Islands and Happy St. Patrick's Day, Pat!

Hi Pat!

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Do you know, it's really pretty cool, that we've been to many different islands together?

I was thinking the other day that this is about the time of year you, Mom and I went off to Catalina Island to work on "No Secrets". It was my first job on a movie, standing in for one of the kids. It was almost like our own island since it was an off time for tourist. We usually had a grilled cheese and chocolate malt on the dock for breakfast and then walked to work wherever the location was that day. All the families came to visit and it was almost hard to remember that we weren't on vacation but location!

Going back to when I was a kid, when I was about 9, 1972, you did "Day of the Dolphin" and off we all went to the Bahama Islands and there we were on Treasure Key for 3 months in the "winter". Tanya and I went to school at the 3 room schoolhouse where we had to say the Lord's Prayer every morning and on certain days of the week my 3rd-4th-5th grade class of 10 students went off to tennis lessons. We hitchhiked to school hoping for rides on golf carts. On other days we would all go to the Conch Shell that was right on the water.

A few years later, 1976, we spent the summer in the Dominican Republic when you worked on "The Sorcerer". While you were working, our days were spent by the pool or at the beach where the pigs also sunbathed. We had so many nights of strolling down the street singing songs. Dinner with the violin player serenading our table. We all had 4th of July at the Embassy. Every once in a while we got to go to visit the set and we'd get to ride the helicopter into the jungle.

Meanwhile, Mom got a job on "The Deep" and headed off to a different island for a few weeks. At the end of the summer while you headed off to the next location, Mom and us went to meet her new friends on a tug boat and staying on the boat, we stayed near Bimini Island for a few days.

There were so many other places. It really was the best thing ever going on location. We were all together and had so many adventures.

I love you and thank you and Mom for giving us such a colorful, adventurous childhood. How lucky were we?

Love and miss you lots,

Xochi

Keep Me In Your Heart for a While - New Year's 2012

Dear Pat,

I was walking this afternoon past a store and a lady about my age came out holding hands with a man about 80 years old...as they walked in front of me, he turned, smiled broadly and let me walk past. As I did she seemed to need to explain (Dad may be fading) and said "Dad is still a gentleman, he likes to let the ladies go first and I turned to look and smile at him once again and he still had the biggest grin on his face and they continued to hold hands as they walked along. It was perfect to see them.

I was listening to a song today that made me think of you and our time together. It's called "Keep me in your heart for a while". It's both a sad and happy song and for certain, I've kept you in my heart as I hope you have me.

It's been almost three years since I talked to you and saw you and I miss you just as much on days like today. But I know I had what these two today have. As I looked through my pictures, I'm reminded.

Here's the words to the song "Keep me in your heart for awhile"

Shadows are falling and I'm running out of breath
Keep me in your heart for awhile

If I leave you it doesn't mean I love you any less
Keep me in your heart for awhile

When you get up in the morning and you see that crazy sun
Keep me in your heart for while

There's a train leaving nightly called when all is said and done
Keep me in your heart for while

Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo
Keep me in your heart for while

Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo
Keep me in your heart for while

Sometimes when you're doing simple things around the house
Maybe you'll think of me and smile

You know I'm tied to you like the buttons on your blouse
Keep me in your heart for while

Hold me in your thoughts, take me to your dreams
Touch me as I fall into view
When the winter comes keep the fires lit
And I will be right next to you

Engine driver's headed north to Pleasant Stream
Keep me in your heart for while

These wheels keep turning but they're running out of steam
Keep me in your heart for while

Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo
Keep me in your heart for while

Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo
Keep me in your heart for while

Keep me in your heart for while


I tip my hat to you my very best friend and father. Love to you as 2012 begins.

Miss you,

Xochi

Happy Father's Day Pat. 2011

Hi Pat and Happy Father's Day.

