Patrick and Stephanie, who loved music and one another with equal passion.
Lovers and Music
Paris
Here are pictures of Patrick in Paris and myself trying to duplicate his pose. As a bonus, there’s also a picture of Patrick in Soller from 2003.
Continue reading “Paris”John D Dillon, RIP, 28 Years Ago Today
On 22 December 1990, my adopted father John D Dillon passed away. He was Patrick’s first father-in-law, Donna’s dad, the man I called Granddaddy when I was a wee tyke.
After my adoption when I was 12, my new parents and I sat down to discuss naming conventions. I’d been calling him Granddaddy but my mom Willie seemed too young and glamorous to have a name like Grandma and we wanted their names to be of the same pattern. Since I was already calling her Willie (short for Wilma), they became “John and Willie” from that point forward.
Meanwhile, they asked what I’d like to do with my own name. I was originally John Patrick Meador. I gave it some thought and finally suggested tacking on Dillon at the end. (Gretchen, Jennifer, and I were all born “Meador” because we popped out of Mother before Patrick discovered the error on his birth certificate.)
Now that I have a grandson, I asked the kids if I can be “Granddaddy” to baby Max. The term is doubly endearing to me: it’s an expression of love for Max, and for John as well, another one of those “circle of life” moments that will carry me through the coming days and years.
Donna and Patrick as a Young Couple
Today is my mom Donna’s birthday. Here’s a picture of her with Patrick when they were very young. You can click on the image to see a larger version of this photo.
Concert Photos by Cassandra
Here are some old photos by Cassandra from concerts in the early 1980s or perhaps even late 1970s. In most cases clicking on an image will show an enlarged version of it.
More Pictures of Stephanie
Here are a few more images of Stephanie that I found in Patrick’s files.
A Reminder of Stephanie
Sometimes we are reminded of loved ones at the oddest times and places.
Last Wednesday I drove out to Carpinteria to help a friend cut down a dead tree, to spend several hours turning it into firewood and sawdust.
With chain saws and rope in the back of my truck, I stopped at a nearby strip mall for a phở lunch.
The name of the strip mall, as you can see here, is Shepard Place Shops.
Stephanie sprang to mind, of course. I imagine she would have appreciated the new trees and fresh growth planted alongside the sign.
Patrick and Nardele
I received these pictures of Patrick from Suzy a few days ago, taken at Patrick’s house in Deia with Nardele.
Patrick’s Ring
Years ago Gretchen gave Patrick a small ring, red and silver, which he wore often. When he passed away she asked me to send it back to her, which I did.
A week or two ago I was surprised to see it in my mailbox. She sent it to me, hoping that I’d wear it.
This I am doing, even here at the race track where a year ago (minus two days) I received the news of his end. Like the other little things of his that I keep close, it provides comfort–a wee bit of comfort–for the sadness.
If
A gift from Gretchen:
