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.
Friday, September 30, 2005
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
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.
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.
Friday, September 23, 2005
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.
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.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
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.
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.
Monday, September 12, 2005
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.
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.
Friday, September 09, 2005
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.)
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.)
Thursday, September 08, 2005
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
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.
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.
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.
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