Just recently we got to watch a DVD of Tom and Tanya's wedding (Danielle found it in a box full of memories). It was just their anniversary the other day. The wedding DVD was filled with not only some great 80's outfits and hairdos but with so many Father moments. You walked Tanya down the aisle and gave her away, you danced the father/daughter dance, subjected yourself to many, many photos and looked very handsome in your tuxedo - even with your sneakers on... of course you were really the most practical shoe wise as the ground was damp and we all had mud on our dress shoes!

As we watched, we remembered. Thank you for all the father moments. There are far too many to ever list.

Love you and miss you. Happy Father's Day.

Love,

Xochi

Two Years Ago - January 5, 2009

Hi Pat,

It's hard to believe it's been two years since we spoke. Although I've had conversations with you in my head many times. You've been missed. I can hear you deny that but it's true.

You'll be happy to know that Mom is doing amazing. Despite her aches and pains and eye problems, she has learned her new Mac computer, been writing away on a script for The Inn, been blogging, facebooking, keeping up her place in Ojai and hanging out with Ramsey. She gets on the road when she needs to, would love to have you here to cook for again as you appreciated those meals the most but all in all, it's good.

This is what Mom/Bubbs/Ging wrote for you today:

"You have always been, are now, and always will be. There has never been a time when you were not - nor will there ever be such a time. Thinking about Pat yesterday and today. It is a mystery isn't it? When I think, I shed a few tears and that feels okay. Even though time has passed there are also times when we all miss Pat. It is nice that he left so much love of himself behind. Love Mom"

I'm not sure what you'd think of where I am in life right now. Limbo it seems. Each time an opportunity has come along this past year, it has evaporated. I try to come up with advice that you might tell me but haven't yet figured it out what you'd say. I do know you'd tell me to walk on it and then we'd talk it out. Perhaps it's time for a long walk in honor of you.

With the new year, we'll continue to tell stories that make us laugh and remember you, you're never far no matter where you are.

Love you.

Xochi

Today's the Day - Birthday of Another Kind

Hi Pat,

Today's your birthday. Your other birthday, that is. I think. Funny, I always thought of this day but I'd either be a day late or a day early calling. But you did not ever forget. It was huge. This was the day that you decided to stop drinking. This could mark 25 years ago?

It was a proud day. To know that you accomplished something so difficult and you stuck by your decision for the rest of your life. Now, you did have other addictions...like walking every day...and reading books...and drinking water...and whistling...and laughing. Just awful stuff. Oh, and chopping up your salads.

I miss your calls to remind me. Even if I don't need reminding.

I just plain miss you.

Love,
Xochi

Pat, what it be?

Hello Pat,

We've been putting together a show called "The Inn". As Mom, Patrick and I come up with ideas, we don't have to actually make anything up! There are so many, many incidents, stories, moments that we have remembered. They make us laugh. Although I'm not so sure that the folks who see our show will believe the stories are true. We'll have to add that to the end...all events are true!

Patrick and I and a couple friends are going to shoot up in Eaton next weekend...we thought why not go up and film and have a quick visit too. It'll be fun and we hope to put together a cool preview of what we'd like to create.

Anyhoo...love you, will love being up in Snowville...and I know will be thinking of you more than ever.

Lots of love,
Xochi

Happy Father's Day - 2010

Dear Pat,
It's been a long time since we spent a Father's Day together but I don't think the one day covered all the thanks I have for you being my dad. Every day deserved a thanks. Sure would be nice to have you here, I could use your help reasoning as to why life is like it is right now and to go over the pros and cons. But I still try to think of what you might say to me. Feel free to try to get your point across from where you are now.

I spoke to a friend of mine the other day who recently lost a loved one, she was worried that he would be forgotten. I've had that same thought but realize that it's not possible, not ever. Besides my own memories, there are so many other people who pop in with a crystal clear moment in time that you put there for them being you.

I think I've posted some of the pictures of our Digby, Nova Scotia family vacation before, but I was looking through some pictures, we had so many family moments that week. I looked through the pictures and laughed at what fun we all had. We didn't do anything big or expensive, we just walked here and there, played games, took pictures, sat and had many meals of course. You bought us all ice cream and baseball hats, we investigated why things were the way they were, pondered the mysteries of life in Digby. That was just a small representation of the times we had together, quality moments.

