It was a packed house! Hundreds of people coming to pay their respects on a beautiful spring day when anyone could have been elsewhere – a very impressive gathering for Mr. Farrin and his family.

There was plenty of food and refreshment. The Opera House staff and catering service made heroic efforts on behalf of all. Speakers spoke, musicians played and everyone remembered times gone by with someone well known throughout the region. Patrick had a long history and managed to interact with many.

The folks who spoke while I was present included Pat’s son Kelly, Tom Nickerson, Peter Panagore, Tim Sample, longtime friend Paul Lorrain, and me. There were some impressive stories. Tom shared his memories of local projects that Pat, crews and friends initiated, like lights for the football field and the beginnings of Clifford’s field up in the center. Tom didn’t pull any punches. He gave some pretty descriptive blow by blow details of things that will last forever in our community, including a most enlightening exercise at the monument in Boothbay Center. I will definitely never view that location quite the same.

Paul Lorrain told about how he, Pat and Leigh Reinecke met up during their various missions in Vietnam. It was truly one of the most remarkable stories I have ever heard. Three buddies from Boothbay. Who’d a thunk!? Incredibly the trio managed to unite while a gazillion miles from home. A call over secure radio cinched the deal. It was a testimonial to the depths and strength of human connectedness, a theme that seemed to run throughout all comments shared with the attendees.

There were photographs of the Farrin life completely ringing the downstairs big room of the Opera House. Photos from long ago which recalled many of the family experiences. Time with Robin sailing, images of digging in the dirt, time with the sheepdog pup and timeless moments with the kids. It was a monumental time capsule.

Then we got to be serenaded by local musicians, Ron and Bill Arsenault, Roy Arsenault, Dickie Spofford and Captain Blackman. Good old tunes that must have included favorites of the home team. I tried not to be a blubbering idiot, but there were some wonderful conversations and comments that were not to be denied. So many wonderful people in the old house – seemed like everyone present got to catch up and share with each other which I’m sure meant a lot to Kelly and Kipp who were such a big part of Pat’s life.

On one unforeseen note, I got a text from Fed Ex guy Bobby who was only able to pop in for a quick visit during the festivities. He said he was sorry not to be able to share a few comments but he was overwhelmed with Mother’s Day deliveries. Bobby, well known throughout the region for years of service, mentioned how he had delivered Pat’s cancer meds each month for four or five years. He said Pat always gave him the big frantic Farrin wave whenever they passed along the way. They got to be good friends.

It was a great community day. Thank you all for honoring Pat and each other. Events like this remind me of the kind and sympathetic nature of this place and its people. It was nice to see so many old friends.