A Partial Biography of Patrick A. Long

According to my Birth Certificate, I was born in Mt. Carmel Hospital in the City of Columbus, Township of Franklin, County of Franklin, State of Ohio on the 19th of July 1963. I make that statement because I was rather young then, and don't remember the event. I have a record showing I was 20½" and weighed in at 8 pounds, seven ounces. It also states that my hair was brown, and my eyes blue.

Right now, I've not much data on just where I was between 1963 and 1968, aside from being in Ohio.

Sometime in 1968, after Mom was divorced from Pops (and married to Richard Moss), the family moved to St. Augustine, Florida, and remained there until early 1970. We lived in the Talamoto Trailer Park in lot #9 (anyone else hearing the Beatles in their mind right now?). I have many memories of that brief time, and have some links to various St. Augustine sites on my Links Page.

24 March 1970 - the family moved back to Columbus, Ohio - I think we shacked with the Grandparents for a little while while the trailer was being moved.

13 July 1970 - Moved again, this time to Lancaster to Taylor Trailer Court, Lot #45. We lived there until June or July (I think) of 1972 - after Mom & Richard divorced.

We moved only about 10 miles or so away, to the Village of Sugar Grove. Though I use it as a permanent address for my military career, I actually only lived there until January 1984 when I left for boot camp, San Diego.

From 1984 to 2004, I'd been here and there on both coasts for my duties in the Navy (see my Assignments Page).

While in Florida, I started my education (well, alright - Mother started my education).

First Grade - 1969-1970
Teacher: Miss Martha Crookshank
(In first grade, it was noted that it was difficult to keep me busy - I learned fast.)

    Fourth Grade - 1972-1973
        Teachers: Homeroom - Mrs. Cummings; Math - Mrs. Rice; Phys. Ed. - Mr. Moore; Reading - Mrs. Fortner
        Extra-Curricular Activities: Cub Scouts (Joined 26 September 1972)

    Fifth Grade - 1973-1974
        Teachers: Homeroom: Miss Coutillier
        Extra-Curricular Activities: Cub Scouts

    Sixth Grade - 1974-1975
        Teachers: Homeroom: Mrs. Fiex
        Extra-Curricular Activities: Boy Scouts, Troop 240, Lancaster, Ohio

    Seventh Grade - 1975-1976
        Teachers: English - Mrs. Sharp; Math - Mrs. Rowles; Science - Mrs. Stoughten; Social Studies - Mr. Matthews; Band - Mr. Jeffrey Shellhammer
        Extra-Curricular Activities: Boy Scouts, Troop 240, Lancaster, Ohio

    Eighth Grade - 1976-1977
        Teachers: English - Mrs. Sharp; Math - Mrs. Pool; Science - Mr. Winegardner; History - Mr. Matthews; Band - Mr. Jeffrey Shellhammer
        Extra-Curricular Activities: Boy Scouts, Troop 240, Lancaster, Ohio (Left January 1977)

    Ninth Grade - 1977-1978
        Teachers: English - Mrs. Keating; Algebra - Mr. Carpenter; Science - Mr. Mourly; Home Economics - Mrs. Harrison; Phys. Ed. - Mrs. Harrison; Band - Mr. Jeffrey Shellhammer
        Extra-Curricular Activities: Junior Achievement

Tenth Grade - 1978-1979
Teachers: English - Ms. Davis; Personal Typing - Mrs. Riley; Industrial Arts - Mr. Huston; Home Economics - Mrs. Stotten; Phys. Ed. - Mr. Fiex; Health - Mr. Wagner; Band - Mr. Smithson
Extra-Curricular Activities: FHA

    Eleventh Grade - 1979-1980
        Teachers: English - Ms. Davis & Miss Summers; History - Mr. Dean; Accounting - Mr. Funke; Driver's Education - Mr. Fiex; Phys. Ed. - Mr. McGrady; Chorus - Miss Johnson; Band - Mr. Smithson
        Extra-Curricular Activities: FHA, Media Club

    Twelfth Grade - 1980-1981
       Teachers: English - Mrs. Keating; Government (Principles of Democracy) - Mr. Dean; Phys. Ed. - Mr. Vickroy; Chorus (Vocal Music) - Miss Johnson; Band - Mr. Wagner
        Extra-Curricular Activities: FHA, Media Club

I puttered around the house for about six months before deciding I wanted to learn something more to my benefit. In January 1982, I started at Columbus Business University with the aim of getting a degree.

So far as furthering education, the Navy has taught me many things (Assignments Page) and I have self-taught myself others by utilizing the library. As well, these days, the internet has been a terrific source of information.

02 August 2000 - I had conferred upon me a Doctor of Divinity degree from Universal Life Church.

13 March 2001 - I had conferred upon me a Masters Degree in Religion from Universal Life Church.

30 July 2001 - I had conferred upon me a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Religion from Universal Life Church.

From January 1984 to 2004, my work experience was the Navy, as can be seen on my Assignments Page. However, before joining the Navy, I had experience in various fields.

From 1980 to 1984, I had off and on work as a silversmith. I learned much of the trade from Ron Diddle while he was married to Mom. That's an experience I enjoyed, but truthfully look on it as more of a hobby than employment.

From September to December 1981, I worked Delivery for Dominos Pizza. There were a couple reasons for stopping work there, one of which was my intention to attend college.