You listened, you really listened. You didn't put forth your opinions to me until you had the facts and then asked permission to tell me what you thought. You were so smart about the movie business too. I could really use your help to figure out what is going on now, where did I make the wrong turn and how do I get back.

Thanks Pat for being my dad, my friend, my whateveritisineededatthetime.

We all miss you and wish you a happy father's day. I'm having an ice cream in your honor and will probably say "mmm, mmm, mmm, how do they make that taste soooo good".



Love you lots,

Xochi

Happy Father's Day 2010

Pat's Half Full Apple Boxes

Hi Pat!

So I was using one of your apple boxes the other day and a friend asked two questions - one was "Who worked on Along Came a Spider" and the other "What is that?" haha. Not many folks have seen a half full apple box. They're used to the half apples, full apples and so on. So I explained about your collection. I'm not sure when you started it but I know that I have here quite a few of them. Not all have show names but I'll bet you could probably name the shows you had someone make them for you on! One has astro turf glued to it probably for no skidding. I've got to say they come in quite handy for most everything as I suspect you knew.

Asking about "Along Came A Spider" made me remember your story of breaking Morgan Freeman...I think that was it. I passed it on. It was cold up in Vancouver so of course you had your nosewarmer handy (yours has the silly pom pom on the end...what am I saying, just the nosewarmer itself is silly...making it doubly silly with the multi colored pom pom). Anyway, I believe the story goes that Morgan claimed that being the actor he was, with great concentration and focus, he couldn't be broken, the whole eye line thing wasn't a problem for him...so you put him to the test...you dragged over your chair near camera and his eye line...you put on your nosewarmer and sat there...sure enough, you caught his eye...and sure enough, you broke him...I'm sure you guys had quite a laugh. How could you not laugh?

I'll have to dig up a picture of you in it. I know I have one somewhere on my computer.

Anyhow, that's the latest of stories I've been telling about you. Funny and memorable as always.

Mom is all settled in Ojai and loving it up there. She was on the search for Carnation Malt...hmmm, do you suppose she's drinking chocolate malts with Ramsey?

Love,
Xochi

PS for those of you wondering about the nose warmers...I crocheted them for the family and friends for Xmas one year - fit over your nose with strings to tie behind your ears...one day they'll catch on. :)

St Patrick's Day 2010

Happy St. Patrick's Day Pat!

Wonder if you're all dressed in green? Think of you all the time, usually laughing about some silly moment. Ted Marshall just wrote a new post of a story from "Day of the Dolphin" and one from "Strange Days". It never stops.

Besides St. Patrick's Day, on the first day of spring your little granddaughter turns 25 years old!! Can you believe that, Brittany here on your back is a beautiful young lady living in New York, working as a nurse. Where have all the years gone, right?

Mom is moving to Ojai next month, she found a little house to rent, yard for Ramsey to run around, library down the street, lots of trees.

Happy Spring, you'd love all the ranunculus blooming here, they make me think of you too.

Love you lots,

Xochi

Pat, you always made us laugh

Here's a mini story about a day in the life of Pat:

Back in the early 70's we all went off to the Bahamas because Pat was working on "The Day of the Dolphin"...Mom has recently been seeing the commercial saying "It's Better in the Bahamas"...and so she flashed back to those days:

"And it reminded me about Pat one day taking one of those sun ray little boats out to a sand bar, or was it a little island.
It was low tide. He could walk back, but the tide came in and a couple of his crew members had to go out and rescue him. It was very funny. It makes me laugh when I think about it. He always made me laugh. Love Mom"

Amazing way to spend a few months of my childhood on a small island in the Bahamas...so many funny stories, so many characters Pat had working with him too.

:)

Xochi

Pat! It's National Kazoo Day!

