When you meet someone you knew from the internet

jerry · 01-06-2008, 07:59 PM

My Friend Bob from the Fuge describes his meeting with a friend. Bob has a way with words and I have always admired his writings of duck hunts etc.

I met Patrick Clinton today
By Bob Zettler
January 6, 2008

I met Patrick Clinton today in Divernon. No, he himself was not there but Patrick was there nonetheless. You see Patrick died on December 29 but he was there in Divernon this afternoon. I first spotted him when I walked through the doors of the Bramely Funeral Home where I saw dozens of people talking, visiting, reminiscing and looking at pictures of Patrick’s life.

As I signed the book I took some time to look at all the names of people who had come before me – I didn’t arrive until 3:30 PM – and saw a few I recognized. One person in particular caught my eye as I met him just last season. He too loves to call ducks and has competed just like Patrick at Stuttgart. And like Patrick’s family he has experienced a personal loss recently but still traveled a great distance to pay his respects. There were others and I am sure there were many from here at the Refuge but I do not know their real names, only their screen names. There were a lot of names for a young man who has only lived in the Springfield area for less than two years…

I caught another glimpse of Patrick when I viewed one of those LCD picture frames that present a slide show. Yet, it didn’t capture what I came to find before I left. As I moved around the room I came upon a picture collage of Patrick, his wife, his family, his passions and his life. I saw him as a youngster with a smile that shone through the celluloid and made a statement about the goodness of his character.

I saw him as he entered manhood and met the woman he loved and would eventually marry – Stacey Dodd. You saw Patrick and Stacey get married, spend time together and share life. It was a good memory to capture and share with others…

Then there were the pictures of another passion of Patrick’s, waterfowling and calling ducks. There he was at Stuttgart where he placed highly in the World’s Contest and you could see the determination and steadfastness as he called from the stage, something I am sure stayed with him over the past year or so. There was his six-year old Yellow Lab who I am sure could find Patrick anytime, anywhere and is still waiting for Patrick to come home so they could chase those ducks and geese that were swarming overhead today south of Springfield.

There was a picture of Patrick holding a Snow goose by its wing tip that I am sure Pat, his Father, still wonders about as he is from Arkansas and doesn’t exactly hold them in as high esteem as those of us who lay in wait after placing a thousand or so Texas rags in a spread to entice them into range. I had an excellent visit with Patrick’s Father and his brother Robert. While Robert primarily chases deer and not ducks you could see the same passion and excitement when he talked and I bet they have the same smile.

A smile from the Clinton men that speaks miles about their lives was all around me as I sat with Pat and Robert. Patrick’s Father told me stories about how use to duck hunt but quit in 1975. One story about why he quit will stay with me and now I wonder if by his quitting, that Patrick still didn’t learn not only about waterfowling but right and wrong from his Father and the reasons behind his decision in 1975…

We three talked about Arkansas, duck and goose hunting, the Internet, and of course, Patrick. It was a happy time and I didn’t want it to end. Patrick’s Mother, Carolyn, then joined us and I introduced myself. You could see Patrick sitting beside me with his brother, and his Mother and Father. The shift in focus of our visit changed and was directed right at Patrick and the last couple of weeks. It was as if Patrick was talking right to me as Carolyn talked of how they all had faced the battle as a family, a team if you will, who while they were able to make all the arrangements together – choosing the pallbearers, the minister, the service and the like – and they had the time to say things that so many never get the chance to say before the opportunity is missed. No, Carolyn is absolutely correct when she states how it was nice to be able to do so, yet it didn’t make it any easier. Not any easier at all for any of us…

Earlier I had spent some time with one of Patrick’s male co-workers after I had looked at the picture collage. He had worked with Patrick at the USDA office at the Illinois State Fairgrounds and provided a lot of insight into Patrick and the battle he had been fighting for well over a year. A battle Patrick fought alongside with friends, family and co-workers in awe of how he handled all the hurdles and still retained that Clinton smile and outlook. I learned a lot from him too and kept looking for more about a person I only had talked to on the telephone and via email but could see Patrick in so many places throughout that building.

I saw Stacey across the room and I bet she wondered who the Heck I was. Here I was surrounded by all of her in-laws and we were smiling and chatting for such a long time that I started to worry I had overstayed my welcome when the staff started shutting things down. So I missed my opportunity to learn more about Patrick when I decided to leave and not meet and spend time with Stacey. However, she had so much going on and didn’t need another stranger to meet and review the recent days for the umpteenth time.

I am sorry I was so late and didn’t get to meet Patrick’s wife but as I left I felt I had seen Patrick again in the face of his wife and how she maintained herself with so many people. Patrick was a lucky man to have loving wife, a family that was so proud of him that they could tell you which contests he had placed in or won, and so many friends that showed up on a Sunday to share stories about Patrick.

