4Patriots University Class Turns Into a Celebration
4Patriots University classes are designed to help people prepare for an uncertain future.
But every once in a while, one or two of our attendees will let us know they’re planning for a very certain future. And that future might include a joyous occasion worthy of a celebration.
That was the case when Pat and Bill – who combined have attended well over 100 4Patriots University sessions – recently announced their engagement during a class.
The happy couple is planning a June wedding, and with Valentine’s Day tomorrow, we thought this would be an appropriate time to share their great news with you.
Wedding bells will be ringing
Pat and Bill live in Elkton, Maryland, which is fitting because this small town that rests comfortably in the Delaware Valley was once known as the Gretna Green of the East.
Gretna Green is a parish in Scotland that became famous for its many weddings. Early in the 20th century, Elkton became known as a favorite spot for couples to elope.
Pat and Bill are not eloping, and their families and friends couldn’t be more thrilled about that. Now they’ll be able to attend and participate in the wedding.
One of Pat’s friends is a floral designer and Pat’s brother is a musician. Each will be contributing their talents to the wedding as gifts.
From teacher to student
Bill is originally from Long Island, New York. He moved to Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania in 1993 and retired from the corporate world in 2007. He ran his own construction firm until 2015 and has continued working on home improvement projects.
He started his career as a high school teacher, then moved on to teaching drafting and electronics in a trade school. In 1984 he switched to working in the corporate world.
Bill taught adults subjects including computer-aided design, networking, pneumatics, hydraulics, and robotics.
Then he spent his final 10 years of corporate life teaching recent MBA graduates how to be consultants at Deloitte, a professional services network and accounting firm.
Hands-on preparedness
“I started prepping in 1998 in preparation for Y2K,” Bill said. “My prepping paid off in the summer of 2000 when we lost power for 10 days due to a hurricane.
“The first courses I took online in 2021 had to do with bug-out bags and security. In 2018, I had decided to downsize and build an off-grid tiny home on wheels with a solar array, composting toilet, water collection system, and woodburning stove.
“As of today, all the systems are complete and I’m working on the interior fit out of molding, cabinets, and storage spaces.
“On November 12, 2022, I made my first purchase from 4Patriots for a 4-pack of Patriot Power Cells. I attended my first 4Patriots course on June 20, 2023. It was Prepping 101: Making Assessments. In total, I have notes from 106 4Patriots sessions.”
Dancing her way into Bill’s heart
Pat’s love of the outdoors led her to Bill. In 2021 she joined a sailing trip for July 4 in which Bill was the captain.
“I love to dance and sometimes I try to get Bill to dance with me in the kitchen,” she said. “It usually works.
“I’m also learning to quilt. My mom was a seamstress and quilter, so perhaps that’s where I got it from.”
Pat also enjoys following the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. This past season the Ravens advanced to the American Football Conference divisional playoffs but fell just short against the Buffalo Bills.
Pat’s Journey
Pat grew up in the Upperco, Maryland area and lived in the outskirts of Baltimore City for many years. Among her hobbies are dancing, gardening, quilting, sailing, and hiking.
She became a Paralegal, and completed her Bachelor of Liberal Arts Degree, while working at Johns Hopkins, which also paid 80% of her education endeavors.
“I was also enrolled in classes at the University of Baltimore on the jurisprudence track,” she said, “but life took me in a different direction. I began working as a paralegal in the legal department at Johns Hopkins Hospital.”
But Pat’s career actually began while doing temp work for a doctor at Johns Hopkins, a world-renowned ophthalmologist. She remained for 26 years as his executive coordinator. She is also a contributing author to medical journals.
Attracted by power banks and food kits
For both Bill and Pat, their first 4Patriots products were Patriot Power Cells.
“I was on a sailing trip to the BVI (British Virgin Islands) and lost my phone power cell,” Bill said. “I had plugged it into an outlet and then left it in my hotel room. So that was my first purchase from 4Patriots.”
For Pat, the Patriot Power Cell was a Christmas gift. What is their favorite 4Patriots product now? Both love their 72-Hour Survival Food Kits.
“I always include the 72-Hour Kit in the auto emergency kits I put together for my adult children,” Bill said. “I’ve cooked all the 72-Hour Kit items, and I even served them at our tiny house welcome party for my daughter and her fiancé.”
“I like that kit too, and the other food kits,” Pat said. “And that’s one of the reasons I like the 4Patriots University cooking class. The chili goes great with my cornbread.”
4Patriots University classes provide a comfort zone
Pat said another reason she enjoys the 4Patriots University classes is that nothing is expected of attendees. You can be a fly on the wall or participate – your choice.
“I sat in a couple of times and appreciated that they allowed me the privacy of just being in the background and getting a feel for the audience and speakers,” she said.
Bill enjoys being able to attend preparedness classes without having to leave his home.
“I believe in lifelong learning,” he said. “I’ve been a teacher of adults for a long time, so I can relate to (4Patriots University Lead Preparedness Consultant) Seth Weller. I was in corporate America when chat first appeared. In the 1990s, I had a boss who was very astute and aware of how things were evolving in the business world.
