The dying of William J. Patten

He’s 97 years young and he lives in Melrose, Mass. He’s been around for almost a century and he’s done so many great things. He was a great great man, loved by so many people. He has the kiss of life in him and he’s a funny Irish English man who was the  youngest of 11 kids, who started to work selling celery in the Great Depression where he would load up his little red cart and take it to market and bring back the money to his mother. One of his brother’s became a congressman in Perth Amboy; his only child would become a nun. Bill’s kids would become my partner and beloved friend, Myqui Patten, her brother, a family man and a foreman, Patrick and sister, the beautiful Kate Patten up on beantown.

He’s not dead yet but he is dying and he’s in hospital and the question is will he make it back home to the house in Melrose or will he just go home to where he needs to be finally with family.

I’ve seen Bill when he was in his late 80′s, big bold and beautiful man with sparkling blue eyes, the love of life, love of women and the respect he had for all. His straw hats, his polo shirts and his shorts and sneakers were trademarks in his older years. Always a kind word, the man with so much money didn’t have any left but what he did have was a love of family.

At 95, he drove 12 hours in the rain and snow to see his son and family in PA. He was missing for a day, had no cell phone and stopped along the roadway when he couldn’t see well or got tired. It was the last big trip that he made.

In that year after a young kid hit him with a car. The girl was hysterical but Bill got up and sat on the curb and told the kid to watch how she drives and to go home quick cause he doesn’t want to press charges against her.

Bill was a career man, married to Vern who was a registered nurse. Together they had a great life and they produced the love of my life.

Someday, and in Bill,Vern, Ken & Helen’s honor I will take Myqui Patten to be my lawfully wedded partner.

So help me universe.

—————————————–Love you pop, my two moms and my dear daddy,

Bonju