Joe

Almost thirty-five years of sweltering summer dog days have meander along to the crisp coolness of a fall morning since I last heard the laugh of my friend.   Some of us are destined to be old men with great grandchildren playing at our feet as we watch and smile.  My friend's journey on God's green earth reached its summit when his eyes were filled with the teenage wonderment of chasing after that girl that made his head turn.

Like many friendships among boys, my friendship with Joe started with a fight.  Not sure what we fought about but we became fast friends.  Smart mouths and the goofiness of being teenagers in the 1970's gave us a common bond.  Wrestling gave us a common purpose.

Joe persevered through the lost of both his parents before he was in junior high.  He saw humor in every opportunity and was quick to make friends.  He lived as if somehow he knew that his life would end before it truly had a chance to begin.

Joe and I shared many nights of adolescent mischief and since my mom will read this reflection I will leave those stories back in 1979. I will just remember with a devilish smile that we had too much fun.

Joe and I knew before his accident that seeing each other daily as friends was coming to an end.  We talked that I was leaving for college and in a year that he would be leaving for the Army.   He had earned the highest scores possible on the Army's aptitude test.   We agreed that we would have one more night of craziness and figure out how to stay in touch.  We would always be friends.

Words are not possible to describe my heartache when by friend passed over the bridge to the promise land.  Three decades later I know now that there are no words to describe the sudden loss of a loved one or friend.  We never had that one last night.  All you can do is cherish the memories that you shared and celebrate life.

Those days with Joe and his sudden loss taught me valuable life lessons.  Summer always brings back memories of Joe.   It is not his sudden loss that I remember.  It is the goofiness of two teenage boys that makes this graying old man smile.

I learned from Joe to laugh everyday, to smile when you’re in trouble because it was worth it, and to always look for the next adventure.  Joe lived life as if there was no tomorrow.  He lived his days to their fullest.

Most importantly, I learned to never wait to let a friend know that they are important to you.  You just never know when someone's life path will lead him or her into the light.

 So to my loyal and accepting friends always know that you are and will always be important to me.  Friends are family and family is friends.  In memory of Joe, lets laugh everyday and look for the next adventure.