PATRICK CHILDHOOD STORIES

There are so many childhood stories of Patrick that really do show you who he was, from beginning to end.

One of my favorite stories is one that Jeanne (his mom) shares. While riding in the car one day when Patrick was 2 years old he stood up on the back seat. She told him to sit down right away and he complied. A few moments passed in silence and then Patrick said, "Momma, I want you to know that I'm sitting down on the outside, but on the inside I'm still standing up."
And that is Patrick, standing up his entire life. Standing up for his views and his thoughts on every matter. Although he never forced his opinion on anyone, his views were very comprehensive, he'd think of every last detail before he came to his conclusion....leaving nothing behind. And this is why he was so persuasive - he was brilliant!

Patrick loved bugs. Really, really loved bugs! In middle school they did an article in the paper about his bug collection and he would travel to elementary schools to show and teach children about the various bugs. He knew everything about everything. Once when Jeanne took him to the Smithsonian to see their exhibits she says that Patrick looked at them and said, "Is this all they have? This is nothing! I have more than this." And the truth is, he did!
During this love of bug period, when he was about 10 years old, he collected an entire shoebox of praying mantis eggs (I'm sure my spelling is wrong, but forgive me Patrick!). Apparently each egg holds millions of praying mantis'. Patrick told Jeanne that the eggs had already hatched and so he convinced her to let him put them under his bed. Since he always knew what he was talking about, she believed him. A few days later Chris and Patrick were playing Nintendo when they heard a shrilling scream. Jeanne ran into the living room and threw Patrick and Chris into their room and closed the door. She yelled for them to clean them all......when Chris turned to look at the room he couldn't see the walls or the floor. No surface was left uncovered by praying mantis.....every egg hatched! They scooped up piles and piles of praying mantis' throwing them out the window, all the while Patrick was yelling, "This is soooo coool!!! They really DID hatch!!" 8 months later they were still finding random praying mantis' in their room!

Patrick was also an excellent fisherman! He could catch anything with nothing but a hook, they say! Old and young men at the pier in Naggs Head, NC were in awe of his ability. And he LOVED it. Just 3 weeks ago Patrick told Chris on the phone that if he had it to do over again he'd live in Nags Head, work on a deep sea fishing boat, live in a little shack on the beach and surf when he wasn't fishing. The ocean was his first love.....and remained a love through to the end.

For this reason, his family will be spreading his ashes in the ocean at the Outer Banks of North Carolina in May. His ashes will rest where he found the most peace during life.