JOE WAS A WONDERFUL PERSON THAT I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SPEND ALMOST 25 YEARS BY HIS SIDE.
JOE WAS A WONDERFUL PERSON, WITH AN OUTGOING PERSONALITY, 
HIS WARM SMILE, AND HIS BIGGER THAN LIFE HEART.



I CAN STILL REMEBER THE DAY THAT JOE ASKED ME OUT ON A DATE. IT WAS FRIDAY JUNE 10, 1982.
I WILL NEVER FORGET IT, HE ASKED ME IN FRONT OF AN ENTIRE ROOM FULL OF MEN. HE WAS WORKING AT BILLO'S SERVICE STATION, AND I USED TO GO IN THERE ALL THE TIME JUST TO SEE HIM. 

BUT THIS DAY WAS DIFFERENT, A LOT OF THE LOCAL COAL MINERS WOULD STOP IN THERE BEFORE WORK, AND I WENT IN TO GET SOMETHING, AND WHEN I PAID FOR WHAT EVER IT WAS, HE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID"""WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO GO OUT WITH ME???""""
TO WHICH I REPLIED WHENEVER YOU WANT.
THE FOLLOWING THURSDAY WHICH WAS JUNE 16 WE WENT ON OUR FIRST DATE. 

AFTER A MINOR MISHAP,( HE WENT TO THE WRONG HOUSE) (WHERE ANOTHER GIRL, THAT LIKED HIM LIVED.) I CAN STILL SEE WHAT HE WAS WEARING, A BLUE "CANARY COTTAGE T SHIRT, BLUE JEANS, WHITE HIGH TOP TENNIS SHOES THAT WEREN'T TIED. AND I HAD ON A YELLOW AND WHITE STRIPPED MINI SKIRT, WITH WHITE TENNIS SHOES.  I THINK I STILL HAVE THAT SKIRT TOO....
HE THEN CALLED AND FINALLY MADE IT TO THE RIGHT HOUSE.
I CAN REMEBER THAT EVENING LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY, BUT I WON'T GIVE DETAILS. IT WAS THE BEGINING OF WHAT WAS TO BE THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE.



WHEN WE FIRST WERE DATING WE SPENT EVERY POSSIBLE MINUTE TOGETHER. WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH MONEY SO WE DID ALOT OF PICNICING, AND THINGS THAT DIDN'T COST ALOT. BUT WE HAD ALOT OF GREAT TIMES.




WE MOSTLY JUST RODE AROUND IN HIS CAR LISTENING TO MUSIC ( SAMMY HAGAR) TO BE EXACT. WE WORE THE FIRST CASSETTE OUT SO WE HAD TO GET ANOTHER ONE. EVEN TODAY WHEN I HEAR ONE OF THOSE GREAT SONGS, IT BRINGS A SMILE TO MY FACE, JUST REMEMBERING RIDING AROUND WITH THE MUSIC REALLY LOUD, DOING NOTHING. 



IT DIDN'T TAKE US VERY LONG AT ALL TO TELL EACH OTHER THAT WE LOVED EACH OTHER. WE KNEW IT FROM THE START. IT JUST FELT RIGHT. 



 
I'LL NEVER FORGET THE NIGHT HE ASKED ME TO MARRY HIM.
 IT WAS OCTOBER 1ST. HIS MOM KNEW HE HAD THE RING, AND WAS GOING TO ASK ME. I CAN REMEMBER HER COMING THROUGH THE HOUSE AND CRYING , BUT I HAD NO IDEA WHY. NOT TIL LATER THAT IS. IT WAS 106 DAYS AFTER OUR FIRST DATE.



THE DAY WE TOOK OFF TO GET MARRIED NO ONE KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT IT, WE HAD CALLED A FRIEND WHO WAS A PREACHER, AND ASKED IF HE COULD DO IT.


WE WENT TO HIS HOUSE ,THERE WAS RANDY THE PREACHER, HIS WIFE, HIS MOTHER AND 2 VERY SMALL CHILDREN THERE. THAT WAS IT. NOTHING FANCY, WE GOT MARRIED STANDING IN FRONT OF HIS CHRISTMAS TREE.

WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ANY MONEY TO PAY  RANDY, BUT HE DIDN'T CARE ,, I THINK HE COULD SEE THE LOVE IN OUR EYES.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A HONEYMOON, WE SPENT OUR FIRST NIGHT OF MARRIAGE ON HIS MOTHERS COUCH. 

ALL THESE YEARS LATER AND WE NEVER GOT TO TAKE OUR HONEYMOON. 



LOVE IS A MOMENT THAT LASTS FOREVER....

I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT WE FEEL IN LOVE AT FIRST SITE. JOE AND I WERE SOULMATES FROM THE START, WE TRULY LOVED EACH OTHER DEEPLY. WE DIDN'T HAVE TO SPEAK A WORD. NOT A DAY WENT BY THAT WE DIDN'T TELL EACH OTHER THAT WE LOVED THE OTHER. JOE AND I SPENT EVERY OPPORTUNITY TRYING TO MAKE THE OTHER ONE HAPPY. THESE LAST 25 YEARS HAVE BEEN THE ABSOLUTE BEST I COULD EVER ASK FOR. I WOULDN'T CHANGE A THING ,,,EXCEPT NOVEMBER 18, 2005.


JOE AND I ALWAYS LOVED WATCHING THE FIREWORKS. NO MATTER WHERE THEY WERE HE WOULD ALWAYS TAKE ME TO SEE THEM. HE ALWAYS KNEW HOW MUCH I ENJOYED THEM AND WOULD MAKE SURE WE GOT TO GO EVERY 4TH OF JULY OR ANY OTHER CELEBRATION THAT WAS HAVING FIREWORKS, WE WOULD BE THERE.


I WILL NEVER FORGET WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT WE WERE HAVING A BABY. BOY WAS THAT A SHOCK. BUT EVERYTHING WENT OK DURING THE PREGNANCY, WE HAD NO IDEA AND DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW IF IT WAS A BOY OR GIRL.
I BEGGED JOE TO GO INTO THE DELIVERY ROOM WITH ME, BUT HE JUST KEPT TELLING ME NO." I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO IN THERE" THAT WAS HIS RESPONSE.


I REMEMBER WHAT JOE DID TO ME WHEN WE FIRST FOUND OUT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A BABY.
NO ONE KNEW BUT US, THAT THERE WAS EVEN A CHANCE. WE WENT TO THE DR. AFTER SEVERAL AT HOME TESTS WERE TAKEN, AND IT WAS CONFIRMED WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A BABY.

