We first met Ruth at a Wenas campout in 1993 when she the substitute leader for an owling trip when Patrick come not be there.

We met Patrick in December of 1996 when he was trying to see 350 Washington species in one year. He came too our house needing 2 species. We had a BLUE JAY and a Mountain Chickadee at our Cascade Park home in Vancouver, WA. We headed off for the Holidays leaving Patrick under the deck with his binoculars hoping to see the Blue Jay which he did for #349. I left him with a little piece of paper and a pencil in a baggie so he could leave us a note if he saw it. I dug that note out of the cupboard this weekend still in the plastic bag with the pencil from 11 years ago that Patrick signed along with the date and times he saw each bird. We learned later that he did not see the other bird that he would be trying to see for #350 but this incident soon lead us to learn who Patrick was and what a great birder he was and would even improve on in the next 11 years.

We ran into Patrick and Ruth when we would be out birding every so often. Patrick was quiet but always on the look out for another species we all might get to see. He was tremedously gifted as everyone knows by now. He and Ruth were quite a pair of birders. I would often spend time with Ruth as we both photographed birds like a Mountain Plover at Long Beach or a Temmiinck's Stint & Ruff at Ocean Shores, or just walking down the trail at Wenas talking.

I was so saddened by the news. I knew of Patrick's illness when Ruth shared that with me. Of course I never saw the down parts of his stuggle with bi-polar disease for when he was out birding he was probably at his best. I can't stop thinking about him and Ruth and how her life will be changed without him. I understand depression for I have had it for years and my medications have helped me greatly but Patrick's disease was so much worse to cope with.

Ruth is an excellent birder and I hope to see her soon out looking and photographing some rarity in the area.

Both Arden & my thoughts and prayers are with you Ruth as you go through this most difficult time in your life. May you be comforted by all the people who have held you up in their prayers and others who are closer by to support you through the present and the future.

Sherry Hagen
Vancouver, WA
littlebirder at pacifier.com