I have been named by the physicians, nurses, caregivers, family and friends "The Miracle Man" and "Lazarous". I understand that connection, I perferr "Pat", but I have been using Lazarous as my "handle" DO YOU HAVE QUESTION? You may e-mail me @ |
So far, This is what I have been able to upload As I manage to move my files from wordpad, I will publish more of my message.... Be patient please.... Any comments or questions? I can do my best to incorporate useful observations, constructive criticism, and a chance that you have a question I havn't been asked yet. I get new ones from time to time. If they are within the realm of my death and coma experience, I will do my best to answer them |
I have been named by the physicians, nurses, caregivers, family and friends "The Miracle Man" and "Lazarous". I understand that connection, I perferr "Pat", but I have been using Lazarous as my "handle" DO YOU HAVE QUESTION? You may e-mail me @ |
It wasn't a dark and stormy nite, it was a pleasant day filled with plans and activities. I had places to go, people to meet and many things to do. It was a day planned with fun activities anticipating the reunion of a friend. My macro-biotic friend CHRIS was finishing a western tour of the united states on his bicycle. He had been traveling for almost a year visiting friends, seeing America, experiencing the life of a free and uncaptured soul. The type of adventure most of us talk about, dream about, even plan but never personally take. That morning we were to meet him and spend the day in portland. The day was july 7th. 1998. A perfect morning. The sky was blue with small cloud islands drifting by slowly. The air was calm and warm with jays, robins, and numerous birds filling the air with their calls. The type of day in fact, that one would say, "If I died today, this would be the most perfect day of my life and I would die happy!" Raymond, (a life long friend, another free and uncaptured soul), and I planned to meet Chris when he rode triumphantly into Portland that morning finishing a 1200 mile jaunt from somwhere in Arizona. Fifty brief miles later, we waited at the popular Portland icon, Powell's Books, for Chris's triumphant finish to his spectacular adventure. The wait was brief, Chris was actually on time, a feat that in-itself was astounding. Who could predict within 10 minutes when their 1200 mile final leg of a bike ride would end? Much jubilation/hugging/shaking hands and enthusiastic greetings were held. We hadn't seen or visited for more than 12 months and had so much to share. There are many popular spots in the greater portland area to visit, share stories, experience, and we had a full day of activities planned. We felt great! The day started triumphantly and continued with our friends noble arrival. What a wonderfully great day filled with the reunion and adventures of friends!. How could I or any of us Know This was my last day of my life on this earth? |
IT BEGINS IN PORTLAND |
Recanting our day in portland is important but not necessarily unique. I want to share just how normal a day it was, not forsaking or discounting the importances of the friends' reunion of course! It began triumphantly and continued that way. We were re-united friends and buddies out sharing a day together. I do believe that it is prudent to note that Raymond and Chris had rented a house in the hawthorn district before it became popular with the upper class. (yuppies with dollars) They had worked at some hip restraunts such as the Old Wives Tale on Sandy Blvd. They knew the area very well and had spent hundreds of hours exploring the Porland metropolis on foot and by bicycle. We knew what to do and where to go. Chris had two immdediate desires. After a long and streneous bike ride he was hungry and of course tired, but which "need" should be addressed first? As a former bike rider/long distance racer I suggested that we spend some time at the portland bath's. A very very popular spot offering saunas, jacuzzi's, and messages. The Baths were across the river, about a 3 1/2 mile walk, not a notable distance for someone who had just finished a 1200 mile excursion! We went there first. |
The baths are very nice. The facility is well maintained and a very popular spot. Reservations are required, but the people are nice and a bit flexible. After checking in we relaxed and listened to a few of Chris's stories while relaxing in the finnish sauna. Riding in the rain, uphill, against the wind was one common them. While riding thru the pacific and northern states he had experienced wet cold windy weather in mountainous terrain. It was interesting to hear about the people he met along the way. Most people were fascinated by a lone cyclist on a tour of america. There also were unfortunate events and hardships. Unfriendly motorist who believe the road is only for motor vehicles. Breakdowns, flat tires, sore muscles, along with camping under the stars, swimming in fresh lakes and rivers. Feeling good about getting some where, and how his bottom was sore and grew callouses. We listened and talked as we moved between the jacuzzi and the sauna. The day actually past by quickly. We did a number of buddy things the rest of the day. Toured Hawthorn Hollywood district, made the obligatory stop and browse thru Powell's Books. Later we chose to eat lunch at the Blue Moon moon Pub where we continued to share stories and catch up on events. |