SO WE WENT TO TELL THE FAMILIES ABOUT OUR GREAT NEWS.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EVENTS THAT LED UP TO US TELLING HIS PARENTS, I CAN ONLY GUESS THAT IT WAS BECAUSE HE DIDN'T PULL ANY FUNNY BUSINESS WITH ME WITH CONNIE AND JIM.

BUT HE SURE GOT ME WITH MY MOM AND DAD.
IT WAS A VERY NICE WARM DAY, AND WHEN WE GOT TO MY PARENTS HOME THEY WERE SITTING ON THE FRONT PORCH.
WE WENT UP SAT DOWN AND CHATTED FOR A WHILE WHEN, ONE OF MY PARENTS ASKED JOE IF HE WOULD TAKE THEIR CAR TO PUT GAS IN IT. AND OF COURSE JOE SAID HE WOULD,
AND HE GOES GETS INTO THE CAR AND STARTS TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, NOW I AM THINKING OK WE WILL WAIT TIL HE COMES BACK AND TELL THEM,,,,

NNNNOOOOO HE HAD OTHER IDEAS.

HE COMES BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY, PUTS THE CAR IN REVERSE AGAIN, AND YELLS OUT THE WINDOW,,,
"""TELL THEM WHY YOU WENT TO THE DR. TODAY"""
AND HE LEAVES.
I COULD HAVE STRANGLED HIM...
SO HE LEFT ME THERE ALL BY MY SELF TO TELL MY PARENTS.
I THINK HE WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS, I THINK THAT IS WHY HE TOOK OFF ON ME.





THE NIGHT I WENT INTO LABOR WITH JESSICA, I WOKE HIM UP AROUND MIDNIGHT AND TOLD HIM IT WAS TIME TO GO. HE JUMPED OUT OF BED AND GRABBED HIS CLOTHES AND GOT DRESSES, MEANWHILE I AM STILL LAYING ON THE BED,,,I CAN STILL SEE HIM STANDING THERE, HANDS ON HIS HIPS, LOOKING AT ME AND SAYING ....IF YOU ARE LYING I'M GOING TO KICK YOUR TAIL.....
I GOT UP AND OFF WE WENT,,,TO THE GAS STATION,, OF COURSE WE DIDN'T HAVE GAS IN THE CAR. HAHAH
ALL NIGHT I KEPT BEGGING  HIM TO GO INTO THE DELIVERY ROOM WITH ME AND HE KEPT REFUSING, TIL AROUND 6:00AM  OR SO, WE WERE WALKING THE HALLS, AND WE HEARD THIS THUNDERING NOISE COMING, IT WAS A VERY LARGE MAN, DRESSED IN SCRUBS FROM HEAD TO TOE, RUNNING AND SWEATING ,,,,HE GRABBED THE PAY PHONE AND MADE A CALL, AND SCREAMED INTO THE PHONE,,,"""I GOT A &*^% *(&^$ BOY!!!!!!!"""""
I STILL BELIEVE TO THIS DAY THAT WAS WHAT CHANGED JOE'S MIND ABOUT GOING INTO THE DELIVERY ROOM WITH ME. BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IT TIL THEY PUSHED ME OUT OF MY ROOM DOWN THE HALL,,,AND THERE HE STOOD ALL SMILES AND TEARS DRESSED  IN SCRUBS FROM HEAD TO TOE. IT WAS GREAT,,,,,,,

JESSICA WAS BORN AT 1:28 PM WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 11,1985. AND FOR THE NEXT 3 DAYS WHILE I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL, YOU HAD TO FIGHT AND BEG TO GET THAT LITTLE GIRL FROM HER DADDY... HE JUST COULDN'T LET HER GO. THE VERY PROUD DADDY.


AND 15 MONTHS AND 5 DAYS LATER, WE WERE GOING THROUGH IT ALL AGAIN.
WE KNEW JUSTIN WAS A BOY. IT WAS A MONDAY MORNING AROUND 7:00 AM JOE HAD JUST LEFT TO GO TO WORK. AND I ALWAYS STOOD IN THE DOOR AND WATCHED HIM LEAVE. AND THIS MORNING WAS NO DIFFERENT, EXCEPT AS SOON AS JOE GOT OUT OF SITE, JUSTIN DECIDED HE WAS READY TO ENTER THIS WORLD.,,,,,,,NO CAR,,,,,,NO PHONE,,,,,,,A BABY ASLEEP,,,,AND ME IN LABOR...THANK GOD FOR NEIGHBORS, I CAUGHT HER JUST AS SHE WAS LEAVING AND USED HER PHONE TO CALL JOE'S WORK, AND JIM. 
JOE CAME STRAIGHT BACK HOME FROM WORK, AND AGAIN WE HAD TO STOP AND GET GAS AGAIN. HE WAS VERY NERVOUS THINKING THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE THE BABY WHILE HE WAS PUMPING GAS. BUT WE MADE IT TO THE HOSPITAL, AND AT 12:00PM HIGH NOON, WE HAD OUR BABY BOY, JUSTIN, 
AND YES JOE WENT IN WITH ME AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME HE WAS MY COACH AND WE KNEW A LITTLE MORE OF WHAT TO EXPECT.

IN MAY OF 2005 I WAS GOING BACK INTO THE HOSPITAL FOR MAJOR SURGERY. I WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE A TOTAL HYSTERECTOMY. AT THIS TIME HE ISN'T WORKING BUT HE IS PATIENTLY WAITING FOR A RETURN CALL FROM PSI.
I NEVER PICKED UP ON  IT IF HE WAS NERVOUS.
WHILE WE WERE WAITING FOR EVERYTHING TO GET STARTED, IS WHEN HE GOT THE PHONE CALLED HE HAD HOPED FOR. PSI CALLED AND WANTED HIM TO START WORK THAT DAY.
I CAN STILL SEE THAT SMILE HE WAS SO HAPPY...BUT SAD...
HE JUST COULDN'T TELL THEM NO...SO HE ASKED THEM IF HE COULD CALL THEM RIGHT BACK.
HE LITERALLY ASKED ME WHAT HE SHOULD DO, SO HE CALLED PSI BACK AND EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT HE WAS AT THE HOSPITAL WITH ME AND THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE SURGERY.
NOT A PROBLEM THEY SAID START TOMORROW.
SO AGAIN I THOUGHT THINGS ARE LOOKING UP FOR US.
THEY BRING IN THE BED FOR ME TO GET INTO TO TAKE ME TO SURGERY, AND EVERYONE LEAVES THE ROOM,
AS I TURN AROUND I SEE HIM STANDING THERE,
HE WAS WHITE AS A GHOST, 
HE WAS SO SCARED, HE COULDN'T MOVE, I THINK HE WAS GETTING SICK AND WAS GOING TO THROW UP.
HE HAD HIS HAND UP ON THE WALL AND ALL HE SAID WAS 
" I'LL BE ALRIGHT GIVE ME A MINUTE""

I STARTED TO CRY.
I WAS OK UP TIL THEN.
MY BABY WAS REALLY SCARED..

