A Conversation with Pat: Life, Love, and Struggle

As we begin our conversation with Pat, it becomes clear that he is a man on a mission to take control of his life. He starts by asking if someone would rather go back to jail or the hospital, suggesting that medication may not be enough to solve his problems. His concern for Nikki, a woman he cares deeply about, is evident in his words as he tries to reassure her that he will do everything in his power to get his life together and make her proud.

Pat's strategy for success involves hard work, positivity, and a willingness to learn from his mistakes. He emphasizes the importance of doing everything possible to achieve his goals, and if that means taking risks, then so be it. His confidence is evident as he discusses his latest business venture, which involves snapping up commercial real estate at a low cost and flipping it for profit. However, despite his optimism, Pat acknowledges that life can be overwhelming, and sometimes the pressure becomes too much to bear.

Pat's personal struggles are revealed when he opens up about his feelings of suffocation and desperation. He talks about how his family, job, and other responsibilities have taken a toll on him, leaving him feeling drained and anxious. Despite these challenges, Pat refuses to give up, instead choosing to focus on the present moment and do his best with what he has. His words of wisdom offer a much-needed reminder that happiness is not always easy to achieve, but it can be found in the simple act of taking care of oneself.

Pat's relationships with others are also worth exploring. He discusses his plans for a party with his friend Ronnie, where he will wear a jersey bearing the name of DeSean Jackson, a football player who has achieved success despite facing adversity. Pat's own experiences and struggles serve as a reminder that even those who appear to be on top may be struggling beneath the surface.

One of the most poignant moments in our conversation comes when Pat talks about his job loss. Despite this setback, he chooses not to dwell on the negative aspects of the situation, instead focusing on the positive outcomes that can come from failure. His attitude is a powerful reminder that setbacks are an inevitable part of life, but it's how we respond to them that truly matters.

As our conversation comes to a close, Pat discusses his plans for the future with his girlfriend, Nikki. He expresses his desire to start a family and build a life together, and it's clear that he is committed to making their relationship work. The couple's dynamic is built on mutual respect and support, and it's clear that they are in this together.

In the final moments of our conversation, Pat reveals that Tiffany, Veronica's sister, has passed away due to circumstances surrounding her death. This somber moment serves as a reminder that life is fragile and can be cut short at any time. However, even in the face of tragedy, Pat chooses to focus on the positive aspects of life and find ways to make the most of every situation.

