Patterson says he'll 'take time to smell the roses' after crash

By Roop Raj
Fox 2 News Reporter

It's been nearly three months since Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson was badly injured in a car crash and almost died.  He is now talking candidly about the accident and how it has changed his life.

While Patterson is used to a hectic schedule, he says he is slowing down to spend more time with his family and take care of himself.

"I think I'll take time to smell the roses, spend a little more time with the grand kids.  I was handing out candy with them a couple of nights ago on Halloween, probably something I didn't do on a regular basis over the years.  I'm going to take advantage of those opportunities when I can be granddad."

Someone out there may be asking the question whether Brooks Patterson is strong enough to lead Oakland County after this accident.  How does he answer that?

"Of course," he said.  "This is not going to diminish my ability at all.  It's changed me, but not in a sense that it's made me slower."

"I'm a firm believer that prayer does, in fact, have an impact.  I think the Lord listens and he said, 'Okay, we'll give that jerk who doesn't use his seat belt one more chance."

This accident spared him, but it also took a toll on him.  Patterson looks different.  We asked him about that.

"A 34 pound loss will make you look different.  I saw my picture in the paper and I said, 'Who is that handsome young guy."  My daughter Mary says, 'That's you, pop.'  So, yeah, I didn't even recognize myself."

"My appetite has changed.  It really has.  I stopped last night after an appearance in Detroit for a Coney Island.  I normally wolf those down, but it was not the bill of fare that I had remembered."

"I've been given a five, ten year lease, and I want to make sure that I take care of everything, everybody is going to be in good shape before I check out."

Patterson says he has never talked about his religion all that much, but he seems to have become more religious talking about his Roman Catholic faith.

Meanwhile, Patterson says he's confident but not over confident about the race against Democrat Kevin Howley.  He told me several times that he looks forward to serving again, if given the chance, for one more term.

His daughter has a joke about all of Brook's children -- Oakland County, she says, is his favorite.  You can also tell by talking to him that he also looks forward to spending time with his other family, too.