AFTER THEY TOOK ME INTO SURGERY, MY MOM TOOK JOE OUT FOR BREAKFAST AT SHONEYS.
SHE SAID, HE ATE SO FAST AND WAS SO READY TO GET BACK TO THE HOSPITAL. THAT SHE ALMOST COULDN'T FINISH HER BREAKFAST.

SHE SAID, "I ALWAYS KNEW HE ATE FAST BUT I THINK HE JUST SWALLOWED IT."
I KNOW HE CAME INTO THE RECOVERY ROOM WITH ME, BUT I HONESTLY DON'T REMEMBER IT.
I KNOW HE WAS WAITING IN MY ROOM WHEN THEY BROUGHT ME UPSTAIRS.
HE STAYED WITH ME AS LONG AS HE COULD, AND LEFT TO COME HOME TO GET READY TO GO TO WORK THE NEXT DAY FOR PSI.






JOE WAS A VERY LOVING, HARDWORKING, PATIENT PERSON WHO WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR ANYBODY ESPECIALLY FAMILY.

JOE LOVED TO HUNT AND FISH. HE NEVER HAD ANY SPECIAL PLACE THAT HE WOULD CALL HIS FAVORITE BECAUSE HE ALWAYS LIKED TRYING NEW PLACES.


JOE LOVED TO HUNT AND FISH. HE NEVER CAUGHT A TROPHY FISH OR BAGGED A TROPHY DEER, BUT HE TRULY ENJOYED GIVING IT HIS BEST.

HE ENJOYED FISHING WITH HIS SON, JUSTIN, AND HIS BROTHER MARK. THE LAST FISHING TRIP HE WENT ON WAS WITH HIS BROTHER MARK. THE SUMMER OF 2005. NEITHER CAUGHT ANYTHING WORTH TALKING ABOUT BUT THEY HAD A GREAT TIME, AND THATS WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT.JOE WENT ON SEVERAL FISHING TRIPS WITH HIS GOOD FRIEND, RALPH PARSONS. THEY ALWAYS HAD A GREAT TIME AND LOADS OF LAUGHTER. I REMEBER ONE TIME JOE, RALPH JUSTIN AND RALPH'S SON MATT, ALL WENT ON A CAMPING TRIP WHEN A HUGE STORM CAME THRU, AND THEY  HAD TO TAKE COVER IN THE BATHHOUSE. THE BOYS WERE SCARED BUT JOE AND RALPH MADE THE BEST OF THE SITUATION. BUT AFTER THE STORM PASSED THEY ENDED UP DRIVING BACK THAT NIGHT, I DON'T THINK THERE WAS A DRY PIECE OF CLOTHING ANYWHERE. EVERYTHING GOT SOAKED IT TOOK DAYS TO DRY OUT THE SLEEPING BAGS AND ALL THE OTHER CAMPING GEAR. THEY HAVE HAD MANY LAUGHS ABOUT THAT RAINED OUT WEEKEND. A GOOD MEMORY OF CLOSE FRIENDS.






JOE ALWAYS LOOKED FORWARD TO HUNTING SEASON. HE ENJOYED HUNTING WITH HIS SON, JUSTIN AND BOTH BROTHERS, MATT AND MARK, AND A FEW CLOSE FRIENDS, LIKE BRIAN WILLIAMS, AND MATT NUNLEY. JOE ENJOYED TRYING TO RUN A DEER TO ONE OF THE OTHERS AS MUCH AS HUNTING HIMSELF. THE VERY FIRST DEER JUSTIN GOT , I THINK JOE WAS MORE EXCITED THAN JUSTIN.
 JOES BABY BROTHER JUST HAD A BIRTHDAY, AND JUST LIKE THE MANY CELEBRATIONS SINCE WE LOST OUR JOE, I GOT A CARD TO GIVE THAT WAS JUST FROM JOE.
I HAD RAN ACROSS A VERY NICE PICTURE FRAME WITH A NICE VERSE  TITLED "MY BROTHER" AND I PUT A PICTURE OF JOE IN IT FOR HIS BROTHER MARK. THE PICTURE WAS OF JOE WHEN HE AND OUR BOY JUSTIN HAD WENT DEER HUNTING AND BOTH HAD GOTTEN A DEER. APPARENTLY JOE'S BROTHERS AND SOME OTHER FRIENDS WERE IN THE WOODS THAT DAY TOO. AND WHEN JOE AND JUSTIN CAME BACK TO THE TRUCK WITH THEIR DEERS, JOE THOUGHT HE WOULD LEAVE A LITTLE NOTE ON HIS BROTHERS WINDSHIELD. SO HE TOOK DEER BLOOD AND WROTE THE WORD "BUCK" ON IT SO THAT MARK AND MATT AND THE REST OF THE GANG WOULD KNOW THAT HE GOT A BIG DEER.

ONLY OUR JOE WOULD HAVE WENT TO THAT MUCH TROUBLE.
ANOTHER TIME THEY ALL WENT HUNTING, JUST IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. NOW THAT THE TWO WAY RADIOS CAME INTO THE PICTURE. THEY COULD KEEP IN TOUCH IN THE WOODS.

I THINK IT WAS JOE, MATT, MARK, BRIAN AND ANOTHER FRIEND NAMED MATT, AND I AM NOT SURE IF JUSTIN WAS WITH THEM THIS TIME.
BUT JOE HAD GOTTEN A SMALL DEER AND HAD BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE TRUCK. BUT HE COULDN'T GET IT ON THE TOP BY HIMSELF. SO HE TAGGED THE DEER AND WENT BACK TO SEE IF HE COULD RUN THE DEER TO THE OTHER GUYS. WELL HE MADE A VERY COSTLY MISTAKE. HE DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU HAD TO TAKE THE DEER TO THE CHECK IN PLACE BEFORE RETURNING TO THE WOODS. HE THOUGHT YOU JUST HAD TO TAG IT. AND OF COURSE THE GAME WARDEN SHOWED UP AND HE GOT A TICKET. I THINK SOMEONE ELSE DID TOO BUT I AM NOT SURE WHO OR WHY. BUT JOE'S LITTLE MISTAKE COST HIM A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS. THATS ONE THAT NONE OF THEM WILL FORGET.