Hi Pat,

Guess what? Today is National Kazoo Day. You probably knew that. I saw today that the kazoo was invented in America and it was suggested that it becomes the official national musical instrument of the United States. I'll bet you'd vote for that since you are the ultimate kazoo player!

Your pal Danny del Rossi has named you the unofficial King of the Kazoo. :) I don't think anyone would think differently.

You know Pat, no matter how much time goes by, the stories about you from people who have crossed your paths still keep coming...and I'm always amazed how clear the memories are...like they just saw you, and that particular moment just happened. Crystal Clear.

Here's one from my Kazoo post today:

Jack Cummings - "Great.. I read up on some of the tribute postings you had of your dad after I wrote you to say I remember him from the "Monkees" credits.. He seemed like a great guy.. a real character, which i mean as a compliment.
I'm 54.. and seem to run into very few really colorful people these days.. Everyone's nice... but somewhat ordinary." (Jack lives near the last kazoo factory in Buffalo, NY, the metal ones of course)

We saw Gary Busey last week - he remembered you as the most positive person, arriving on the set of Grasslands (Hex) making some comment of how great it was to be alive. He had a great imitation of you with your arms flung out, bigger than life, it was perfect!

I had an email that I just found from a friend of yours, Suzi, your classmate from high school, 1956! She said she spent time with you because her husband roomed with you in Washington, DC 1956-57. I'm waiting for some more stories from her but here's one she told, as she described you as my hilarious and crazy dad.

She said "You are fortunate to have a Dad that lied to get his first gaffer job in Hollywood. He said he did this type of work in Beckley, West Virginia. We all laughed as this type of work was NEVER in West Virginia! Your father came from a funny Mom & Pop too"

I saw Brian Frankish at the DGA a couple weeks ago...he saw me, reintroduced himself and started in on stories of the Matt and Pat team and all the fun and crazy things you did way back when commercials and features.

So you see...you made your mark, wonder if you knew.

Love you lots,

Xochi

Happy New Year

Hi Pat,

It seems that many people are happy that 2009 is over. I don't know that it was really a bad year. You left us at the very beginning, so living the year without you was really hard but you kind of made some good things happen. We all met up with some long time friends that we wouldn't normally have spoken to or seen. More family time, more friend time, more opportunities taken that would have otherwise been delayed or overlooked. I would have liked to be sitting with you on the back porch of the house in Ajijic, Mexico if that had been an option but I remember it. Happy times.

January 5th will be a year. I often wonder what you'd be doing, where you are, hoping you're smiling down on us. Skype me.

Love you.

Happy New Year.

Xochi

Merry Christmas to you, Pat

Merry Christmas Pat!

Miss you. Christmas wasn't exactly your favorite holiday with all the craziness of the day. But the thing is, before you and Mom headed to Mexico, we had a tradition. I would fly to Boston and stay with Tanya and family, you and Mom would arrive Christmas Eve day...we would play games, eat snacks, see friends and get scattered around the house for sleeping, the last few years you pulled out those Christmas pajamas I made back in 2002 (even those your pants were 5x too big for you)...Christmas morning was eggs benedict, visiting Tom's family and having a great dinner with more games and laughs. The day after you and Mom and me and the kids all got packed in the car and headed to Snowville, NH for a few days. The 3 hour ride we'd sing, tell jokes, you'd make us enjoy the view. New Hampshire, up on the hill, you'd build us a fire, we'd just have a great time together. How many years did we have that tradition? I'll never forget.

Well, this year is a time for change. No snow here in California! Mom and Ramsey are here. We're having very, very quiet Christmas Eve. You'd be happy! Tomorrow will be dinner at my house with Laurie, Patrick, Fortune and Kenny...and all the dogs. Mom's planning pumpkin pancakes in the morning. It's going to be a nice day but we'll miss you a lot.

Thinking of you.