THE three of us continued to share stories of the last year and visitng friends in the area until late in the afternoon when, unfortunately, it was time for us to depart. Although this day had ended, now that a friend was back within reach we would have many more days and opportunities to visit and share adventures and created new memories. We said our good-byes, promised to get together again soon,and parted. The day had been brief in retrospection, obviously enjoyable where the day and time flew by rapidly. I was tired by all of the day's activities, but had a good feeling about the overall events and activities. There was absolutely no indication of what was soon to follow. My friend and I went directly home. Afterall, we had filled up the day and we were tired, we didn't want to find "more things to do". Raymond and I did recant the days event with my wife Virginia. She did want to share the day as did my boys and their friend, "Longview Mike" who was spending the nite as he often did. (My youngest son is named Mike, so to differentiate all of his friends also named Mike, we attached different monikers to each of them). The day was late by then and the only thing left to do was get some sleep and recharge for the next day. How little did I know, there was no "next day" for me. |
CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON |
It Happend in the nite, while I was sleeping. I had a pleasant dream that was somehow related to the day. I had become a bird and was soaring high on wind currents. I could see earth below with all of the features as I was soaring above. Buildings,people, rivers, cars traveling down the road were curiosities that I circled over as I flew over Portland. I turned north and glided over Vancouver, battleground, woodland, Kalama, and up the "I-5" corridor past the stagnant Trojan Nuclear plant cooling tower. I was truly riding the wind and feeling free. An osprey joined me as I glided past Kalama and we flew together for a while experiencing the feedom in flight that only Birds could know. Flying in my dreams is a very rare occurance, it is even more rare when I realize I'm dreaming and flying, so I did my best to enjoy every moment! I have concluded that the freedom I was experiencing in my dream was directly realated to the freedom I had felt during our portland outing. The sky was warm and blue with just a few puffy island clouds floating, spotting the distant horizon. A gentle breeze lifted me and allowed me to soar with a freedom I've never before experienced. A wonderful day, a dream of soaring freedom, how could anything be better than this day I experienced? Yes, of course one could retort a lot of specific wonderfuls. When I married my beautiful bride, that was wonderful. When My babies were born to enrich my life, that also was truly remarkable and wonderful. But without nameing and listing specific "wonderfuls" in my life, it is the feeling I want to relate and hope you understand. The fullfilledness, the comaraderie, the flow of the day itself is the experience that combined to make the day exceptional! |
There were clouds on the on the horizon as I said earlier. Puffy white Island clouds that added to the experience, but suddenly they no longer looked friendly as they had earlier. They had turned to dark storm clouds. The kind associated with the fierce pacific winter storms we get here in the pacific northwest. They had turned ominous, gathering a deadly strength and appeared to be rapidly bearing down on me personally. Perhaps, a vendetta against me for venturing where I didn't belong! The sky had also lost the warm glow just as the wind suddenly became cold and fierce. My feeling of freedom turned in to a panick. Somthing was going terribly wrong and I was caught up in it! The gentle Breeze had turned into a fierce gale and I was tossed merciless thru the air. No matter how had I tried I was powerless against the storm which had railed up against me. Yes, I struggled against this fury, but it was hopeless! One small bird could not contest the storms might. I could feel myself giving into the storm's might, my strength had vanished and I could go on no longer! I felt myself being destroyed, ripped apart for the storms pleasure. |
Okay, I know that the title "KILLER CHIPS" has puzzled you. I think it has also peaked your curiosity as to Why I choose that as this pages title. It is no secret that I died and you are reading this account to hear the story. What do Killer chips have to do with this account. Actually nothing at all. The Title comes from Raymond and Chris. If you are like me, you love food. The joke is that I'm on a Seafood Diet. I See food and I eat it! And I love to eat food. Chineses, mexicn, Indian, Thai, you name it and while that delicious style is in front of me I will eat it. Yes, There are some things that I am not fond of but that is just like every and anyone else in this world. While "dinning" at the blue moon Pub,( A very popular mini-brewery pub and restraunt) Raymond ordered chips and black bean dip. I don't think it is something that I have had before, and when I tried it, I found the taste exquisite. I had to have a family order of chips. Afterall, we had just spent a very long day and were quite hungry. Maybe the salt of the chips, the flavour of the black bean dip, or just the combination of the flavours and the hunger combined to make me eat with wild abandoned. No, no piggy hogging the food down, but yes, the plate didn'last long and of course I did have help from Ray and a carbo depleted Chris.. For me that alone is noteworthy as I've always been regarded as a VERY slow eater. My food is relished and eaten very slowly, but not this time. In fact, I had a second order and an order of a little heffleweisen with lemon to accompaney it! We all know I died, but remember the taco chips and black bean dip! |