JOE'S HUNTING CLOTHES ARE STILL COVERED IN MUD AND DIRT BUT HE WOULDN'T LET ME WASH THEM, HE SAID THAT YOU CAN'T GO IN THE WOODS SMELLING LIKE A SNUGGLE BEAR. HAHA

HE ALWAYS HAD HOPES OF BAGGIN THE BIG ONE. JUST ONE OF THE MANY HOPES THAT WILL FADE  AWAY.



THE CRAZY THINGS WE DID OVER THE YEARS.
 

I CAN REMEBER WHEN WE LIVED IN A VERY SMALL TWO BEDROOM HOUSE, AND IT WAS CHRISTMAS EVE, AND THE KIDS WERE VERY SMALL. WE WANTED TO BE IN THE LIVING ROOM WHEN THEY WALKED IN THERE ON CHRISTMAS MORNING TO CAPTURE THE LOOKS OF SURPRISE ON THEIR FACES WHEN THEY SAW THEIR GIFTS. SO WE TOOK LOTS OF VERY LARGE CARDBOARD BOXES AND BLOCKED THE DOORWAY OUT OF THEIR ROOM SO THAT WE COULD HEAR THEM GET UP. THEY ALWAYS SEEMED TO GET UP IN THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING. AND OF COURSE IT IS DARK, AND THEY ARE FREAKING OUT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET OUT OF THEIR  ROOM. MEAN WHILE ME AND JOE ARE CRACKING UP LAUGHING, BUT EVENTUALLY WE GET THE LIGHTS ON AND THE BOXES OUT OF THE WAY AND ENJOY THE MORNING. SEVERAL YEARS LATER WE LIVED IN A BIGGER HOUSE AND THE KIDS WOULD SLEEP DOWNSTAIRS, AND AGAIN ON CHRISTMAS MORNING, WE HAD LOCKED THE DOOR LEADING UP STAIRS, ( IT WAS RIGHT BESIDE OUR BEDROOM DOOR) SO THAT WE COULD TURN THE LIGHTS ON AND GET THE CAMERA READY,  THEY HAD GOTTEN OLDER AND DIDN'T THINK IT WAS AS FUNNY,,BUT ME AND JOE DID. SILLY THINGS WE DID NOW WE CAN ALL LOOK BACK AND REMEMBER AND LAUGH, ITS THE GOOD MEMORIES THAT HELP THE DAYS TO PASS.


 


JOE'S DAUGHTER JESSICA WAS A DADDYS GIRL FROM THE START. HE WAS A VERY PROUD DADDY AND LIKE ALL DADS ONLY WANTED THE BEST FOR HER. HE STOOD BACK AND NEVER SAID TO MUCH WHEN THE BOYS STARTED CALLING AND COMING AROUND. ALTHOUGH I KNOW IF HE COULD HAVE HE WOULD HAVE LOCKED HER IN HER ROOM.
WINTER FORMALS AND PROMS WEREN'T HIS FAVORITE TIMES, HE ALWAYS SAID, " IT WAS SILLY TO SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY ON A DRESS..BUT FOR HER SENIOR PROM WE TALKED HIM INTO GOING DRESS SHOPPING WITH US. OF COURSE HES LOOKING AT PRICES AND WE ARE LOOKING AT COLORS.
I WILL NEVER FORGET THE LOOK ON HIS FACE WHEN SHE CAME OUT WITH "THE DRESS" ONTHE PRICE NO LONGER MATTERED.

JOE SPENT MANY LONG HOURS HELPING JUSTIN CHANGE OUT A MOTOR IN HIS CAR. JOE WOULD WORK ALL DAY AND AS SOON AS HE CAME HOME AND GOT SOMETHING TO EAT HE WOULD START WORKING ON THAT CAR. SOMEDAYS JUSTIN WOULD BE HERE, ALREADY WORKING ON IT  BUT MOST DAYS DADDY WOULD START WITHOUT HIM.  JOE ENJOYED SPENDING THAT TIME WITH JUSTIN EVEN COVERED IN OIL AND GREASE. JOE ALWAYS SAID WHEN JUSTIN GOT UPSET, THAT HE GAVE UP TOO EASILY. I NEVER KNEW OF ANYTHING THAT JOE LET GET THE BEST OF HIM. HE WOULD JUST WALK AWAY, HAVE A CUP OF COFFE AND THINK ABOUT AND GO RIGHT BACK AT IT. AND VICTORY WAS HIS..... ITS TIMES LIKE THAT WE CAN NOW LOOK BACK ON AND SMILE. AND BE THANKFUL WE HAVE THAT MEMORY.










JOE TAUGHT BOTH CHILDREN TO DRIVE. HE WAS NEVER TO SCARED  OR TOO BUSY. HE WOULD RIDE AROUND WITH THEM FOR HOURS EVERY DAY. I THINK IT WAS JUST HIS WAY OF SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH TEENAGERS, WITHOUT THEM REALLY KNOWING IT.











THE DAY JUSTIN CAME AND TOLD US HE WAS JOINING THE ARMY WAS THE DAY I SAW BOTH PRIDE AND FEAR IN JOE.
THE DAY JUSTIN LEFT US FOR BASIC TRAINING, JOE WAS A ROCK FOR ME. AT LEAST UNTIL WE GOT HOME AND HE WENT INTO JUSTINS ROOM. 
WHEN JUSTIN GRADUATED BASIC TRAINING AT FORT KNOX KENTUCKY IN SEPTEMBER 2005, JOE WAS SO NERVOUS. HE SAID TO ME," I AM SHAKING TOO BAD TO HOLD THE CAMERA"....
WE HAD A VERY MEMORABLE TIME THAT DAY.


JOE TOOK JEREMY'S SHIRT AND PUT IT PART WAY ON AND STARTED SINGING,,,FAT GUY IN A LITTLE SHIRT,,,RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BOWLING ALLEY. WE ALL HAD SUCH A GREAT LAUGH AT THAT.

HE HAD SUCH A FUNNY SIDE TO HIM, THAT DIDN'T SHOW VERY MUCH.

