Email from Ernie

Mike, I was going to respond on Garner’s Gazette but I couldn’t figure it out so now I have to get Chris to explain to me how to do it. You have touched me immensely through your words. They are very much appreciated and after lots of tears I decided I needed to respond. I have made several phone calls to friends and family to let them know that I am forwarding this to them.

I didn’t realize that you were just 30 years old when you took on the roll of friend to Patrick, to us and you shared with us at his memorial service. When I started my search for you and Steve I wasn’t sure if I would be able to locate the two of you 25 years later or what I wanted or expected to happen if I did locate you. I didn’t realize how you meeting and knowing Pat (better than many), would impact your life as it obviously has. You have touched my family in such a special way and your comments on how your life has been interchanged with ours and Pat’s is significant. This special Blog makes my decision to locate you and check in with you very worth while and I hope we can share more in the future.

I was just 33 and Shirley was 30 at the time of Pat’s passing and we didn’t know what might come our way next nor could we find the answers we were looking for and like you today we are no closer to answering those question’s. We thought that our lives had to get better because loosing Patrick was the worst possible event in our lives. Yet God continued to challenge us each day of our lives when we made life decisions, when Chris was diagnosed, when I fell off the roof, when that car accident happened and when I lay on the floor in the bank robbery.

Yes, Mike, you did make the right decision when you moved to Calgary to take over your post as Pastor and if there was anyway to make up your pension (like if I win the lottery!!) I would happily do it. You had what it took to do the job that God put in front of you and you faced it –the Church and your personal battle with cancer. We are very happy that you moved to Calgary because I know that those discussions you had with Pat made a difference to him and he is sitting there watching us reconnect and smiling down at us as we go through this and share in what occurred a quarter century ago. IMAGINE!!!!!!!!

Thanks for sharing your “GOD MOMENT” with all who may read your blog.

I will be sharing this with Steve and all my friends on the computer

Best wishes,

Ernie