No, I do not believe Patrick Clinton and I ever met in person but I feel I met him today nonetheless. I met Patrick in pictures. I met Patrick in his family. I met Patrick in his co-workers. I met Patrick in his friends. And I saw Patrick when I drove home through the country and all the Dark and Light geese headed southwest (towards Arkansas maybe) overhead; and even in that hunter north of the Chatham High School laying in a field just off the road hoping for that chance at a goose. I also met him in the friends here at the Refuge who made sure his family got flowers and how his parents wanted me to make sure how deeply they appreciate the kindness from people they do not even know or had the chance to thank.

So, yes, I met Patrick Clinton this afternoon and he is still with us and will always be with us with his enthusiasm, his spirit, his character and his passions. You will find Patrick when you see Stacey, Pat, Carolyn, Robert and so many others who knew Patrick so much better than me. In one sense he will be missed but in another he will always be there when you go out with a friend waterfowling, to a calling contest, work with your canine family member or the like. So hold your loved ones close and take lots of pictures as you will see Patrick Clinton in there somewhere or right there beside you…

And, as his Mother told me as I was about to leave, to tell people that I met Mrs. Clinton today, the “nice” Mrs. Clinton not the other one!

God Bless.

texnmidwest · 01-06-2008, 08:07 PM

Been a long time since I have been so moved. May God bless him and all who called him their friend and loved one.

Please forgive my Avitar. It is not appropriate in this thread. But I could not read this and not pay my respects as well.

Seabeescotty · 01-06-2008, 08:22 PM

That is so beautiful!! And I think you are right, you can get to know someone over the internet and become friends, just as people used to make friends as penpals. It is so hard to say goodbye to loved ones and close friends when they leave. They take a part of you with them, and leave an empty place. Especially when it's a live cut short by sickness, or the stupidity of a drunk driver, or the horror of war. I have lost folks over the past few years that I thought would outlive me, one ten years younger who discovered he had cancer, and died a short month later. It seems so wrong to cut a life short like that, but maybe there's a reason for it. I realize there are folks on here with different beliefs, and I don't want to offend, but I wish God would let me know in some way that he's not cheating them, that there is a good reason for the decision to take someone so young. I just don't know, but bless you for sharing with us, and thank you. Scotty