JUST LAST WEEK WE HAD JIM, JOE'S DAD A SURPRISE 70TH BIRTHDAY PARTY.
AND FOR JUST A JOKE I BOUGHT A CANDLE THAT LOOKED LIKE A STICK OF DYNAMITE.
JIM JUST KEPT WAITING ON THIS CANDLE TO BLOW UP OR SOMETHING, WHEN BRIAN WALKED INTO ANOTHER ROOM AND STOOD BEHIND HIM AND POPPED A BALLOON WITH A PIN. JIM , AND EVERYONE ELSE JUMPED OFF THE FLOOR. AND CONNIE AND I BOTH SAID THAT , JOE WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME THING HAD HE BEEN HERE WITH US. **MAYBE HE PUT THE IDEA INTO BRIAN'S HEAD. YOU NEVER KNOW....

JOE HAD A VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS SISTER, CATHY.
THEY ALWAYS SHARED CHILDHOOD STORIES WHEN WE WOULD ALL GET TOGETHER, BUT THE ONE THAT WAS SHARED THE MOST AND WE ALL ENJOYED THE MOST, WAS THE KITCHEN WINDOW STORY.

THE KITCHEN TABLE SAT CLOSE TO THE WINDOW AND AT DINNER TIME, IF THEY DIDN'T LIKE OR DIDN'T WANT THIER DINNER, HE WOULD TOSS IT OUT THE WINDOW, AND MOM NEVER KNEW FOR MANY YEARS. THEY GOT ONE OVER ON MOM. HAHA ALMOST EVERY TIME WE WOULD ALL GET TOGETHER AND THE CHILDHOOD MEMORIES WOULD START THAT STORY WOULD ALWAYS COME UP, AND THE LAUGHTER WOULD BEGIN. I AM SURE THERE ARE LOADS MORE STORIES TO TELL, CHILDHOOD MEMORIES THAT WE WILL NEVER FORGET.

JOE  TOLD ME ABOUT A VERY COLD SNOWY WINTER WHEN HE WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL. IT WAS RIGHT AFTER CHRISTMAS BREAK, AND IT WAS "SHOW AND TELL" DAY AT SCHOOL. SO HE WANTED TO TAKE HIS BIG "TONKA" TRUCKS TO SCHOOL.
WELL THAT MORNING OFF HE WENT, DRAGGING HIS BIG TONKA TRUCK TO SCHOOL THROUGH THE SNOW, WHEN A TOWN POLICE OFFICER STOPPED HIM AND ASKED HIM WHERE HE WAS HEADED. TO SCHOOL JOE TOLD HIM. SCHOOL HAD BEEN CANCELLED BECAUSE OF THE SNOW, MOM DIDN'T KNOW IT SO SHE SENT JOE OUT IN THE COLD, DRAGGING THE TONKA TRUCK. THAT STORY MAY NOT BE FUNNY TO SOME BUT TO US IT WAS HILARIOUS.

JOE HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS MOM, CONNIE, HE WAS ALWAYS MORE THAN WILLING AND ABLE TO HELP HER IN ANYWAY HE COULD. ALL SHE HAD TO DO WAS ASK AND HE WOULD BE THERE.


BE IT BERRY PICKING, OR COMPUTER PROBLEMS, JOE WAS THERE. WE SPENT MANY EVEINGS IN THE WOODS PICKING BERRIES, SOMETHING WE ALWAYS HAD A GOOD TIME DOING.

JOE TOOK HIS MOM ON HER VERY FIRST, MUDDIN TRIP, STRAIGHT UP A MOUNTAIN, MUD FLYING EVERYWHERE. WHAT A THRILL. SHE REALLY ENJOYED THAT. HE ALSO TURNED HER ONTO HER FIRST, GO CART RIDE. SHE ALWAYS LET HIM TALK HER INTO DOING CRAZY THINGS LIKE THAT.


JOE LEARNED EVERYTHING HE KNEW ABOUT CARS AND MOTORS FROM HIS DAD, JIM. JOE ALWAYS KNEW WHO TO CALL WITH A CAR QUESTION. YOU PUT THOSE TWO TOGETHER AND THEY COULD FIGURE JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING OUT ABOUT A CAR.  JOE LOVED WORKING ON THINGS, TAKING THEM APART TO SEE IF HE COULD PUT THEM BACK TOGETHER.
JIM ALWAYS KNEW JOE WAS JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY WHEN HE WAS HAVING REMOTE CONTROL PROBLEMS, OR VCR PROBLEMS, OR WHEN CONNIE WAS HAVING COMPUTER QUESTIONS, HE WOULD TRY HIS BEST TO TALK THEM THROUGH WHATEVER THEY NEEDED OVER THE PHONE, AND NEVER GOT UPSET WHEN IT DIDN'T GO QUITE RIGHT. MOST TIMES HE WOULD JUST GET IN HIS TRUCK AND GO HELP THEM WITH WHAT EVER THEY NEEDED HELP WITH. BUT IT WASN'T JUST FAMILY IT COULD BE ANYBODY.



JOE ALWAYS LIKED PULLING PRANKS ON HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW RUTH. HE LIKED CATCHING  HER ARM LAYING ON THE WINDOW IN THE CAR AND HITTING THE BUTTON TO ROLL IT UP JUST TO SEE HER JUMP.
THE DAY JOE GOT RUTH THE BEST WAS WHEN SHE HAD TOLD ME ABOUT BEING ASLEEP AND THE PHONE RANG BUT IT WOULDN'T LET HER ANSWER IT,, SHE HAD PICKED UP THE TV REMOTE. JOE GOT THE BIGGEST LAUGH OUT OF THAT. SO THE NEXT TIME SHE WAS UP AT OUR HOUSE, HE MADE ME CALL THE HOUSE PHONE FROM MY CELL PHONE, AND HERE HE CAME INTO THE KITCHEN WHERE WE WERE TRYING TO ANSWER THE PHONE WITH THE REMOTE. HAHAHA I THOUGHT SHE WOULD STRANGLE HIM BUT WE ALL HAD SUCH A GREAT LAUGH. IT STILL MAKES ME SMILE TO THINK OF HOW MUCH HE ENJOYED THAT.

SOME OF US WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGHT O SEE THE PRACTICAL JOKER SIDE OF JOE, SOMETIMES YOU WEREN'T SURE IF HE WAS JOKING, BECAUSE HE COULD REALLY BE GETTING ONE OVER ON YOU, AND NEVER CRACK A SMILE.


