Dear Pat,
I've been putting off sending this note because it's sad news. One of your pals is on his way to you. In fact, by now, he's got to be done with all his paperwork and chatting up God, you're probably talking about old times right now. Warren Bateman died July 15. He sure was tough and got through so many close calls but this time he didn't stay. He was funny and caring and checked up on me as often as he could. The last time I saw him he showed me the way he kept count of all his walks around the yard, a contraption he set up for each time he got back to the garage. It reminded me so much of your various inventions. He never stopped telling stories about you guys and all the great times and adventures you had together. The Batemans are and always will be an extension of our family. They've always included me in their family get togethers, making sure I was always invited, especially when I was the only Blymyer on the west coast. Guess that's what real friendship is all about, watching out for each other. Warren's funeral is September 1st in Carpinteria so we will all get together then. (1p Carpinteria Community Church)
I've also put this off because I've been working lots of hours and haven't made the time. Silly me, I thought working hard and doing my best would assure me my place in this world but it seems that's not true. Mom is disappointed by how people are treated in our business and easily cast away and you would be too. The man who took my job away was even telling me how wonderful you were and then turns around and tells someone else I'm not the right person for the job. Not that I was doing anything wrong, I just wasn't the right man for this position.
Next weekend I'm having a 50th birthday circus celebration, bringing back the big summer bbq. I think you would have liked to be here. All the family that can will be here along with many of the Batemans and of course lots of friends new and old.
Hope you and Warren have a good reunion and tell lets of good stories. Miss you and love you lots.
Xochi
Oh boy how about bringing tears to my eyes. I do feel somehow all of the guys are together even if I don't know for sure. It is just the natural thing that comes up. Little by little they are joining their "brothers". Maybe it is more brotherly than we know. I like to think it is.
ReplyDeleteAs my life goes on I can't help thinking about all my close friends gone on! Pat... From the Monkeys to my last show before retiring in 2003. What a great friend! Warren...he chose me to sell off the last of his properties in Canyon Country before completing his transition to Carpentria! Pat Marshall.. Left me way to soon! So many more left far to young! What a special group of men I'm so proud to have worked and played with. Times gone by that will never be realized again! A (show) business that just doesn't exist anymore! Don't believe me? Ask "Sugar"! Life goes on! I will do my best! Michael Jones
ReplyDeleteHi Michael, Every couple of months I have lunch with some of my hairdresser friends and other great ladies who gather in Thousand Oaks. Almost everyone is retired but Maggie, Mike Germaine's wife, a makeup artist is still working. She said it so clearly. The business now is not the business we entered, me in 1954. It was so much fun and crazy and we watched out for each other. There was still the purpose of making art in the minds of the directors and producers.
ReplyDeleteI guess the way to look at the movie business now is just a business, a corporate business and a greedy cruel one at that. There are still wonderful people who want to make a difference artistically, who want to share fun and laughs with a public hungry for something wonderful. The sad thing is the money comes from a group of too young, too much in a hurry to make money, to understand what it is that art is and was and to cultivate the artists. It used to be a big family, not just like most business it is just bottom line. Sugar Ginger