two-70 · 01-06-2008, 08:44 PM

May God comfort those in time of sorrow

01-06-2008, 07:59 PM	#1
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 10,870 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 1	When you meet someone you knew from the internet My Friend Bob from the Fuge describes his meeting with a friend. Bob has a way with words and I have always admired his writings of duck hunts etc. I met Patrick Clinton today By Bob Zettler January 6, 2008 I met Patrick Clinton today in Divernon. No, he himself was not there but Patrick was there nonetheless. You see Patrick died on December 29 but he was there in Divernon this afternoon. I first spotted him when I walked through the doors of the Bramely Funeral Home where I saw dozens of people talking, visiting, reminiscing and looking at pictures of Patrick’s life. As I signed the book I took some time to look at all the names of people who had come before me – I didn’t arrive until 3:30 PM – and saw a few I recognized. One person in particular caught my eye as I met him just last season. He too loves to call ducks and has competed just like Patrick at Stuttgart. And like Patrick’s family he has experienced a personal loss recently but still traveled a great distance to pay his respects. There were others and I am sure there were many from here at the Refuge but I do not know their real names, only their screen names. There were a lot of names for a young man who has only lived in the Springfield area for less than two years… I caught another glimpse of Patrick when I viewed one of those LCD picture frames that present a slide show. Yet, it didn’t capture what I came to find before I left. As I moved around the room I came upon a picture collage of Patrick, his wife, his family, his passions and his life. I saw him as a youngster with a smile that shone through the celluloid and made a statement about the goodness of his character. I saw him as he entered manhood and met the woman he loved and would eventually marry – Stacey Dodd. You saw Patrick and Stacey get married, spend time together and share life. It was a good memory to capture and share with others… Then there were the pictures of another passion of Patrick’s, waterfowling and calling ducks. There he was at Stuttgart where he placed highly in the World’s Contest and you could see the determination and steadfastness as he called from the stage, something I am sure stayed with him over the past year or so. There was his six-year old Yellow Lab who I am sure could find Patrick anytime, anywhere and is still waiting for Patrick to come home so they could chase those ducks and geese that were swarming overhead today south of Springfield. There was a picture of Patrick holding a Snow goose by its wing tip that I am sure Pat, his Father, still wonders about as he is from Arkansas and doesn’t exactly hold them in as high esteem as those of us who lay in wait after placing a thousand or so Texas rags in a spread to entice them into range. I had an excellent visit with Patrick’s Father and his brother Robert. While Robert primarily chases deer and not ducks you could see the same passion and excitement when he talked and I bet they have the same smile. A smile from the Clinton men that speaks miles about their lives was all around me as I sat with Pat and Robert. Patrick’s Father told me stories about how use to duck hunt but quit in 1975. One story about why he quit will stay with me and now I wonder if by his quitting, that Patrick still didn’t learn not only about waterfowling but right and wrong from his Father and the reasons behind his decision in 1975… We three talked about Arkansas, duck and goose hunting, the Internet, and of course, Patrick. It was a happy time and I didn’t want it to end. Patrick’s Mother, Carolyn, then joined us and I introduced myself. You could see Patrick sitting beside me with his brother, and his Mother and Father. The shift in focus of our visit changed and was directed right at Patrick and the last couple of weeks. It was as if Patrick was talking right to me as Carolyn talked of how they all had faced the battle as a family, a team if you will, who while they were able to make all the arrangements together – choosing the pallbearers, the minister, the service and the like – and they had the time to say things that so many never get the chance to say before the opportunity is missed. No, Carolyn is absolutely correct when she states how it was nice to be able to do so, yet it didn’t make it any easier. Not any easier at all for any of us… Earlier I had spent some time with one of Patrick’s male co-workers after I had looked at the picture collage. He had worked with Patrick at the USDA office at the Illinois State Fairgrounds and provided a lot of insight into Patrick and the battle he had been fighting for well over a year. A battle Patrick fought alongside with friends, family and co-workers in awe of how he handled all the hurdles and still retained that Clinton smile and outlook. I learned a lot from him too and kept looking for more about a person I only had talked to on the telephone and via email but could see Patrick in so many places throughout that building. I saw Stacey across the room and I bet she wondered who the Heck I was. Here I was surrounded by all of her in-laws and we were smiling and chatting for such a long time that I started to worry I had overstayed my welcome when the staff started shutting things down. So I missed my opportunity to learn more about Patrick when I decided to leave and not meet and spend time with Stacey. However, she had so much going on and didn’t need another stranger to meet and review the recent days for the umpteenth time. I am sorry I was so late and didn’t get to meet Patrick’s wife but as I left I felt I had seen Patrick again in the face of his wife and how she maintained herself with so many people. Patrick was a lucky man to have loving wife, a family that was so proud of him that they could tell you which contests he had placed in or won, and so many friends that showed up on a Sunday to share stories about Patrick. No, I do not believe Patrick Clinton and I ever met in person but I feel I met him today nonetheless. I met Patrick in pictures. I met Patrick in his family. I met Patrick in his co-workers. I met Patrick in his friends. And I saw Patrick when I drove home through the country and all the Dark and Light geese headed southwest (towards Arkansas maybe) overhead; and even in that hunter north of the Chatham High School laying in a field just off the road hoping for that chance at a goose. I also met him in the friends here at the Refuge who made sure his family got flowers and how his parents wanted me to make sure how deeply they appreciate the kindness from people they do not even know or had the chance to thank. So, yes, I met Patrick Clinton this afternoon and he is still with us and will always be with us with his enthusiasm, his spirit, his character and his passions. You will find Patrick when you see Stacey, Pat, Carolyn, Robert and so many others who knew Patrick so much better than me. In one sense he will be missed but in another he will always be there when you go out with a friend waterfowling, to a calling contest, work with your canine family member or the like. So hold your loved ones close and take lots of pictures as you will see Patrick Clinton in there somewhere or right there beside you… And, as his Mother told me as I was about to leave, to tell people that I met Mrs. Clinton today, the “nice” Mrs. Clinton not the other one! God Bless.

01-06-2008, 08:07 PM	#2
texnmidwest Listen to yur Inner Hippo Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South east Wisconsin Posts: 3,361	Been a long time since I have been so moved. May God bless him and all who called him their friend and loved one. Please forgive my Avitar. It is not appropriate in this thread. But I could not read this and not pay my respects as well. __________________ "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (If all else fails play dead)

01-06-2008, 08:22 PM	#3
Seabeescotty Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Jay, Oklahoma, God's country. Posts: 3,984 Images: 18 Blog Entries: 1	That is so beautiful!! And I think you are right, you can get to know someone over the internet and become friends, just as people used to make friends as penpals. It is so hard to say goodbye to loved ones and close friends when they leave. They take a part of you with them, and leave an empty place. Especially when it's a live cut short by sickness, or the stupidity of a drunk driver, or the horror of war. I have lost folks over the past few years that I thought would outlive me, one ten years younger who discovered he had cancer, and died a short month later. It seems so wrong to cut a life short like that, but maybe there's a reason for it. I realize there are folks on here with different beliefs, and I don't want to offend, but I wish God would let me know in some way that he's not cheating them, that there is a good reason for the decision to take someone so young. I just don't know, but bless you for sharing with us, and thank you. Scotty __________________ Adapt, improvise, overcome.-Gysgt Highway, Heartbreak Ridge

01-06-2008, 08:44 PM	#4
two-70 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: ponca city, oklahoma Posts: 1,778	May God comfort those in time of sorrow __________________ What Would Jesus Do ????? Just Ask Him.