Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: GUEST,bbc
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 07:58 PM

Nigel, you're welcome to second my thought.

Best always,

barbara

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 04:40 PM

I've haven't been to Mudcat in awhile, and just noticed this thread. I am so saddened. 'Spaw was one of the true "heart and soul of Mudcat" people here, and what a wit. I'm just shocked. My deepest condolences to his family, and to all here who revered him. Mick Lane couldn't have said it any better.

-Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 09:23 AM

Pat (and kat) was very kind (as well as funny!) about my ramblings from Greece. I always think of them as I write .

RtS

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 07:42 AM

Wish I'd met Pat, face to face. I hope bbc doesn't object, but I too have "...a spaw-sized hole in my heart". Difficult to believe that a year has gone by since his untimely passing,
                                              With Love,
                                                             Nigel.

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: GUEST,bbc
Date: 21 Jun 15 - 10:56 PM

It was a little disturbing, when I was, recently, reminded on Facebook that it was his birthday. On the Internet, we never die. Since most of us knew him that way, maybe it's appropriate. There's a spaw-sized hole in my heart.

bbc

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: maeve
Date: 21 Jun 15 - 09:22 PM

Thinking of Pat - and of Karen and their young men on this Father's Day...

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: GUEST,Olddude
Date: 20 Jun 15 - 11:51 PM

I miss him terribly myself gnu. I keep waiting for him to call.

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Jun 15 - 10:51 PM

Many miss his wit and cherish the memories of his off-beat way of saying profound stuff... one of a kind...

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: gnu
Date: 20 Jun 15 - 07:59 PM

Miss ya, bud.

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: CupOfTea
Date: 14 May 15 - 10:05 PM

Yanno, you often think you have the time to meet folks. Spaw was just downstate, and I never met 'im, though he was very Ohio-positive in his kind words to me. I always thought 'someday.'

This resurrected thread and some recent conversations brought home again how lucky I've been to meet some of the Mudcat luminaries, sung with some, fed and hosted a couple,and even luckier in those I've known and cherished in the folk world in real time.

Perhaps there are just too many wonderful people in our orbits for us to have the good fortune to get to know all of them. But even the wee bits of friendly conversation with a great number of fine folks has to add up to a better life, when you tote it all up.

Joanne in Cleveland, the other end of the state

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 14 May 15 - 05:22 PM

It's obvious he lives on -- like Kat -- in all our hearts. Can't think of a better memorial.

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: GUEST,Roger in BAltimore
Date: 14 May 15 - 05:03 PM

Well damn!!!... Spaw goes back to before my time. He was often off color, but his heart was always there. I never got to meet him face-to-face, but he was an important soul to me.

He wrote once about being concerned about "going over the line" with his humor. I encouraged him to keep it up. Much humor speaks to us when it is loud and brash. But to do humor well, it often pays to cross over some lines to get to the truth.

I have missed Mudcat in past year. I do not have a computer at home (and don't want one). And like Spaw's history, I have focussed on some important medical issues that seem resolved now.

This is a late and long farewell to Spaw, and I truly will miss him on these pages.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: olddude
Date: 14 May 15 - 03:57 PM

All the hours on the phone listening to my fish stories and always pretended to be interested. All the laughing he gave me. He could always make you laugh even when he was so sick

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: gnu
Date: 14 May 15 - 01:48 PM

Ditto all these recent comments... especially Joe and Amos.

Spaw's spirit is still breakin in the wind.

Miss ya, Bud.

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: Wesley S
Date: 14 May 15 - 12:57 PM

My guess is Spaws reaction to all of this adulation would have been "Gee thanks folks - from the bottom of my BRAAAAAAAAAAAPPPPPPP"

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: olddude
Date: 14 May 15 - 12:19 PM

I miss him so much. My buddy love ya spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: Amergin
Date: 14 May 15 - 07:14 AM

I know he would have been pleased for me, with the successes I've been having. He always supported me...and dammit, he could make me laugh no matter how shitty I was feeling.

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: Amos
Date: 14 May 15 - 02:37 AM

Better emulated than mourned, if at all possible. The flame of the hearth of the home away from home, I miss him almost every time I return to this stomping' ground.

But the next act is always there waiting for to be delivered, eh?

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 May 15 - 01:39 AM

Yeah, I still can't believe he's gone. He was the heart and soul of Mudcat.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: Bugsy
Date: 14 May 15 - 01:30 AM

you and me both.

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson- June 20, 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 May 15 - 10:06 PM

I sure miss his open heart around here.

