounds, she and Patrick would head back to our neighborhood and finish the evening going to our neighbors.

The only tradition that we had for Halloween was chili for dinner. My mother always made chili on Halloween night and I did too. That way, your Mom and Uncle Tom could eat before they went trick or treating and Patrick and I could eat whenever we wanted. That was the only way I could guarantee that they had a good meal in them before they started eating candy. Unfortunately, by the time they started trick or treating, we had to go through the candy before they could have any. They were very good about bringing their candy home and letting Patrick and me go through it before they had any. Back in those days there were lots of trick or treaters, so Tom and Missy would go through and pick out the candy they liked and then we would give out the candy they didn't like. Our own kind of recycling.

Ramblings

Today I have been sitting and thinking. This a bad month for me and I have a tendency to get a bit depressed and very thoughtful and about life and all those things. I have been watching Missy, your mother, for the last three months as a mother. Not just my daughter now but your mother. How strange to see my baby with her baby. Missy is 28 years old. That is the same age that I was when I gave birth to her, but she seems so young to me, and I felt so old when I had her. It's hard sometimes to see your children as adults.

I remember how I prayed for Missy. When she came, she was everything I had asked for. Today, as a young woman and mother, she is more than I had ever dreamed. She is smart and beautiful. Her life is good. She has a wonderful husband, her own home, some wonderful friends that I love dearly and a beautiful baby girl. Things are good for Missy and I'm very grateful for that.

Still I watch her as she cares for you, her beautiful daughter. She is such a wonderful mother. Where did she learn that? Does it come naturally. Did I have anything to do with that? I hope I taught her some things. She has such great patience and love when she cares for you. I see in her eyes the same things that were in my eyes when I would look at her. The love and hopes and dreams go from one generation to the next. That's the way that life continues. With all our hopes and dreams being passed on to the next generation. Even if I'm not here to see it, I know that the love that I had for Missy is passed on to Serif...and you, Serif, will pass it on to your children. The love just keeps going on and on. It never stops.

I have so enjoyed the last three months. Your mother has so generously allowed me to share your growing up. She has unselfishly allowed me to spend as much time as I wanted with you. Probably more than she expected. I find myself unable to pull myself away from you. You are so beautiful and sweet. I love holding and kissing you. Even when you are crying it feels so good to hold you. My heart melts at each sweet smile you give. I had no idea that I could love another as much as I love your mother, but you proved that I have more love than I thought in my heart. Thank you for that. You have reminded me that even though I lost half my heart that day in September of 1997, I can still love. You remind me that there is a future and that I want to be here to share it with you. I want to see you walk and then I want to see you grow into the beautiful young woman you will become. I want to see your brothers and sisters grow into the special wonderful people they will become. Your birth did more than you will ever know. It reminded me that there really is a future and I want to live to see. Thank you for that.

Fireplaces

One of the things I really wanted in a house was a fireplace. I love a fireplace. It makes the room feel so cozy. When it got real cold you Grandfather would get up nice and early and start a fire. Then, by the time we all got up, the room was nice and toasty. Then he would sit me on the sofa by the fire and bring me my coffee. He did have a way of spoiling me.

When I was a little girl my Daddy, your Great Grandfather, would sit with me and we'd look for the leprechauns dancing in the flames. My Daddy always said you had to be a true Irishman to see the leprechauns. He and I always saw them and that would make my Mother, your Great Grandmother, so mad because she couldn't see them. But then she wasn't Irish. (Your mother always saw them too.)

Our Life Together

After our beautiful three day honeymoon, we head to Bastrop for Christmas with your Uncle Tom. What a treat that was for me. It turns out Tom had come down with a severe case of chicken pox. Nanny was good enough to put him our bedroom so my first job as a new mother was taking care of a sick little boy. I had to learn about motherhood very quickly.