The conversation with Pat comes to an end, but his words of wisdom and insight will stay with us long after our conversation has concluded. His struggles and triumphs serve as a reminder that life is complex and multifaceted, and that it's how we respond to its challenges that truly matters.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enTell me one thing.Would you liketo be a guy who goes back to jailor to the hospital?Hmm?So takeyour medication and if you do fine,we'll reduce them.Nikki's waiting for me to get inshape and get my life in order, andthen she's gonna be with me.Andthat's better than any medication.Pat, there's a possibility, andI want you to be prepared for it,that she may not return.True loveis about letting her go and seeingif she returns.In the meantime,if you listen to that song, I don'twant you to fall apart.So geta strategy, okay?You need one.Let me say something,I gotta say something.Okay.This is what I believe to be true.This is what I learned in the hospital.You have to do everythingyou can, you have to work yourhardest, and if you do,if you stay positive,you have a shot at a silver lining.Work on a strategy, okay?Hey, my friend Ronnie's having thisparty on Sunday night and it's likea real hoity-toity thing and hiswife, Veronica's a real stickler for...I don't know, my mom got this Gap outfit shewants me to wear, but I wanna wear a jerseythat my brother, Jake,got me from the Eagles.Which jersey?DeSean Jackson.DeSean Jackson is the man.Well, that settles that.Pat!What are you doin'?I gotta go, man.Why?I can't stay, come on.I made amistake, I shouldn't have worn this.Dude, you're fine.I like that jersey.I wish I was wearing that jersey.I feel like an idiot.Are you comfortable?Veronica's not gonna like it.Get over here.Plus you got a tie on.Don't worry about it, you're the guestof honor.You come however you wanna come.Really?Get over here.DeSean Jackson's in the house!You mean rookie of the year?Yeah.DeSean Jackson?DeSean Jackson?Oh, you wore a jersey to dinner.Isn't it awesome?Not for dinner.Look, he got us flowers.Oh, that's sweet.That'ssweet, Pat.That's lovely.And wine.Hey.Hey.Check this out.We justredid the whole thing.Wow!Tremendous.Tremendous.Isn't it great?Tremendous.Yeah, man, I'm, I'mthinking of redoing it again.Why?Because.Gotta be makinga lot of paper to do that.Yeah, we're doing allright, man.I can't complain.Isn't the market down, though?It is down, but you know, she wantsmore, so I'm giving her more, man.Hey, you know my dad lost his pension.I'm sorry, man.Yeah.A lot of people.My uncle, too.Really?Yeah, but you know what?Nodisrespect, it's not personal,but this is the time to strike.You start snapping up commercialreal estate... cheap... flip itover, you flip it over andthat's when you make the money.But the pressure...it's like...You okay?I'm not okay.Don't tellanybody.Listen to me.I feel like I'm getting crushed and-Crushed by what?Everything.The family, the baby,the job, the fucking dicks at work,and it's like, you know, like I'mtrying to do this, you know, and,and, and I'm like... suffocating.Holy shit.You can't be happy all the time.Who told you you can't be happy?It's all right.You just doyour best, you have no choice.That's not true at all.You just can't.Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie!I hope you're okay withVeronica's sister coming over.You okay with that?Who?Veronica's sister.Tiffany.Tiffany and... Tommy?Yeah.Just Tiffany.What happened to Tommy?He died.Tommy died?Cops die.How'd he die?Please, don't bring it up.No, how did he die?How did who die?Hey, Tiffany!This is Pat.Pat, my sister-in-law Tiffany.You look nice.Thank you.I'm not flirting with you.Oh, I didn't think you were.I just see that you made an effortand I'm gonna be better with mywife, I'm working on that.Iwanna acknowledge her beauty.I never used to do that.I do that now.'Cause we're gonna be better thanever...Nikki.Just practicing.How'd Tommy die?What about your job?I just got fired, actually.Oh, really?How?I mean, I'm sorry.How'd that happen?Does it really matter?Baby, how's it going?Great, great.We're gonna go on a tour now.Let's go see the house.Come on, let's go for the tour.I've, I've been planning thisforever.I love our house.I love our house.I'mreally excited about it.Come on.Guess what it is.Oh, it's a television.It'sa computer screen.Nope.Just keep going, keep going, keep going.It's a brick oven, it's a brickoven.It's a light.It's a...Ooh, ooh, warmer, warmer, warmer....it's a drawer at a morguewhere they pull out deadbodies and shoot them with formaldehyde.Where would the body go, though?It's a joke!It's a... fireplace.In the middle of the wall?We have a port in everyroom.Gimme an iPod.Who, who doesn't have an iPod?Well, I don't have an iPod.I don't even have a phone.They won't let me make any calls.They think I'm gonna call Nikki.Don't worry about it.Don't focus on that.I would call Nikki.I'm actually gonna give you oneof my iPods.I have an old one.Gimme your iPod.Give it to me.Thankyou, baby, thank you.Of all the rooms thereare iPod ports in,I'm happy you broughtus into the bathroom.I can play music forthe baby in any room.Can you play \"Ride theLightning\" by Metallica?Pat was a history sub atthe high school, Tiffany.Ask him about anypresident, he knows 'em all.Here's a fun fact.You knowwhere the term \"OK\" comes from?No.No, I don't.Where?Well, Martin Van Buren, the eighthpresident of the United States ofAmerica, is from Kinderhook, New York...Oh....and he was part of a club, amen's club, called Old Kinderhook.And if you were cool, youwere in the club, they'd say,\"That guy's OK.\" 'Cause hewas in the Old Kinderhooks.Really?Yeah.Pretty cool, right?That's interesting.You know, Tiffany's been doingthis dance thing for years and she'sreal good at it.She's gonna becompeting at the Ben Franklin Hotel.Oh, really?My wife lovesdance.Nikki loves dance.Why do you have totalk about me like that?I'm just bragging about you.Can'tI brag about my little sister?Don't talk about me in the third person.Please, gimme a break.I'm right here.Just be nice.Just be nice.Wow, wow, wow.Fascinating.Sorry.I don't wanna be mean.I know.I know, I know.What meds are you on?Me?None.I used to be onLithium and Seroquel and Abilify,but I don't take themanymore, no.They make me foggyand they also make me bloated.Yeah, I was on Xanax and Effexor,but I agree, I wasn't as sharp,so I stopped.You ever take Klonopin?Klonopin?Yeah.Right?Jesus.It's like, \"What?What dayis it?\"How about Trazodone?Trazodone!Oh, it flattens you out.I mean, you are done.It takes the lightright out of your eyes.God, I bet it does.I'm tired.I wanna go.No.No, no, no, no.We haven't,we haven't even finished the saladyet, or the duck.I madethe Fire and Ice cake.I said I'm tired.Are yougonna walk me home or what?You mean me?Yeah, you.Are you gonna walk me home?You have poor socialskills.You have a problem.I have a problem?You saymore inappropriate things thanappropriate things.You scare people.I tell the truth.But you're mean.What?I'm not telling the truth?Um, maybe I should drivethem home separately?You can drive them both home.Now.Stop talking about me in third person.You can take Tiffany home first.You love it when I have problems.You love it, Von, because then youcan be the good one.Just say it.No...I don't.I don't.Ijust wanted to have a nice,I just wanted to havea nice dinner.Oh, God.What is your problem?!Nothing's my problem!I'mfine.I'm tired and I wanna go.Come on, are you ready?You really, you reallywanna go right now?Yes, I really wanna go!It's been great.Okay, guys, the baby is sleeping!Sorry.Listen, I haven't dated sincebefore my marriage so I don'treally remember how this works.How what works?I saw the way you werelooking at me, Pat.You felt it, I felt it, don'tlie.We're not liars like they are.I live in the addition aroundback, which is completelyseparate from my parents' house,so there's no chance of them walkingin on us.I hate the fact that youwore a football jersey to dinnerbecause I hate football, but you canfuck me if you turn the lights off, okay?How old are you?Old enough to have a marriage endand not wind up in a mental hospital.Look, I had a really good time tonight andI think you're really pretty but I'm married.You're married.So am I.No, that's confusing.He's dead.\n"