In my junior year of high school Patrick appeared. His large Irish family had moved down from the North Country. Good folks. Patrick, however, could be a bit obnoxious from time to time.
I first met him at lunchtime one day as I was walking down to the Wagon Wheel Soda Shop for lunch. He came up and introduced himself, a big, red faced guy with a big, round head. He shook my hand and said "Who's that guy up there who walks like he's got a pipe up his butt?' It was Mike Dady and Pat said it loud enough so that Mike could hear it. Mike snorted a bit but nothing came of it. That sort of set the tone for Pat's stay at Caz High.
Pat could be charming and hilarious but he liked to come across as tough and sarcastic too. He was very sharp and witty. He could also be pretty mean once in a while and unexpectedly kind to underdogs too. Complex guy.
Anyway, about a year later Pat stopped at the house to see if I wanted to go to the movies with him. It was a Sunday night in mid December 1966 and not much going on so I said sure. The theater was a five minute walk from my house. We went into the Caz movie theater and, of course, being two guys, we left one or two seats empty between us.
The movie was "Follow Me Boys" a Disney tear jerker starring Fred MacMurray. It was about a man who became a well loved Boy Scout leader. The end of the film got pretty sentimental but I braced myself and made sure I did not give in to any emotion. Okay, I may have had a slight eye watering but not much.
When the lights came on I felt pretty confident that I was cool and looked over at Pat. WHOA! He was a Mess! Tears were pouring down those big, round red cheeks and there was bit of sobbing. Holy Cow!
Pat wanted to walk around town a bit and when he became more composed he told me that he had had a scout leader in the North Country who was great guy and had suddenly died leaving the community up there stunned and grieving.
Oohh, So that explained his hyper emotional response.... Well, maybe.
Anyway, I saw a different side of Pat that night that surprised me a bit.
I was always glad to see Pat whenever we bumped into each other as the years passed. Always some laughter and good stories. Sure do miss him.
I first met him at lunchtime one day as I was walking down to the Wagon Wheel Soda Shop for lunch. He came up and introduced himself, a big, red faced guy with a big, round head. He shook my hand and said "Who's that guy up there who walks like he's got a pipe up his butt?' It was Mike Dady and Pat said it loud enough so that Mike could hear it. Mike snorted a bit but nothing came of it. That sort of set the tone for Pat's stay at Caz High.
Pat could be charming and hilarious but he liked to come across as tough and sarcastic too. He was very sharp and witty. He could also be pretty mean once in a while and unexpectedly kind to underdogs too. Complex guy.
Anyway, about a year later Pat stopped at the house to see if I wanted to go to the movies with him. It was a Sunday night in mid December 1966 and not much going on so I said sure. The theater was a five minute walk from my house. We went into the Caz movie theater and, of course, being two guys, we left one or two seats empty between us.
The movie was "Follow Me Boys" a Disney tear jerker starring Fred MacMurray. It was about a man who became a well loved Boy Scout leader. The end of the film got pretty sentimental but I braced myself and made sure I did not give in to any emotion. Okay, I may have had a slight eye watering but not much.
When the lights came on I felt pretty confident that I was cool and looked over at Pat. WHOA! He was a Mess! Tears were pouring down those big, round red cheeks and there was bit of sobbing. Holy Cow!
Pat wanted to walk around town a bit and when he became more composed he told me that he had had a scout leader in the North Country who was great guy and had suddenly died leaving the community up there stunned and grieving.
Oohh, So that explained his hyper emotional response.... Well, maybe.
Anyway, I saw a different side of Pat that night that surprised me a bit.
I was always glad to see Pat whenever we bumped into each other as the years passed. Always some laughter and good stories. Sure do miss him.