Love,
Xochi

Pat gets a Christmas Tree

Pat's bench has a new little Christmas tree thanks to Colleen. She thought he'd like it. She says that now that there's snow, the tree looks even more festive. Yes, it's snowing in Snowville, NH. I can't say that Pat ever missed the snow, but he did like to sit in his shorts in Ajijic and look at the weather reports from Snowville! Especially when it was cold and snowing and he was out in the garden sunning himself. But he'd like the tree, just the kind of thing I could see him doing for someone. Mom and Pat's bench will be inscribed eventually. It may be in the spring now that winter is settling in, but the local friends there know that it is where to say hello to Pat so that's great.

Love,
Xochi

Remember New Orleans?

I was in New Orleans this weekend for a wedding. It was a beautiful weekend and as I walked and bicycled around the town I remembered a few things from the last time I was there, 20 years ago.

I was here was on a movie called "Johnny Handsome", it was my 2nd movie as a PA and Pat was the gaffer. Thanks to Walter Hill, the director, it was the same great crew members that had been with him many shows before. Not only were we in a great location, we had a great group of people to enjoy it.

As i walked through the French Quarter this time, some places looked familiar. There was a corner bar that we ate Muffaletta sandwiches, ate at many of the other places and we worked in apartments and places there. We shot on the river, worked on a boat as it traveled down river and more. This picture is us hanging out by the river, you can see the movie trucks behind us.


One funny story I remember. I found this button shop. Pat had an idea for a button, it was "The F Word" with the red line through it. The buttons were made and when the man who owned the shop delivered them to the set, he was wearing a very large button that said "Xochi Blymyer Fan Club". Why he made it, I don't know but Pat put it on. Others on the crew asked where they could get one, so the button man made more. The next morning, I went to get breakfast at the caterer and the caterer at the window was wearing one! It was quite funny, even Walter was wearing one. But to top it off, we were working in the courthouse not long after that and as I was walking up the stairs to the set, I see this man in a suit with a button sticking out (being so big) and I stopped him and asked about it. It was the "Xochi Blymyer Fan Club" button. I asked him if he knew who that was, he said no but that he had liked the button and asked someone for it. I introduced myself and it ends up he's one of the Assistant District Attorneys! You can guess who gave him that button, right?

Mom reminded me of the time she worked on "Mandingo" and we went to visit her that summer. Even farther back in time.

Anyway, this weekend brought back some of those fond memories and another moment reminding me of unique, memorable Pat.

Pat, my person I think of often

Dear Pat,

I can hardly believe I haven't seen you for 9 months. The days are rolling by quickly. There are times that you flash into my mind and I see you rubbing your eyes, rubbing them so hard they may come right out, I'd have to look away. I can hear you chopping up fruit for your breakfast just before you pop your head around the corner to ask if I'd like to have a little bowl too. Or it might be the faster chopping of the pampered chef chopper in the afternoon that you're making a green salad for your dinner. You might be tying up one of your tarps explaining the reason why it's going to work so perfectly.

It could be that laugh that starts with an "Ahhh" and continues with a "Hahaha" - probably some bad joke or someone did something dumb or silly. I just heard a bad joke the other night and immediately thought I wanted to tell you. The guy said "Hey, did you hear that Willie Nelson died?" and of course we all were totally surprised...but then he said "Yeah, he was On the road again". I know, so bad, yet I wanted to tell you to hear you laugh.

I needed a new lightbulb in the garage the other day and reached up to the big bag you gave me so long ago when you cleared out your shed - it's still labeled with tape for me. Looking around the garage, I see your hammer with the "728" tape on it. Diagrams you made for projects - you did use the "picture is worth a thousand words" wisely and creatively.

I had forgotten a sign you sent me, it's up high on my ceiling in the garage, it bent over now so I can see both sides - it says FROST HEAVES on the front and on the back you wrote - From the highways of Eaton, NH - winter of 2004-2005 - we would always laugh when we passed those signs, first shivering and then gagging to act out the sign. Silly but we always did it.

So that's what I'm thinking of today and everyday Pat, my dad, my friend. See you around, like a donut.

Love you lots.

