Dear Ruth,

We are greatly saddened to hear about Patrick's recent passing. How traumatic for you, not only being his Mother, but such a close friend and companion in so many of your favorite life's activities. You two were inseparable and appeared to respect and enjoy each other's company. What a gift he was for you, sharing this wonderful relationship between mother and son, a combined passion for birding, photography, and life.

I too have a grandchild that is under the "autistic spectrum," as is the "bipolar disorder," and he has "autism." His understanding of people, emotions, and life situations are so very difficult for him. It is heartbreaking at times! I am sure that you (as Mom) have endured many years of having similar feelings, as you worked to help Patrick on his journey.

Dan and I were extremely impressed with his knowledge and skills at birding, including photography, and had hoped that he could accomplish a doctorate level in the future. He already was there with his gifted level of intelligence and knowledge regarding birds. We also felt that he was so engaging and immediately developed a very special relationship and liking for him after our first meeting at Hansville, while looking for the artic loon. We feel fortunate to have met him, along with you, and will always have wonderful memories of our experiences with you both, looking through lenses, scopes, discussing plumages, loons, birds, life, battling the wind and rain, enjoying the sunny days, and everything else that matters. He was a gift to us all! We feel fortunate to have known him and that includes you too!

Next summer, when we capture and band the WA territorial loons and chicks, I would like to invite you to come and place a color-marked band on a common loon chick that shall be named after Patrick. It will be symbolic and a memorial to him--a chick that will become an elegant common loon traveling throughout the State of Washington, from the summer nesting to the winter territory somewhere in Puget Sound or the Pacific Ocean. You can chose Patrick's favorite colors. We place two colored bands on one leg with the WA band/USFW silver band on the other.

We send you blessings, hope, faith, energy and courage as you go through this difficult time in your life. You are very important to all of us, especially the birding community. The diligent passion for finding and sharing the rare (and not-so-rare) birds in WA. that you and Patrick have been doing for many years, has been extraordinary!

Blessings and may the Spirit of God comfort you,

Ginger Gumm and Daniel Poleschook, Jr.
Loon Lake Loon Association
Loon Lake, WA. 99148
ggloon at msn.com<mailto:ggloon at msn.com>