Sailing Home – The story of how one iconic song, one lifelong friendship, and an extraordinary community made Patrick’s Christopher Cross wish come true.

Patrick Armstrong is the kind of man who helped build the heartland of America. For decades, he constructed and maintained communications towers across Indiana and around the country, working long days and nights high above the ground through heat, snow, wind, and rain, and occasionally above the clouds. It was the definition of demanding work that required resilience, and a willingness to look after the people around you.

Patrick arrived at the Morning Light Home after a long and difficult medical journey, with this past winter having been particularly hard for him. In one conversation as he settled in we asked him what he was most proud of in life. He didn’t mention his career, or anything he had owned, but his reply spoke to the kind of guy he is. He simply remarked:

“I’ve never deliberately hurt anyone. I’ve always tried to be the guy to look out for people, even when it’s been tough to do so.”

Like every individual who comes through Morning Light Home’s doors, Patrick has a unique story. Part of how we honor each new resident is through our Making Memories Program, where we discover whether there is a special event we can make happen, something that embraces and celebrates their interests, a passion that has defined their life’s journey, a “last wish” we can help make come true. As we got to know Patrick, we discovered a huge part of his life: is a love of music.

After seeing Patrick’s welcome post on our Facebook page and our hope to make his Making Memories event about live music, Julia Shildmyer and our friends at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts offered to help with concert tickets.

Then came one of those remarkable coincidences that simply couldn’t have been planned. The famous 80’s songwriter Christopher Cross was on his world tour and would soon be performing at the Palladium in Carmel, less than twenty minutes from the Morning Light Home, at exactly the moment Patrick was well enough to attend.

This was incredible synchronicity because throughout his illness, Christopher Cross’ music had become a constant companion. His songs, especially the 1980 hit Sailing, had been replaying in Patrick’s mind through surgeries, treatments, and some of the hardest days of his journey.

When we told Patrick that Christopher Cross was coming to Carmel and everyone at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts had generously donated tickets and a private VIP box, he could hardly believe it. It all seemed a little unreal.

Shortly before the sold-out show began, Patrick and Traci climbed aboard Christopher Cross’ tour bus, what could have been a brief greeting became something entirely different. Christopher welcomed them warmly and spent nearly half an hour simply talking. Sharing stories about life, music, illness, friendship, and hope. Later, Patrick reflected on that meeting.

“I felt so blessed to have the opportunity to meet Christopher and attend the concert. It wasn’t just meeting someone whose music meant so much to me, but how genuine Christopher was. He shared personal stories about his own health journey, and I really connected with him because of it. It felt less like meeting a celebrity and more like talking with a friend.”

Before performing his iconic song Sailing, Christopher Cross dedicated the song to Patrick. The song that had offered comfort through some of life’s hardest days was now being performed live by the man who wrote it, in Patrick’s honor.

Traci said that as she looked across at the dear friend she had known for more than forty years while Sailing was being performed, she was filled with emotion.

“Attending this concert with Patrick was incredibly special,” she said. “Knowing this may be the last concert he ever attends, and understanding that our time with him is limited, made every moment even more meaningful. It was a reminder to cherish the people we love and the memories we create together.

“When Christopher Cross began singing Sailing, I found myself in tears because I knew how much that song meant to Patrick and how much comfort it had brought him during difficult times. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to listen to it again without crying.”

We thank Patrick and Traci for letting us share their story. To help Morning Light Making Memories Program please visit: https://www.morninglightinc.org/lastwish/

Making Memories Program