We were happy in our little duplex on West 6th Street but we both worked north and,we knew that when Tom came to live with us, we would need a larger house. So off we went house hunting. Boy was it discouraging. Everything was too expensive. Most of them were in the mid twenties or thirties and that was just a little too steep for us. Especially since it had been decided that I would not work and stay home with Tom. As usual, God came through and led us to the perfect home. It was located in North Austin on Schirra. It was on a half cul-de-sac and it looked like a little doll house. It was around 900 square feet. Three bedroom and one bath with a big lot. We fell in love with it the first time we saw it. We were able to get the house for $18,500. Just what we needed. Tom just loved his room and soon we were in our house as one big family.

Tom was so excited about us being a family, but he really wanted to have a brother or sister. He would constantly go around patting my stomach and asking if there was a baby in there. After about 3 years we decided to go ahead and have a baby. Much to our happiness your mother, Melissa Ann, was born at Seton Hospital (the same hospital you were born in) on November 12, 1976. She was so beautiful and perfect. In fact you reminded me a lot of her when you were born. (And don't believe her when she tells you about her name. I promise you I didn't remember we had a dog named Missy until after she was born.) Now our little family was complete.

Once again our family had outgrown our home. It was time to go looking at homes again. And, once again, all the houses were too expensive. Then, God came through again, and led us to a home that was perfect for us. It was in the Shenandoah subdivision and in the Leander School District. We were very happy about that because in Austin they had started bussing the children out of the neighborhoods to other schools. We were able to get the house for $34,950 and we moved in on July 16, 1977. That is the home your mother and Uncle Tom grew up in and where I live today. We were very happy in that home.

Life was good for your mother and Uncle Tom back then. They were able to ride their bicycles all over the neighbor with their friends. They would play back and forth at each others houses. They had a freedom that children today don't have and I'm sorry about that.

During that time your Grandfather was studying to take the Land Surveying Exam. He would get up very early in the morning to study. Then sometimes he would hold your mother on his lap while he read to her from Black's Law Book. I would go in later and find both of them asleep in the study. They looked so precious together.

At that time Patrick was still working at Rippy Surveying Company. Finally one day he decided he wanted to start his own business. So on June 15, 1983, P.H. Patterson Surveying Company came into being. At first I wasn't going to have anything to do with the company but I gradually got dragged in and at the end I was taking care of the books, drafting and handling the office. We were busy. Everyone had told us that a husband and wife working together would be the down fall of a marriage. For us it proved to be the opposite. We grew closer than we ever had. Everything was good.

We had a wonderful life. Patrick and I were very much in love. Our children were great. Except for a few scraps that all kids go through we were very fortunate and thankful for our lives. Both my parents and Patrick's parents lived in Austin so we were able to visit with everyone lots. Everything was good.

Unfortunately, with the good comes the bad. Patrick got sick and had to go into the hospital on September 19, 1997. Missy and I stayed with him but the doctor told us they could do nothing. On September 20, 1997, I sat holding your Grandfather's hand and talking to him. He was at peace, and surrounding by family and friends, when he finally let go of life and went to be the God in heaven. He was the love of my life and the best friend I will ever have. I miss him every day. But I am so thankful for the time we had together.

The Courtship

I was married for a very short period of time to another man. When I decided to divorce him, I thought it was time to get my own place and not keep staying at my parents. I was able to get a darling duplex in North Austin. The girl that moved in next door became a very good friend of mine. Her name was Ann Lemon. I will never forget her for many things. One was that she got me through a very difficult time. Even when you know you've made a mistake, divorce is not easy. Ann helped me get back on my feet and out socializing again. We had a lot of fun. At that time she was working for Rippy Surveying Company and I was working at Texas Instruments. It turned out that on December 16, 1972, Rippy Surveying Company was going to have their one and only Christmas party. Ann decided that since the office manager at her company didn't have a date that we should go together. Thus she arranged a blind date with me and the Office Manager of Rippy Surveying Company. His name was Patrick Herbert Patterson and he turned out to be your grandfather. Of course I didn't know that at the time.