Then, from 02 February to 04 May 1982, I worked for Mother's Pizza Parlour as Busboy & Dishwasher. I started there because I found that my school schedule wasn't as hectic as I originally anticipated, and I enjoyed working with the staff there. However, in the next quarter it did get where I needed more time for class work, so I decided to leave that one go.

After graduation from Columbus Business University, I put time in at Paradise Ranch from June until November 1983 - primarily as a Block Mason to construct the "barn", and also as feeder and what-not for the rabbits (not to mention the worms...). During this time I was making applications for work related to my degree, but found the "Catch-22" situation of not having at least 2 years experience in the field... and being unable to get the experience without being hired. I got fed up with that in September, and made a visit to the local recruiting branch to talk with the Navy recruiter. I tested high enough to do just about anything I wanted. I took and additional test for the Nuclear field, but missed the cut-off by two points. My physical showed I had an ear problem that kept me out of Submarines, so I concentrated my interest to the surface fleet, and decided that though Data Processing appealed, the "A" school had a 12 month wait before starting, and I'd have probably been bored there having already had a degree. I decided I wanted to get into the hardware, having learned something of the software. I could get experience in the hardware aspect with several ratings, but at the time, Sonar Technician caught my attention (actually, I seem to remember it was brought to my attention because it was so undermanned at the time). So I signed the paperwork for the Delayed Entry Program, and waited until January of 1984 to go to San Diego for Recruit Training.

My first marriage was to Lorretta Alberta Angel Curry in San Diego, California on 17 October 1986. Our marriage was later annulled, due to the fact that her previous divorce could not be declared official, based on where the divorce was filed - in other words, she was still legally married to another man. At the time we were notified of this little fact, we were living in Vallejo, California while I was assigned to USS Samuel Gompers. And, with one thing and another, we went our own ways after that was resolved. We remained in contact, on relatively friendly terms, until after the death of our son, James.

My second (or first legal) marriage. Carrie Lynn Cain, of Texas, consented to become my bride, and we were married on 22 May, 1993. We used the postcard below to announce our marriage:

Unfortunately, in February of 2002, Carrie came to a decision that I was not meeting her needs, and asked for a dissolution of the marriage. On 20 May 2002, the judge signed the paperwork, dissolving the marriage.

On the anniversary of the divorce, I wrote a poem. A few days later, I was solicited for an unpublished poem for Noble House's Theatre Of The Mind (ISBN: 0-7951-5239-6) 2003. My poem, A Year Later, is the first poem in the book. So now I can add, "Internationally Published Poet" to my resume... even if it is via a vanity press.

A Year Later

First with graceful strokes of a pen,
    Then the judge’s gavel did thunder,
Two day short of nine years,
    The marriage was torn asunder.

Happiness was no longer hers
    With the status of being a wife
Her reasons were many, for she felt
    Too many things were missing from life.

But regardless of the reasons
    And excuses she did provide
He knew better than to try
    Demanding that she stay by his side.

For he knew very well love cannot
    Survive under duress or force
And so he regretfully did agree
    To her request for a divorce

* * *

We had started out as friends
    Sharing all the joys of life.
Then we decided to marry
    Becoming husband and wife.

But my friend, somehow unnoticed,
    Had silently slipped away
And then later it was my wife
    Who decided not to stay.

Leaving me with only memories
    Of the woman who used to be
Friend and companion, lover and wife,
    Who shared with me both tragedy and glee.

* * *

Over nine years of loving,
    Of bad times there were few,
I had looked forward
    To many years growing old with you.

But sadly that is not to be, and
    To my letters you do not reply.
Leaving these my final words to you –
    I love you,
        I miss you,
            Good-bye

© 2003 – Patrick A. Long

Unless I decide to adopt, I will be having no further children. Due to Carrie's existing heart condition, and a previous miscarriage, I decided that I would rather go without more children than to go with my wife, and she supported my decision - so I got "fixed". This is now something I've come to regret, with James' death.

In High School, I had a nickname of "Mouse" from my classmates. Some say it was because I was quiet, a few others because of a certain facial expression I made when exasperated. My Class Data on the my Graduation Class page also lists "Pat" as a Nickname, though I never acknowledged it. Few people do I respond to the name "Pat" - very few. Most that used to call me "Pat" do so as a result of my insistence that my name is Patrick as a way of trying to get my goat.

On my first ship (see my Assignments Page) I received both a nickname and an alias. The nickname is "Exidor" (anyone remember Mork and Mindy from TV?), bestowed upon me by a shipmate that came upon me having a conversation with no one at all while troubleshooting some equipment. I still use this nickname (as evidenced by my e-mail address). Another alias was bestowed upon me, believe it or not, by a Columbia House Records data entry clerk who evidently could not make heads or tales of "STG2 Long, P. A. ", and so managed to garble it to "Sigs Fong Pa" - though s/he did get the rest of the address correct. I don't use this alias very often... but I did get the account name corrected with a phone call.

Winter Quarter - 1982 Data Processing I, Accounting I, Business Mathematics, Beginning Typing 520	Spring Quarter - 1982 Accounting II, Data Processing II, Statistics
Summer Quarter - 1982 Psychology, RPG II	Fall Quarter - 1982 COBOL, Economics, Communications I
Winter Quarter - 1983 Applications, Principles of Business, Communications II, Professional Development, Literature	Spring Quarter - 1983 Advanced Operations, Business Law, Communications III