“He anticipated the eventual shutdown of classroom learning due to 9/11, especially when it came to large companies with employees located around the country and the world. So, he had me learn how to do what people are doing in Zoom these days.”
Bill builds – and moves – a tiny house
A true DIYer, Bill built a tiny house from scratch.
“While living in my house in Pennsylvania, I built a tiny house in my backyard,” he said. “Part of the design build was to create systems and test them. Such as a water collection system and pumping water to the storage tank in the ceiling to see if it would freeze. Fortunately, it didn’t.
“It was on double-axle wheels, and when I moved it to Elkton, 13 minutes from where we live now, it got stuck in the mud at the site. But we got it out and set it up. I ended up moving 40 miles south and Pat moved an hour north so we could be together.”
“It’s perfect,” Pat said. “Now we’re close to his children and grandchild, and my family. One of the things that drew me to Bill was his self-sufficiency. That’s part of what makes us a good fit because I’m the same way. We both enjoy recycling and looking for ways to reuse items.”
First meeting results in fireworks – literal & figurative
So, Bill and Pat, how did you meet?
“We met 4½ years ago on the Fourth of July,” Bill said. “A friend of mine had organized a sailing trip on a 52-foot boat out of Annapolis.
We visited different locations in the Chesapeake Bay and watched fireworks. Someone was unable to attend, and at the last minute Pat came aboard to fill the vacancy.”
“I didn’t know my roommate on the boat,” Pat said, “but Bill asked her to ask me if it was OK to give him my phone number. I said ‘yes,’ and it turned out to be a really nice trip. It was a nice way to meet someone. I was hoping he would call me when we returned.”
Sure enough Bill did, and the rest is history. The couple eventually traveled to Europe together, including Spain and Portugal, where they went sailing. They also sailed in BVI.
The relationship continued to progress quite nicely. As Christmas 2024 approached, Bill decided to pop the question.
Family gets front row seat to proposal
“I had my mother’s diamond ring and decided to give it to Pat as an engagement ring,” Bill said. “I had it cleaned and got it ready and put it in a Christmas wrapping.
“We were going to her brother’s house for Christmas, and I thought, ‘Why not give it to her in front of her family?’ I gave the ring to Pat’s sister-in-law and asked her to bring it out at the end of our Secret Santa gift giving as an extra gift for Pat.
“She did that, but before Pat could open it, one of her sisters asked loudly, ‘Is that a diamond ring?’ I kept quiet, but then her brother yelled, ‘Well, are you going to answer?’ Still, Pat was curious when she opened it.”
“I was totally surprised,” she said. “We hadn’t talked about rings, and as I opened it, I was shaking and tearing up. Even Bill started getting emotional. I said, ‘The answer is definitely yes,’ and everyone applauded.
“It was very romantic. I can’t tell you how much Bill means to me in my life. We’re a good fit. He’s a handsome guy, easy going, and really genuine.”
More on the couple’s wedding plans in a moment.
Why is preparedness important?
Bill has been into preparing for over 25 years, and since meeting him, Pat is now preparing as well. Why do they think it’s important to begin and maintain a lifestyle of preparedness?
“We live in a day and age globally where preparedness is an immediate concern,” Pat said. “It’s been proven over and over again.
“We know that sometimes family members decide they don’t want to spend money on preparedness products. Fortunately, 4Patriots has classes about how to talk to family and friends, addressing their reluctance about this. We tell them that even our dog, Leo, has a bug-out bag ready.”
Bill added, “I’ve had multiple experiences with disasters. I’ve lived through seven hurricanes, one tornado, and too many power outages to count.
“I lost power for over a week due to a hurricane. Now I understand much better about water storage and alternative sources of electricity.”
What about those still on the fence?
Both Pat and Bill want others to comprehend the importance of being prepared. What would they say to those still on the fence about getting ready for emergencies?
“I would say that preparedness might seem daunting at first for a lot of people,” Pat said. “They might ask, ‘Can I really do this?’ But starting small and building up is the way to go. You don’t have to do it overnight.
“I really appreciate the experience that (4Patriots University Preparedness Consultants) Morgan and Shelby, and Seth, bring to the classes. They guide us along without telling us what to do.”
Bill added, “I would say to those who haven’t prepared, ‘I guess it’s a good thing you don’t live in California, or Florida, or Texas, or the Midwest, because all of those states and many others have experienced fires or severe weather that make preparedness a necessity.’
“Everyone needs to have a bug-out bag filled and ready to grab at a moment’s notice. That way you won’t hesitate if you have to evacuate quickly in the case of a fire or other crisis.”
Sailing into the matrimonial sea
Pat and Bill won’t be going out for dinner on Valentine’s Day – “Every place will be so crowded,” Pat said – but they have big plans for a June wedding.
“We have a venue picked out and a reception just 10 blocks away,” Pat said. “We’re getting married at the beautiful Havre de Grace Maritime Museum next to the Concord Point Lighthouse.
“You know, we met while sailing, we sailed while dating, and now we’re getting married at a sailing site.”
And for Pat and Bill, romantic winds are carrying them somewhere special together.
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