 HE WAS ALWAYS THERE TO HELP HER ALSO, ANYTIME SHE NEEDED HIM HE WAS THERE.

JOE'S BEST BUDDY WAS DROOPY HIS CAT. HE WAS CRAZY ABOUT THIS CAT.THE ROUGHER JOE WOULD PLAY WITH HIM THE MORE HE LOVED IT. HE ALWAYS CAME BACK FOR MORE.  WE WOULD LAUGH AT THIS POOR CAT TIL WE CRIED BUT JOE LOVED HIS "DROOPY". AND DROOPY MISSES JOE AS MUCH AS THE REST OF US DO.DROOPY MISSED YOU BABE. HE WAITS FOR YOU EVERYDAY JUST LIKE BEFORE.
HE KNOWS THE SOUND OF YOUR TRUCK IF WE HAVE IT OUT AND ALWAYS COMES RUNNING OUT TO SEE IF ITS YOU.

JOE WAS THE MOST PATIENT PERSON I HAVE EVER KNOWN.(ONE OF US HAD TO BE). HE NEVER LET THINGS BOTHER HIM, HE NEVER GOT UPSET OR MAD, OVER THE LITTLE THINGS, HE JUST WENT WITH THE FLOW, AND LAID EVERYTHING IN THE LORDS HAND.



BUT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BE FAMILY FOR JOE TO HELP YOU.
JOE HAD A VERY FUN SIDE TO HIM THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T SEE.
  I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT WHEN HE WOULD GET ME GOOD.  EVERY NIGHT WHEN HE WAS TAKING A SHOWER I WOULD SIT IN THE BATHROOM AND WE WOULD TALK. THEN WHILE I TOOK A SHOWER HE WOULD SHAVE. BUT ONE NIGHT HE THOUGHT HE WOULD GET ONE OVER ON ME. HE SLIPPED OUT OF THE BATHROOM WITHOUT ME HEARING HIM AND WENT INTO THE KITCHEN AND GOT A GLASS OF ICE WATER, HE CAME BACK IN THE BATHROOM SLIPPED OVER TO THE SHOWER CURTAIN AND POURED THAT ICE WATER SO THAT IT WOULD HIT MY FEET. LET ME TELL YOU, I ALMOST HIT THE CEILING. I HATE COLD WATER, AND HE GOT THE BIGGEST LAUGH WHEN I YELLED OUT. BUT YOU WOULD THINK THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH BUT IT WAS ONLY ABOUT A WEEK LATER THAT HE GOT ME AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME HE POURED IT OVER THE CURTAIN RIGHT ON TOP OF MY HEAD.  FROM THAT NIGHT ON I WAS ALWAYS CHECKING TO SEE IF HE WAS STILL THERE WITH ME OR IF HE HAD LEFT. I REALLY MISS THOSE TIMES.      I STILL FIND MYSELF LOOKING OUT OF THE SHOWER CHECKING TO SEE IF HE IS THERE SHAVING OR TRYING TO POUR ICE WATER ON ME AGAIN.


I AM ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED OF GRASSHOPPERS. AND MANY YEARS AGO WHEN OUR CHILDREN WERE SMALL, WE WOULD GO FOR A WALK ALMOST EVERYNIGHT. WELL, THIS ONE EVENING WE WERE WALKING ALONG AND WE CAME UPON A VERY LARGE PRAYING MANTIS, (SAME THING AS A GRASSHOPPER TO ME) I WENT WAY OUT AROUND THIS THING, AND THE WHOLE TIME JOE IS LAUGHING AT ME. HE ENDS UP BEHIND ME WITH THE KIDS BECAUSE I AM JUST TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM THIS THING. WHEN HE RUNS UP AND PUTS HIS FINGERS ON MY BACK, AND YELLS,""ITS ON YOUR BACK"""""HE DIDN'T REALIZE HOW SCARED I WAS OF THESE THINGS, UNTIL I STARTED SCREAMING AND RUNNING AND CRYING. WHEN I REALIZED IT WASN'T ON ME, I COULD HAVE BEAT HIM SILLY. I AM PRETTY SURE I HIT HIM SEVERAL TIMES AND PROBABLY CALLED HIM A FEW NOT SO NICE NAMES. HE NEVER SCARED ME WITH  A GRASSHOPPER OR ANYTHING LIKE IT AGAIN.

WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD FRIEND,,,ELVIS,,,,THAT JOE LEARNED ALOT OF HIS COMPUTER SKILLS FROM. JOE KNEW ANYTIME HE NEEDED SOMETHING WITH ANY ELECTRONIC STUFF ALL HE HAD TO DO WAS CALL ELVIS AND HE WOULD STOP BY OR EXPLAIN TO JOE HOW TO FIX IT. ELVIS HAS CONTINUED TO BE A FRIEND TO ME AFTER WE LOST JOE. HE WAS HERE AFTER HE HEARD ABOUT JOE AND HE AND HIS WIFE HAS CONTINUED TO STOP BY OR CALL TO CHECK ON ME. THAT REALLY MEANS ALOT TO ME.


JOE HAD ALOT OF GOOD FRIENDS OVER THE YEARS, SOME WHO HAVE STAYED IN TOUCH AND SOME WHO HAVEN'T BUT JOE ALWAYS CONSIDERED THEM TO STILL BE HIS FRIENDS.


JOE LOVED HIS FAMILY, MOM, CONNIE, DAD, JIM, SISTER CATHY, BROTHERS MATT AND MARK AND ALL EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS MORE THAN I CAN PUT INTO WORDS. JOE WAS ALWAYS READY AND WILLING TO LEND A HELPING HAND FOR ANYTHING. FAMILY OR FRIEND. IF YOU NEEDED HIM HE WOULD BE THERE YOU COULD COUNT ON THAT. IF HE GAVE YOU HIS WORD YOU COULD TAKE IT TO THE BANK.


JOE HELPED SO MANY FRIENDS AND FAMILY OVER THE YEARS TOO MANY TO MENTION. HE ALWAYS ENJOYED WATCHING AND LEARNING NEW THINGS.


SOME FRIENDS THAT I WORKED WITH NEVER MET JOE, BUT THEY HEARD ABOUT HIM FROM ME AND THEY FELT AS IF THEY KNEW HIM. THEY WERE DEVISTATED TO HEAR THE NEWS OF OUR TRAGEDY. SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY KNEW THE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WE HAD. I FEEL SORRY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO NEVER WERE BLESSED TO MEET HIM IN PERSON. HE TRULY WAS "ONE OF A KIND"



YOU ONLY HAD TO MEET JOE ONCE TO FALL IN LOVE WITH HIM, HE WAS VERY EASY GOING NEVER GOT UPSET AND WAS JUST A PERSON THAT WITHIN FIVE MINUTES OF MEETING YOU AND TALKING TO YOU WOULD CONSIDER YOU A FRIEND.

