Love Letter To Patty
Happy Birthday Patty <3
This writing was adapted from a speech I delivered at Pride Cat 2024.
Patty embodied the values of Pride Cat like no other. Authentically themselves wherever they went. Kind, caring, loving, accepting.
Patty is a pillar of Pride Cat and was the first one to want to capture and document the event, believing it to be a meaningful gathering of meaningful connections centered around celebrating queerness and bikes. Patty found something special in our collective connection as individuals and as a community—and the multiple communities within that. I have been sitting with the weight of realization that our existence is solely made up of our connections. Our connections to others, to our community, to our earth, to our ancestors, to our history. And at the root of all those connections is our connection with ourselves.
We can only be as authentic with others as we are authentic with ourselves.
I am so grateful to have known Patty and to have connected with them in this life. Patty was one of the most authentic people I have ever met, and I think that most of us felt that in their presence. And I think that’s why Patty’s departure felt so immense for so many of us. Even for some, who had only met Patty once in passing or had just known of Patty, pulled up to their memorial to celebrate his life and honor the impact they had on us.
Patty took up space and practiced kindness. They were so true to themselves and their creativity. They created a safe, authentic connection to themselves to create space to exist and pursue whatever creative outlet called to them. Patty would instantly connect to everyone they met, even in passing. Patty was authentic with themselves, which pulled out authenticity within others.
I wrote a haiku after Pride Cat 2023.
nurture each other
to be ourselves in this world
is our greatest gift
Patty nurtured our authentic selves because they nurtured theirs. To be ourselves in this world is our greatest gift.
Patty was Patty. 100%. Patty was a pillar of Pride Cat. I will never forget them riding their unimaginably tall unicycle up this hill the first year. They never failed to impress the crowd with their insane unicycling talents. Or seeing them pull up with Ami-chan, their parakeet companion, who’d end up racing with Ollie in his carrier backpack. Or watching Li do a superman track stand and Patty running over to lay down and put their head between the slim space of the front tri-spoke.
I still find myself asking, “What would Patty Do?” And I wasn’t trying to be cute with a pun there, it was a happy coincidence. So, I return to my original poem that I wrote days after learning of Patty’s departure.
What would Patty Do?
Patty would welcome you with a big smile and hug. He would ask you about your dreams and passions, and he would tell you about his. He would share himself with others. He would encourage you to go after your dreams and hype you up.
He would laugh things off and not take things too seriously. He would look for the silver lining. He would choose gratitude.
He would love up on his people and never turn down a chance to spread love to new faces. He would turn strangers into friends.
He would be present. He would ask questions. He would dance. He would indulge. He would live life to the fullest. And he would encourage you to do the same.
The $1825 raised at Pride Cat 2024 was donated to Save-Lyon Martin Health Clinic in honor of our late queirdo cyclist friend, Patty Do, who is missed deeply. Thank you for everyone who donated, sponsored, and raced!