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: An Pluiméir Ceolmhar
Date: 13 May 15 - 07:50 PM

Drifted away from the Mudcat a few years ago for reasons I won't go into now.

But, having created a new thread in the hope of drawing on the vast talent pool that is the Mudcat, I mooched around a bit to see what familiar faces were currently posting. Didn't find too many, but that's in the nature of an organic community like this. George Washington's ax (as you colonials call a hatchet).

Then I found a link to this thread, and was greatly saddened, as Spaw was one of those Mudcat institutions whose real-life name I never even guessed, but who was always within a keystroke of contributing to any discussion, musical or frivolous/serious: the people who made Mudcat what it probably still is, even if he didn't think so any more.

Si monumentum quaeris, circumspice.

RIP

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: gnu
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 05:58 PM

What maeve said. Sniff.

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: GUEST,Jaze
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 09:47 PM

Geez, it's happened again. I don't check in here too often and again I come and find another great Mudcatter is gone. Spaw was always funny, always irreverent and always kind. He will be sorely missed.

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 02:38 PM

Lin, I, too, am glad to see your post. Let those tears out. John and Spaw are both missed here, as are Kat and many others.

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: maeve
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 08:49 AM

It's good to see you posting, Lin- Spaw's thread makes my heart jump each time I see it reappear. I can imagine the shock when you have suddenly seen it, and when you are already grieving for John. May remembered laughter bring light to a dark day.

Thinking of you as you live your life, and in respect for your courage in doing so,

Maeve

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat
From: GUEST,Lin in Kansas
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 08:43 AM

This has NOT been a good day. I've been pity-partying because it would have been John's and my 21st anniversary, and then when I opened the 'Cat to post the annual Walnut Valley thread, I see this. As so many of the people above, I never met 'Spaw in person, but his hysterically funny posts were the reason I joined Mudcat years ago, and I caught John laughing out loud at some of them several times. Missing both these guys so much.

(
Belated) love to Karen and the kids. Screen too blurry to type now...

Lin

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: GUEST,Kim C
Date: 28 Jul 14 - 03:25 PM

Kicking myself because I'm a month late hearing about this. Spaw was one of my favorite Internet friends and I'm sorry I never got to meet him in person. :-(

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: GUEST,wdyat12
Date: 27 Jul 14 - 09:36 PM

Goodbye Catspaw49.

Peter Woodruff

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Jul 14 - 09:57 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: Janie
Date: 11 Jul 14 - 10:07 PM

Thanks Dan.

Renewing ((((((((((((((((Karen, Michael, Tristan}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 Jul 14 - 10:00 PM

Indeed he did!

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: olddude
Date: 11 Jul 14 - 09:52 PM

Pats wife Karen called yesterday. She and the boys are holding up but it is very difficult. He adored her and she him. Pat was loved by so many people. He did good in this thing called life

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: kendall
Date: 11 Jul 14 - 07:16 AM

His passing reminds me of John McCutcheon's song, Old Brown's head light.

"We knew it was coming, but it still don't seem right,now, they're closing the the old Brown's Head Light."

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: GUEST,highlandman at work
Date: 10 Jul 14 - 01:29 PM

Belated farewell, Spaw... another great one gone on ahead. -Glenn

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 10 Jul 14 - 02:25 AM

To Karen,

If He lives till age shall scatter,
May the frost be upon his head,
I'll love him as much, and just the same,
As the morning we were wed,
But if the angels call him,
And he goes to heaven before,
I'll know him when I see him,
For he'll kiss me at the door!

I just now found out.

You WILL see him again.

I had a quadruple bi-pass almost two years ago, where I died on the table, but was revived. That being said, while I was 'gone', I went to a 'place', and I did not want to come back here. The doctors even told my family, that they felt I was resisting 'coming back'....
..all I can say, is, 'You WILL see him again.'....and that is not a metaphor!

Use this time to prioritize, the highest things, values, compassion and love, first....it will make perfect sense later.

Guest from Sanity

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: gnu
Date: 09 Jul 14 - 03:39 PM

Genie... Like

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 09 Jul 14 - 12:32 PM

RIP, Spaw. King 'catter.

Pete

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 09 Jul 14 - 07:48 AM

My birthday was June 9th -- Spaw and I were born a day apart in the same year.

My birthday this year was very hard for me...the first year in 34 that Tom (Curmudgeon) didn't share it with me. I had trouble even thinking about it; no matter how fleeting the thought, the tears would come. I ended up spending most of the day in quiet contemplation, reading the Mudcat birthday threads for me that Tom had started and the thread he started when I broke my arm five years ago.