RUSTY WINTER WAS A FRIEND THAT JOE LIKE TO PICK ON ALOT, JUST TO GET HIS FEATHERS RUFFLED. BUT FOR THE MOST PART JOE ALWAYS TRIED TO STOP JUST SHORT OF MAKING RUSTY REALLY MAD.

JOE LOVED MUSIC PLAYING IT OR LISTENING TO IT. HE PLAYED IN A GOSPEL BAND MANY YEARS AGO, AND THEN PLAYED IN A LOCAL BAND, "THE HEAT" FOR MANY YEARS. HE SANG LEAD VOCALS AND PLAYED BASS GUITAR. HE COULD PLAY JUST ABOUT ANY INSTRUMENT IF HE WANTED TO. HE HAD A WONDERFUL SINGING VOICE. FOR MANY YEARS THE MEMBERS OF THE HEAT WERE LIKE A SECOND FAMILY. WE LOST TWO OTHER MEMBERS OF "THE HEAT" WITHIN THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND ALL WE CAN HOPE IS THEY ARE ALL TOGETHER MAKING BEAUTIFUL MUSIC IN HEAVENS ANGEL CHOIR.
IF YOU KNEW JOE, YOU KNEW HE ALWAYS HAD A CUP OF COFFE IN HIS HAND. I CAN'T REMEMBER HIM GOING ANYWHERE IN THE LAST 10 YEARS  THAT HE WAS HE HAD  A CUP IN HIS HANDS.
HE LOVED A GOOD HOT CUP OF COFFEE.
JOE ENJOYED VACATIONS AT THE BEACH WITH HIS FAMILY. BUT THE BEST ONE THAT WE HAD WAS THE SUMMER OF 2004. WE DECIDED TO GO TO HOLDEN BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA, INSTEAD OF THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF MYRTLE BEACH. THAT WAS THE BEST TIME WE HAD EVER HAD. IT WAS SO PEACEFUL AND QUIET AND RELAXING. I HAVE NEVER SEEN HIM SO RELAXED IN ALL THESE YEARS. IT WAS A WELL DESERVED VACATION FOR A MAN WHO WORKED NON STOP TO PROVIDE FOR HIS FAMILY.



HE WAS A VERY HARD WORKER, WHO NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT GOING TO WORK EVERYDAY TO TRY TO MAKE LIFE FOR US ALL ,, BETTER.



JOE AND I HAD A GREAT MARRIAGE. NO IT WASN'T PERFECT, BUT WHOSE IS. THE IMPERFECTIONS WERE WHAT MADE US, US.
WE WERE TOLD ONCE BY A FRIEND,(MIKE) THAT WE ACTED LIKE NEWYLWEDS. THAT WAS JUST IN THE LAST YEAR. THAT WAS THE BEST COMPLIMENT WE COULD HAVE EVER GOTTEN. WE STILL ENJOYED EACH OTHERS COMPANY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS. WE HAD MADE ALOT OF PLANS FOR THE FUTURE, TRAVEL AROUND TO ALL THE STATES AND SEE ALL THE SITES THERE ARE TO SEE, AND JUST RELAX AND HAVE FUN GROWING OLD TOGETHER. WE HAD FINALLY GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT WE DIDN'T NEED A BABY SITTER FOR THE KIDS, AND WE HAD A FEW EXTRA DOLLARS TO GO DO SOMETHING CRAZY.
BUT ''GOD'' HAD OTHER PLANS FOR OUR FUTURE. A FUTURE THAT WE WOULD NOT BE SPENDING TOGETHER.
THAT WAS SOMETHING WE NEVER TALKED MUCH ABOUT, WE JUST COULD NOT IMAGINE THE FUTURE WITHOUT ONE OF US IN IT. NOW, I HAVE TO FACE REALITY, ALONE.
I COUNT THE DAYS EVERYDAY SINCE THAT HORRIBLE DAY IN NOVEMBER, AND I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE COUNTING THE YEARS.


 I WILL NEVER GET TO TRAVEL THIS LAND WITH HIM BY MY SIDE LEADING THE WAY. BUT SOMEDAY, I WILL GET TO STROLL OVER HEAVEN WITH HIM. GOD WILLING.



WE WILL NEVER KNOW WHY OR UNDERSTAND WHY "GOD" HAD TO TAKE HIM THAT TRAGIC DAY IN THAT TRAGIC WAY. IT IS NOT FOR US TO KNOW OR UNDERSTAND. WE MUST EXCEPT IT AND KNOW THAT "GOD" HAS A REASON FOR EVERYTHING. I KNOW IN MY HEART THAT MY JOE IS WALKING THE STREETS OF GOLD RIGHT NOW AS I TYPE THIS AND YOU READ THIS. THAT IS ALL THE COMFORT I HAVE FOR NOW AND KNOWING THAT SOMEDAY I WILL STROLL OVER HEAVEN WITH MY SOULMATE ONCE AGAIN BY MY SIDE.


 

I OFTEN SAID THAT HE WAS THE 'GLUE' THAT HELD ME TOGETHER. I KNOW IN THIS DAY AND TIME THAT MARRIAGE ISN'T ON THE TOP OF EVERYONES LIST AS IMPORTANT. BUT WITH EVERY YEAR OF MARRIAGE UNDER OUR BELT WE JUST FELT LIKE WE HAD ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH. 

WE HAD A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP, THAT WE ACTUALLY ENJOYED DOING EVERYTHING AND NOTHING TOGETHER, BE IT SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS WATCHING TV, YARD WORK, SHOPPING,
 
IT REALLY DIDN'T MATTER AS LONG AS WE WERE TOGETHER.
WE LOVED GOING TO BIG FLEA MARKETS, AND HE ALWAYS LOVED COMING HOME TO TELL ME ABOUT A NEW ONE SOMEONE HAD TOLD HIM ABOUT. AND USUALLY BY THE WEEKEND WE HAD MADE PLANS TO GO.

