Pat

Pat came into our lives because she was Peter’s mentor teacher when he took his first teaching position. Apparently, Pat took that mentor role very seriously, because she became a fixture in our lives over the next 20 years. 

When Peter first met Pat she told him that she and her husband Alan would be his “storm family.” “My storm family?” Peter questioned. Pat explained that her home was closer to school and would be open to him if the weather was ever too bad for him to make the drive home. Pat was also one of the very first people in our lives to throw a welcoming shower for us when we got back home with our newborn Emma. And two years later, it was Pat who made sure that we had the inside track on a house that was coming on the market in her neighborhood. That was the kind of person she was. You always felt a bit more secure knowing that Pat was looking out for you.

We got that house and it landed us almost across the street from Pat and Alan, who became a third set of grandparents for our girls. Pat and Emma developed a very special bond. They loved all the same things: birds, plants, insects, and feathers. And Pat was a brilliant crafter who would invite Emma over to her workshop. They would sew and quilt and create beautiful handmade gifts together. Her influence on Emma was profound.

Pat died very suddenly almost 3 years ago and we all miss her terribly. But sometimes I like to think that Emma and Pat are back together, working on a project. It will be a surprise. We’ll just have to be patient.