When I met him he had many things against him. Even though I was divorced, I did not date divorced men. There was always something wrong with them. I also did not care for facial hair and this man had a mustache. Yuck! Then I found out the biggest thing against him and that was, not only was he divorced, but he had a little boy and he had custody of him. Nope there was no way I would get involved with that.

But I have to admit we had a great time at the party. I met some very nice people and we danced and danced to country music. He was a smooth dancer and definitely a smooth talker. He was a good kisser too, but you don't need to know that. I told Ann after that date that he would be a great friend but it could never be more than that.

A few days later he called me and we talked on the phone for almost 4 hours. I knew he was going to be with his little boy in Bastrop for the holidays so we planned to go out the Friday after New Years which would be January 5, 1973. Unfortunately, just before our date he called to say he couldn't make it. It seems his Grandmother lived next door to him and while he was at work she had snuck into his side of the duplex and take a shower. The problem was she couldn't turn the water off and flooded his half of the duplex. So he had to stay there and mop up. That date become a great joke between us as the date he stood me up. But actually we talked on the phone another 4 or more hours while he cleaned. So we knew each other pretty well before our next date. Guess that's when he hooked me.

We had a wonderful time dating and getting to know each other. Since I lived close to where he worked, he would stop by on his way home. We were comfortable with each other from the beginning. When I met his son Tom, there was nothing ackward. Tom accepted me right from the beginning. In fact, he always thought his father married me because he asked me to be his new mommy. That was a little ackward because we had never even talked about getting married when this happened. But little kids can do that to you.

Around the first part of November, 1973, Patrick and I were sitting on the front porch in front of his duplex on West 6th Street. He was strumming the guitar and I was just sitting back enjoying the beautiful weather, when Patrick casually suggested we get married. I have to admit I was shocked. We started working on when it would be the most convenient for us and decided on December 21, 1973. When Patrick asked my father for permission to marry me, my father said it was about time.

I will never forget how much fun we had getting our rings. I finally got my engagement ring on November 23. We wanted it to be such a beautiful time. As Patrick got on one knee to ask me to marry him so he could put the ring on my finger, Tom was pulling on my shirt trying to get me to come see something out the window. I should have known this was an omen of my life to come.

We were married on December 21, 1973 at the courthouse in Austin, Texas. We went back to the duplex on West 6th and then went to my parent's house in the evening and drank champagne as my father greeted his "new son" into the family. This meant a lot to Patrick because he never had a father and he admired my father so much. That Friday, Saturday and Sunday were all ours. We walked the hike and bike trails around Austin. Patrick showed me his childhood hang outs and we talked. You couldn't have asked for a better honeymoon. It was perfect for us. Patrick was not only my husband, but as I had told Ann earlier, he turned out to be my best friend.

A Grandmother's Thoughts

On June 7, 2005 I became a grandmother for the first time. I cannot tell you what an emotional time this has been for me. Other than having my own daughter, this was one of the happiest moments of my life. She is, of course, one of the most beautiful little girls in the world. I cannot tell you what it feels like to see your baby holding her baby. It is strange because my daughter in 28 years old. That is the same age I was when I had her. But she seems so much younger. Maybe that's just the way it seems. I'm sure she feels older than I see her.

As I stood at the nursery window watching my beautiful granddaughter, I was not alone. I could feel her grandfather, my husband, standing there next to me. Unfortunately, he was only there in spirit. Her grandfather had died on September 20, 1997. This is even more tragic because he so looked forward to having grandchildren. I know he was looking down from heaven smiling but his loss was felt deeply.

This is my attempt to pass some things on to my beautiful Serif. I want her to know about my life with her grandfather. I may even go into some memories of my own for her. I want to pass this on to her. Please be patient with me while I try to put my feeling and thoughts in this blog.