If you pray, please save one for Pat

Pat, my "buck fifty" guy has been coming to Park Place Coffee since the beginning, always joking that he is only allowed to spend "a buck fifty" per day, and he does it at my place in the morning for one medium cup of coffee. There has not been a day that he has not come in and brought a smile to my face with a goofy joke or a wonderful story.

Then one day his story was a bit grimmer. Pat was diagnosed with cancer in very advanced stages. He still didn't leave the news without also making a remark to make me smile. As the days grow closer for his surgery, chemo and radiation he still makes jokes. "My wife is really mad cuz she just got me trained after 22(?) years and now she thinks she's gonna have to train a new one."

Today Pat went to work and on April 30th Pat checks into the hospital. I asked him what the heck he was doing going to work when he should be enjoying himself and relaxing. It was his last day to work before surgery. I treated him to coffee, so I got "buck fifty" as a tip! The thing I got that mattered the most though, was a big hug and a promise - "I'll see you in six weeks!" And its a promise Pat has to keep. So, I ask you to help Pat keep his promise and pray for him with me. Such a wonderful man deserves all our prayers, and we need to make sure he can continue touching the lives of everyone he meets with laughter.

April 30th let Pat be okay!