Xochi

Pat, I miss our moments

It's Sunday night and as all Sunday nights this year, Pat, you come to mind. We had so many moments together, a laugh, a special event, a dinner and all over the world...so many that sometimes when I try to think of just one to write about I can't just pick it out of the crowd.

I talked with someone last weekend whom I don't really know, but she said she has been following my stories about you since I began and she too has become the "historian" for her family. How wonderful to know that my notes about my dad are read and enjoyed, right?

You know, you have made it easy to write and keep our memories alive because there are so many lively stories. So many that even those who didn't get a chance to meet you feel like they are getting to know you now. And why not!

So, this particular entry is just a hello and know that you are being thought of tonight.

Love,
Xochi

ps This photo is in Ajijic, Mexico - dinner at Roberto's last October 2008, mmm, mmm.

Pat Blymyer's New Hampshire Celebration, August 23, 2009

Sunday was a beautiful day. It may have been raining but it was beautiful inside the little white church and quite bright and happy despite the dark skies. So many memories in that Little White Church, so many friends, some we met the first summer we arrived in Snowville, New Hampshire. The feeling as I looked across those in the church was one of being home. Some of the faces I may not recognize immediately but it didn't matter because they were those that came together with our family to celebrate Pat and being together and I think bringing happy memories up for them too.

There were many laughs and tears. Wonderful stories or moments of how Pat crossed paths and made a permanent impression on so many.

There was a potluck dinner afterwards with so many delicious dishes, Pat would have been in heaven...or perhaps that's where he was watching us enjoy the food from, I hope so.

Thank you to those who were able to attend, to those who were thinking of us that day and to anyone who smiles thinking of Pat.

Love,
Xochi

Snowville, NH, here we come to Celebrate Pat

This time next Sunday we will be sitting with all our friends and family on Crystal Lake celebrating Pat...oh, so much to celebrate...30 years of memories there, it'll be like going home, kind of a milestone from the beginning of this year when Pat went off to his next adventure or next location.

We'll see you there Pat. I think you'll like what we have planned, it's a surprise.

I love you,

Xochi

Colorful, Colorful, Memorable Pat

So, I certainly think of Pat every day, many times a day and I sometimes wonder what it's like for others. Life has to go on but how often does he come up in your mind or in conversation. Well, I've found out first hand. On the show I'm working on, we needed a cameraman to fill in for a couple of weeks. What a great coincidence that John Leonetti was asked to be that person (In these picture, he's the one in the pretty yellow shirt on stage). He's known Pat for almost as long as I have and often this week has made passing comments about something Pat might have done or said and not just to me, to other crew...and so I realize that Pat really is a part of all of us who knew him, not fading but a bright colorful memory right up close. And he makes us laugh all the time.

Mom emailed me a story that Sally, Pat's son's wife wrote to her about Trinity, their little daughter (Known as T3 to Pat, the little girl in the photo). Here's what she wrote:

Trinity seems to bring up her Gramps often. She always points him out on the computer and has asked when she is going to get to see her Gramps. I told her when she goes to heaven but that probably won't be for a long time. She asked which heaven is he at, the one with our tortoise? I said yes, that's the only one. She asked, "Are they sitting down?" I said I wasn't sure but I bet Gramps was petting Hercules (our tortoise that went to heaven). I told her he was probably enjoying the balloon she lost in the sky the other day too!

My Aunt Fortune sent a note too:

Our lives are like poems.
Some are as short as haiku, others as long as epics filling many
volumes. Each is complete in ways we may not understand. That is a
comforting thought and I think it is a true one. Yet when we lose one
of our own, whether young or old, at the beginning of a career or at
the peak, we falter. It takes a while to see the poem when your eyes
are filled with tears.

Mom saw Pat's favorite Red Shirt in a store the other day. She said she would have gotten it for him had he still been here to wear it even if he said his was still in great shape. I suppose he will always be everywhere we go, something will always make us think of him and smile, remember.

Happy Sunday.

Love you Pat.

Xochi