Project to Document Patrick's Legacy
(originally posted on "Stories From the Street" on 7 December 2010)
Early on in Patrick's illness, I asked him if he would mind if someday I wrote a book about his life. He said he had not, for one reason or another, done even half the things he had wanted to do, and intimated he did not think his life important enough to write about. I disagreed with his opinion, and told him he was way too humble, an admirable trait though it was. He laughed and kind of shrugged off the idea, saying he was quite sure it was not his time to die, and he felt quite confident he would beat this illness and survive his cancer.
Everyone with whom I have been in contact since Patrick died on 28 November has expressed great love and gratitude for the gift of their relationship with Patrick. I am learning, what I suspected before, that he has had a profoundly positive affect on all who knew him.
So, I guess that I will be writing a book about Patrick's life, and I need some help. Anyone interested in sharing anecdotes, facts, stories, or anything at all about when they knew Patrick, or what he was like during his youth and young adulthood, should email me, or phone me. As many people as possible, who are willing, I would like to interview face-to-face or via phone. I will be on the East Coast from time-to-time, to visit folks personally, so please get in touch with me if you are willing to be interviewed.
Also, please contact any of his old friends that may have moved away, and let them know about my writing project about Patrick's life. Feel free to give out my website address, my email address, and my cell phone number, to make it easy for people to contact me.
If anyone is a writer themselves, please feel free to write the stories you know about Patrick's life. And, if you want me to write about when you knew Patrick "back in the day" I would love to hear from you to set up a phone interview: marthab1955@me.com (512) 767-0613
Wishing you "Peace, Love, and Barbeque"
(name of a blues album Patrick loved by Marcia Ball)
Martha Bryson Jones
(our wedding day: 3 Jul 2010)
