So you know that soldier that has been on the news? The one from Philomath.... Cody Patterson, well that is my cousin. I'm sad to say that honestly I was not that close to him, or really that side of the family due to past issues with in the family. None the less I will say that Cody was possibly the best person that Philomath has seen for a long time. He always had a smile on his face, was amazingly funny, and determined like you would not believe.
Cody who was no taller than 5'8" played football in high school and even though was not the largest guy on the team he was known for being the best at taking others to the ground. He explained it to me one day, he said that all you needed to do was get them at their knees and it was all over. He was right. As I watched our team (which at the time typically lost most of their games) I would watch him and see how effectively he took people down. It was really amazing and I always admired him for being able to do that even with his size.
I hate that no matter what you do, people do not come back. I've had others who were very dear to me die as well, but they never indeed do come back. Now this may seem like a very obvious thing, but I think as humans we always hope in the back of our brains that if we want it enough it will happen. So with this being the case I'd like to share a few memory and some songs. Singing helps me get through things.
Even though being in the forces killed Cody it was what he wanted to do. I remember when we were likely no older than 6 or 7 we were playing little war games. Mostly I remember being killed a lot! At some point we found a stick that so strikingly resembled a gun. It was split from the bottom at at 45 degree angle to the rest of it making the base and shaft of the gun. The shaft part was hollowed out as if bullets could be put in it no doubt because it was weathered and the heart of the limb was soft so it rotted away first. I remembered one time Cody was hiding in a tree, one that was flowering with little white flowers all over and I was walking though the area where the tree was. We were playing and he shot me! I crumbled and died. Then we continued on to something else. He was prepping for it his whole life. I just wish there was more time that I could have spent prepping with him.
I also remember family reunions where all the cousins around my age just ran a muck! We were all totally wild and loved every moment of it. The fact that we didn't know, or maybe more accurately didn't care, about the family issues made it possible for the cousins to enjoy each others company. We'd all climb trees and run around in the local park. Cody of course was so positive and brought us all together and he still is. With losing him the cousins and myself have realized the age old truth that; you do not know how long you or anyone else will be here and you best live life to the fullest and live without regret or fear.
Cody, you have brought the cousins, at least MyKayla, Megan, and me together again. We will all miss you dearly and I hope that Taylor is being looked after. I know she will be strong, but at some point she will need help. I hope that she will receive it and I have no doubt that you will make sure of it from wherever you are.
Miss you cuz.
https://www.facebook.com/cory.j.peterson7/photos
Cody who was no taller than 5'8" played football in high school and even though was not the largest guy on the team he was known for being the best at taking others to the ground. He explained it to me one day, he said that all you needed to do was get them at their knees and it was all over. He was right. As I watched our team (which at the time typically lost most of their games) I would watch him and see how effectively he took people down. It was really amazing and I always admired him for being able to do that even with his size.
I hate that no matter what you do, people do not come back. I've had others who were very dear to me die as well, but they never indeed do come back. Now this may seem like a very obvious thing, but I think as humans we always hope in the back of our brains that if we want it enough it will happen. So with this being the case I'd like to share a few memory and some songs. Singing helps me get through things.
Even though being in the forces killed Cody it was what he wanted to do. I remember when we were likely no older than 6 or 7 we were playing little war games. Mostly I remember being killed a lot! At some point we found a stick that so strikingly resembled a gun. It was split from the bottom at at 45 degree angle to the rest of it making the base and shaft of the gun. The shaft part was hollowed out as if bullets could be put in it no doubt because it was weathered and the heart of the limb was soft so it rotted away first. I remembered one time Cody was hiding in a tree, one that was flowering with little white flowers all over and I was walking though the area where the tree was. We were playing and he shot me! I crumbled and died. Then we continued on to something else. He was prepping for it his whole life. I just wish there was more time that I could have spent prepping with him.
I also remember family reunions where all the cousins around my age just ran a muck! We were all totally wild and loved every moment of it. The fact that we didn't know, or maybe more accurately didn't care, about the family issues made it possible for the cousins to enjoy each others company. We'd all climb trees and run around in the local park. Cody of course was so positive and brought us all together and he still is. With losing him the cousins and myself have realized the age old truth that; you do not know how long you or anyone else will be here and you best live life to the fullest and live without regret or fear.
Cody, you have brought the cousins, at least MyKayla, Megan, and me together again. We will all miss you dearly and I hope that Taylor is being looked after. I know she will be strong, but at some point she will need help. I hope that she will receive it and I have no doubt that you will make sure of it from wherever you are.
Miss you cuz.
https://www.facebook.com/cory.j.peterson7/photos