Besides Tom's comments, there were posts by Catspaw...Barry Finn...Katlaughing...

They will ALWAYS be part of the Mudcat community.

Linn

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: Genie
Date: 09 Jul 14 - 06:02 AM

I wish there was a "like" button here at Mudcat so I could easily say how much I appreciate and second so many of the warm, positive, real expressions of appreciation for Pat 'Spaw Patterson by so many other Mudcatters.    I am still so sad that Spaw is no longer with us here in body, glad that he is no longer in pain, and grateful to have known him, albeit only online, for over a decade.

Genie

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: GUEST,Sheila
Date: 09 Jul 14 - 12:55 AM

One of the first posts I read on Mudcat concerned someone in England sending bicycle wheels to someone in Ohio, and the mention of a global music community. Over the years I have come to know these people by name (see above, Gervase).

Spaw's many posts were unique in every way and always caught my eye. They were must reading whether uproarious, supportive or contemplative. He had....style. One of a kind. Made the world a richer place.

My deepest condolences.

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: Bill D
Date: 08 Jul 14 - 05:50 PM

Spaw 'almost' came to a Getaway once... it was, I think, our first year at Camp Ramblewood. They had, or were hoping to rent, a camper. He was trying to juggle kids who were much younger and both his & Karen's schedules. (I suppose one could search the threads and find that discussion.) It just didn't work out and then his medical problems began....

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: GUEST,Roger in Baltimore
Date: 08 Jul 14 - 05:44 PM

I have not been a regular on the Cat in the last few years. It's harder, because I don't want a computer at home. My current employer used to allow access to the Cat, but it cut that off a few years ago.

When I think of the Cat, I also think of Spaw. I miss that I never got to meet him. I tried to encourage him to attend a FSGW Getaway a few times, with no luck.

Spaw was one of the early Catters. My impression of him was of a man with a big heart who was sometimes hesitant to show it.

Spaw once asked if his sense of humor was too "over the top" for the Cat. Of course it wasn't. I told him that to squeeze the last humor from a topic, it meant you have clearly offended someone. I felt the offense was the fault of the listener, not the humorist.

I remember that Spaw had multiple serious medical problems and I think he benefited from the kindness of the Cat, both in word and deed.

I've met some older people who complained about living so long; all their friends has passed on. I doubt of Spaw felt that way. It is at times like this that I feel that feeling myself, but I still keep pushing for more time on earth. I've learned I can keep on making new friends until I run out of people.

I will raise a toast to Spaw. I expect we will talk about him at the next Getaway.

May we all do as well in our interactions with others as Spaw did with us.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: ClaireBear
Date: 07 Jul 14 - 06:05 PM

I learned of this early on, but have been hurting so much I didn't even feel up to opening this thread until today.

Spaw, I never met you, but you were the first to greet me when I (finally) joined up, and I felt close to you for that and many other reasons, including some you never knew. Or maybe you did; I can't say -- you were very canny, though you hid it well betimes.

Anyway goodbye, old friend I never met. The old homestead won't be the same without you. Fear no more.

Jeni who used to be Claire

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 06 Jul 14 - 11:52 PM

Late catching up, like Freda. Another brick gone, so sorry to hear it. Easy travels, Spaw...

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: freda underhill
Date: 06 Jul 14 - 11:07 PM

..another one late to the news.. shocked, 'Spaw smashed me at online Scrabble, made me laugh with his wonderful mudhumour, and was a true scatalogical gentleman. 'Spaw, it's not right to write of you in the past tense, you light up the sky like a mudcomet. Love and best wishes to Karen and sons, we can only feel a little of your sorrow.

freda

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: Janie
Date: 06 Jul 14 - 10:12 PM

Damn, I miss him. How many of us has he reached out to personally over the years with his deep caring and compassion? And one might never guess that about him simply from his public posts and wonderful storytelling.

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: Bobert
Date: 06 Jul 14 - 01:18 PM

Danged...

Guess I'm late to the party here...

The world, and this community, are a lot poorer now... Not only was "The Spawzer" one heck of a loving man but one hell of a story teller and...

...both are hard to come by...

God Speed, Spawzer... You enriched my life...

See you down the road and we'll swap a few lies...

Bobert

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Jul 14 - 11:54 AM

He reached out to a lot of people, me included, over the years. His subtle support was perhaps hidden by his over-the-top humor on the forum. It will be missed.

Subject: RE: Obit: Pat "Catspaw49" Patterson - June 20, 2014
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 06 Jul 14 - 09:23 AM

Ar slí na fírinne atá sé anois. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dhílis.