In the very early days I had to travel to Cincinnatti, Oho, USA from my home in Michigan for a Union organizing drive. Spaw had it in his mind that he wanted to meet me, and he drove 3.5 hours and we met for dinners, stories, and songs. I remember that we did a call in to Max's office, and if I remember correctly, Max streamed it out on the net. It was one of the earliest 3D "meets" and I remember how excited Max was. For days, and maybe weeks, people would ask me what Spaw was like in person. They were surprised (as I was when I met him) to find that he was a gentle, soft spoken fella. His love of the community, that Mudcat was at the time, was palpable. The fellowship was wonderful, the jokes (of which there were many) were raunchy and hilarious, and we became fast friends.

I will miss this man. My Gran, Winnie, always said that it is always about the coming and the going. As I have explored and mined that thought, I realize that the fact that we die can never be the defining event. It is natural and we all end up "in our box" at some point. The real point is to live an interesting life, a life of consequence, a life in which one has loved and is loved. Our buddy, Pat "Catspaw" Patterson has met all the criteria for that. Well done, pal. Your voice will always be found in your family and in the many friends you made, both online and in the world. See you on the other side.