top. I showed them the radio controls
and three large generators located
“On Patos they [Coast
inside the building. Then suddenly,
Guard] built me a swing my dad was there. What in the world
from a huge Madrona
was I doing? I was in big trouble. I had
tree… I loved my swing
never seen my dad so mad at me in my
and would stand on the
life, but looking back I know he was
embarrassed. Being the Coast Guard
wooden slat to see how
man in charge of the station, not being
high I could go. I had available when guests arrived and
the most incredible view
finding his young daughter giving a
in the world.”
tour of a government facility, oh my! A
couple of months later I received a card
with a Poodle dog on it from this nice
couple and their dog Boy, thanking me
my dad sent several letters to my mom, requested to go back to Patos Island and
for their delightful tour of Patos Island
Darlene, describing Patos Island to her. this time is what I have always called
and how it was the highlight of their
On December 5, 1954 he wrote, “This “the best childhood” in the world.
vacation.
is really the place, it is not at all what I Patos Island has been in my
Life on Patos Island through the
expected, it’s better then Dungeness… heart forever, and thought of fondly
eyes of a child was magical. I would
you’ll have to see it for yourself to throughout my life. My dad loved to
explore and find all kinds of treasures,
understand what I mean.” Their plan take pictures and we always had slide
starfish, hermit crabs, mussels, drift
was to have Mom move to the island shows of Patos while growing up which
wood in funny shapes, special rocks
with him eventually. On December has helped keep the memories alive.
that you could see through called
24, 1954 he answered some of Mom’s Patos Island is very remote and
Agates. We had our dog Scamp, who
questions about the Island after just the only access is by boat. We would
was always with me, and I had Crowey,
finding out she was pregnant with me. have maybe two to three visitors in the
a black crow that would always show
He wrote, “The island is big. It takes summer back in the 50’s, and whenever
up for his daily bread. I would call
about four hours to walk around it. It’s we did I was always there with my
him and there he would be. I also had
mostly woods that have never been dad to greet and welcome them to the
a pet deer. It was a fawn; my dad said
touched, it is really beautiful. There is a island, even though at the time I wasn’t
it swam across the channel to visit us
little island right next to ours, it’s called even five years old.
on Patos. I would feed and water the
Little Patos, between is a cove where One time there was a husband
deer, he would nuzzle my neck. Deery
we tie our boat up. There are two other and wife who visited with their Boxer
started to get really big and he grew
couples living here, they both have dog, named Boy. They were the nicest
antlers. Then one day he was gone. My
little kids about 18 to 20 months old, people and I immediately fell in love
dad told me he swam to another island
they are all very nice.” He continued to with their dog. I couldn’t find my dad,
to find a mate. Looking back today – I
let her know about the living situation, so I greeted them at the dock. They
wonder.
but I am sure he convinced her it was asked if they could see the lighthouse.
Occasionally, a 55-foot Coast
all good. “Sure,” I said, so I led them through
Guard cutter would arrive to take us
I was born in August, 1955, and the woods on the wooden boardwalk,
to the mainland, to visit our relatives.
moved to Patos Island with my mom, then down the long sidewalk to the
One time my mom had sewn a sailor’s
though I do not remember that stay. My lighthouse. Still no sign of my dad, so
outfit for me, in blue and white, with
dad was stationed at other lighthouses I took them inside the lighthouse and
anchor buttons, and a matching hat. I
after that. He then re-enlisted and up the tower to the big brass light on
was very excited. Every time I came
aboard the Coast Guard cutter one of
the Coast Guard men would always
lead me down to the galley and give
Bringing in supplies
me an ice cream bar from the freezer. As
to build the Coast
I bit into the ice cream I lost my tooth
Guard Quarters
that was loose. At once all of the Coast
“…as a girl I would
Guard men reached into their pockets
and pulled out all of their change
fly on my roller
and gave it to me, while mentioning
skates up and down
something about the Tooth Fairy. Boy,
this path.”
was I happy.
The Coast Guard men were always
doing something nice for me. On Patos
they built me a swing from a huge
Madrona tree, a teeter-totter, and a
48° No r t h , Ja N u a r y 2010 Pa g e 76
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