Coffeehouse Chronicles ...and the Last Briefing

Paul Patterson was a good man

Yesterday, the HB and I said goodbye to a very good friend. It's a little sobering, the realization that it’s probably a good bet that we have more days behind us than there are left in front of us. It was really good to see Paul pull in some good friends, many that I hadn't seen in a while.

I saw Manny and Steve and Kimmy. LJ, Vince and DJ were there. There were a bunch more there, too.

Cecil took one look at me, then looked to my left and then to my right. “Where’s McCroc?” As if he goes with me everywhere.

“Hi Cec. I’m fine. Good to see you, too.”

Cecil scoffed, “Oh yeah, that’s what I meant.” Then in the next breath, “The HB around?” he said, looking past me. I watched as his whole expression changed when she came into view behind me.

Everyone loves the HB.

As expected, there were a lot of Carson peeps there. That’s where Paul cut his teeth. There was some good-natured ribbing about Carson being the best station in FOR II. Kerry Carter, Ryan Anthill & I giggled at that; everybody knows the best station in Region II is da ‘nox.

After we'd finished laughing at the inferences those Carson guys made, Ryan returned to regaling whoever was within earshot of his glory days and how he was the third fastest 4th grader at St Agatha’s. He insisted he could’ve been second if Penelope Hotchkiss hadn’t cheated. He beamed widely as he pulled his yellow, although tattered, torn, and faded, ribbon from his pocket as proof of this great feat.

It was very good to catch up with all the homies. It sucks that we only see one another at funerals nowadays.

You should call that one partner who used to crack you up in briefing. No doubt, they’d love to hear from you.

Drink ‘em if you got ‘em. …and pour a sip out for those partners who couldn’t make it to the final debrief.

Drink ‘em if you got ‘em. …and pour a sip out for those partners who couldn’t make it to the final debrief.

#coffeehousechronicles