Saturday, November 19, 2022
Memory #1
Setting – John and Patrick’s childhood home in Astoria.
Background – I am Patrick’s friend and 3 years younger than John. John and I were altar boys at SFA Church. He liked to act as my mentor / teacher so that I would be suited to role-play HIS saying Latin mass.
“So, you be the altar boy and I will be the priest”, he said. Sometimes I felt trapped BUT, it meant so much to him…how could I not?!?!
John was oh-so-serious at these times…..no joking around tolerated……..And thus the practice “saying” of the Latin Mass would commence.
Upshot – He was always very serious about his faith, which I hope helped him manage the more challenging times in his life.
Memory #2
Setting – the kitchen in their childhood home; John coming out of his small bedroom which was next to the kitchen. Mrs. Wrenn would be smoking a cigarette and looking out the window into the backyard.
Background – John would be hungry and decide he needed to make a hamburger.
“I need to eat something”, he would say, slapping a burger patty on the cast iron pan and hearing it sizzle. When it was done, slapping it onto a plate, in between 2 pieces of White Bread and putting a lot of ketchup on it. Then bringing it back to his room while Mrs. Wrenn yelled something about not making a mess. If he was not compliant enough she might say, “Bold as a pig”, which was a common refrain.
Upshot – He knew what he needed, what he wanted and took care of it!!
My condolences and hugs to Patrick, Brenda, Meghan and Brendan....... Tom Ott
