An FDNY Legend's Legacy; Love, Connection & Synchronicity

When I first met Sharon Watts it was an exciting time in my life. It was 2004 and my then-husband and I had just bought a home in Beacon, NY, next door to Sharon. Shortly thereafter I adopted my dog, Meesha. I was thrilled with this beautiful German Shepherd mix breed. I was also blessed with a neighbor who loved Meesha and so was always willing to help with her, if needed.

I soon came to learn about Patrick Brown. Captain Patrick “Patty” Brown was the most decorated firefighter in FDNY history and was a highly respected Marine Sergeant in Vietnam. Patrick Brown died on 911 rescuing burn victims from the 40^th floor of the World Trade Center. He was also Sharon's former fiancé.

Miss You, Pat

In 2007, the book Sharon wrote about Pat Brown, Miss You, Pat, was published. Although they were not engaged at the time of his passing, Sharon was still friends with Pat when he died. Much of Sharon's book is about the connections and synchronicities that she began to see while going through the process of interviewing the people whose lives Patrick Brown touched.

When I asked Sharon to talk about these connections she had this to say, “While I was gathering people's stories about Pat, I noticed that some of them mentioned a type of sixth sense (to find and rescue those in need both as a firefighter and in everyday life) that he had while alive. Somehow he guided me to those who truly understood, largely by chance. Many shared their own moments, so hard to describe, but you know it when you have one. Ironically, they don't draw me into the past so much as illuminate with joy and gratitude what is around me in any given moment.”

These kinds of connections are so frequently emphasized by the animals; nonjudgmental open heartedness

The profoundness of leaning into these human connections was demonstrated so often by Sharon. She seemed to know everybody in Beacon, having moved there from NYC several years prior. It was during my time in Beacon that I began to focus more and more on the lessons the animals had to teach us about connection and also to focus more on my work as an animal communicator.

When it was time for me to move and leave my former life behind, I looked back on the 3 years that I had spent next door to Sharon and realized that I had learned from her many examples of how to tap into the nectar, so to speak, of single life. How to open one's heart to others and create community despite introverted tendencies. As per my calico kitty TirNa, “You're so funny how much it took for you to really get this. The connections worth making with others are all around us and are what make life magical.”

It seemed to me that even after his death, Pat was passing on a message from the life he lived. Whether he was teaching people who are blind karate, yelling at a vendor for overcharging a tourist, rescuing someone from a burning building or practicing yoga (which Pat found helped with his symptoms of PTSD), Pat demonstrated opening our hearts to help others and also ourselves. His impact was so great he was mentioned several times on the post-911 show about the FDNY, Rescue Me. 

911 forced me to seek our some method of relaxation during a time when I was in NYC on a regular basis attending graduate school for social work. During a time marked by a great deal of fear and tension animal communication and energy work brought me an element of calming and healing. Through a long and winding road, all of this was ultimately used to grow my connection to God and for this I am eternally grateful.

When my friend visited me last weekend she wanted to go into NYC. We had no real plans but I suggested that we walk around The East Village. We drove around looking for a parking spot and by some miracle found one. As we walked down the block where I had parked, we came upon a firehouse with several plaques on the wall outside. One was a tribute to Patty Brown. This was Ladder Company 3, the last firehouse where Patty Brown was stationed.

My friend then asked to go down to the World Trade Center site. I agreed, a little hesitantly. I had not gone there since the construction of the memorial. Walking onto the memorial site, I felt an very strong wave of sadness hit my heart. This was partly due to the intense grief energy there and also from my own memories of that time.  It seemed a lifetime ago but my first job out of college was also in the WTC.

One of the reasons for moving 50 miles north to Beacon was to get some relief from the intensity of living on the border of NYC post 911. My former husband had been in the city that day. A phone call, “I don't know if I will ever see you again” and the phone disconnecting. Fears of bio-terrorism. Over 5 hours passing before I knew he was OK. Leading to an eventual move to Beacon seeking a less stress filled life and where I moved next door to Sharon. Where I learned about Pat Brown and much about the importance of connection with both animals and people.

Meesha

The day after our city trip, my friend looked up from her phone after receiving one of those Facebook reminders of what you were doing that day in such and such a year. We hadn't realized that two years ago this past weekend I was vising her in FL. Little did I know on that trip that five days later by dog Meesha would be gone and my heart broken. One of the first people I notified was Sharon.  My muse and my mirror. Meesha was my reason for seeking alternative ways to help animals. Especially those who had experienced trauma and lived with a great deal of fear. Adopted 9/4/2004. Meesha died on 9/12/2013. 12 years and 1 day after 911.

Love and miss you, Meesha.

For more on Patrick Brown and how you can help The Paddy Brown Program http://www.paddybrownprogram.org/

Reference:

Watts, S. (2007) Retrieved from Miss You, Pat http://www.amazon.com/Miss-You-Pat-Sharon-Watts/dp/1430327049

Part II next week – Interview With A U.S. Marine Corp Veteran and his Healing Dog!