OH MY I MISS MY FRIEND, SO MUCH IT HURTS.ALL I HAVE LEFT ARE GREAT WONDERFUL MEMORIES, AND PICTURES IN A FRAME.
I HAVE HAD MANY THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO ME SINCE WE LOST JOE, THINGS THAT NO ONE CAN EXPLAIN, BUT JOE HAS LET ME KNOW IN MORE THAN ONE WAY THAT HE IS HERE WITH ME AND THAT HE CONTINUES TO LOOK AFTER ME AND TAKE CARE OF ME. HE KNOWS HOW MUCH I MISS HIM. JOE WAS AND IS AN ANGEL.






NOT ALOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THIS STORY,
IT IS VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART.

JOE AND I HAD ALWAYS WANTED A HOME OF OUR OWN BUT WITH TRYING TO RAISE TWO CHILDREN AND IN THIS DAY AND TIME IT WAS VERY HARD.
BUT WE FINALLY GOT TO THE POINT OF PURCHASING OUR VERY FIRST HOME. AND BOY DID WE DO A LOT OF LOOKING, SOME PLACES WE WENT TO , WE WOULDN’T EVEN GET OUT OF THE CAR. THEY WERE THAT BAD. WE HAD A GREAT REAL ESTATE AGENT, HER NAME WAS KAY COX. A VERY PATIENT PERSON, SHE WOULD EMAIL US THE LISTINGS THAT FIT WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.
I’LL NEVER FORGET THAT MORNING, WHEN I GOT THE LISTING FOR THIS HOUSE. I CAME DOWN AND DID A DRIVE BY BEFORE GOING TO WORK AT 6:30 IN THE MORNING. I GOT REALLY EXCITED, AND CALLED JOE AND TOLD HIM, "I THINK I HAVE FOUND IT."
LATER THAT DAY WE CAME BY AND TOOK ANOTHER LOOK, THE SIGN WAS GONE, I FREAKED OUT, BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE JUST WHAT WE WANTED,SO WE CALLED OUR AGENT TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH IT AND TO SEE IF WE COULD  GET IN TO LOOK AROUND. THE SIGN WAS TAKEN DOWN WHILE THE GRASS WAS BEING CUT AND DIDN'T GET PUT BACK OUT. FROM THE FIRST MOMENT WE WALKED IN WE BOTH KNEW THIS WAS IT, WE HAD FOUND OUR HOME. WELL WE ALL KNOW THAT EVERYTHING WENT GREAT AND WE FINALLY GOT INTO OUR VERY FIRST HOME, EXACTLY 28 DAYS LATER.
THE BEST PART OF THIS STORY ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE ABOUT 16 YEARS AGO NOW.
JOE WAS WORKING FOR "RUS" AND FOR WHAT EVER REASON HE ENDED UP ON THIS STREET. HE WAS HAVING A BAD DAY, AND HE STOPPED HIS TRUCK RIGHT IN FRONT OF THIS HOUSE, 
NOW BEFORE I FINISH THIS STORY, JUST LET ME SAY THAT IT TOOK JOE 10 YEARS TO TELL ME THIS STORY.
HE WAS STOPPED OUT FRONT, AGAIN HAVING A BAD DAY, LOOKED OVER AT THIS HOUSE AND PRAYED TO GOD,,,""GOD, PLEASE LET ME BUY THIS HOUSE SOMEDAY FOR MY FAMILY.""


‘’GOD ANSWERED JOE’S PRAYER, BUT IT TOOK 10 VERY LONG , HARD YEARS, BUT THIS IS THE HOUSE THAT WE HAVE NOW MADE INTO OUR HOME.
JOE TOLD OUR DAUGHTER, JESSICA, THIS STORY THE DAY WE MOVED INTO THIS HOUSE, BUT NEVER TOLD ME TIL A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO.
HE WAS WITHOUT WORK AND THINGS WERE GETTING DIFFICULT, AND WE WERE WORRIED WE WERE GOING TO LOOSE OUR HOME. I GUESS THATS WHEN JOE FELT IT WAS TIME TO TELL ME ABOUT HIS PRAYER. GOD HAD ANSWERED HIS PRAYER BACK THEN AND HE ANSWERED AGAIN, WHEN A GOOD PAYING JOB OFFER AND ,A JOB THAT JOE SEEMED REALLY EXCITED ABOUT FINALLY CAME ALONG.

GOD TRULY DOES ANSWER PRAYERS.



JOE USED TO SEND ME FLOWERS AT WORK FOR OUR ANNIVERSARY AND  FOR VALENTINES DAY. BUT IF YOU KNOW JOE HE WAS TIGHT WITH MONEY FOR THINGS LIKE THAT. SO WE CAME UP WITH A PLAN, NOT ONLY WOULD I STILL GET MY FLOWERS BUT HE WOULD SAVE MONEY TOO.


HE WOULD GO TO THE LOCAL FLOWER SHOP, AND BUY A DOZEN WRAPPED ROSES, AND TAKE THEM TO HIS TRUCK, WHERE HE ALREADY HAD A VASE, A BOTTLE OF WATER AND SCISSORS TO CUT THEM WITH, AND HE WOULD SIT IN HIS TRUCK AND MAKE THE ARRANGEMENT HIMSELF, BRING THEM TO MY WORK AND "DELIVER" THEM TO THE FRONT DESK , AND THEN I WOULD GET PAGED AND COME DOWN AND GET MY FLOWERS. 

I KNOW THAT SOUNDS SO SILLY NOW BUT IT ALWAYS MEANT MORE TO ME TO KNOW THAT HE HAD ARRANGED THE FLOWERS HIMSELF, AND DELIVERED THEM HIMSELF  RATHER THAN MAKING A PHONE CALL TO ORDER THEM AND  A STRANGER DELIVERING THEM.
I ONCE ASKED HIM WHY HE DIDN'T JUST WAIT FOR ME BUT HE DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT.
I OFTEN LOOKED AROUND OUTSIDE TO SEE IF HE WAS STILL THERE.

THE BEST PART IS THAT HE ACTUALLY SIGNED ALL THE CARDS, INSTEAD OF SOMEONE TYPING THEM  AT THE FLOWER SHOP, IT WAS HIS WRITING , AND I AM GLAD TO HAVE EACH ONE.

I CAN SEE HIM SITTING IN HIS TRUCK DOING THAT, AND IT PUTS A SMILE ON MY FACE.
IT TOOK ME ALOT OF YEARS TO GET THE ROMANTIC SIDE OF HIM TO SHOW, I THINK HE GOT TIRED OF ME SAYING THAT HE WAS AS ROMANTIC AS A WALL FLOWER.


I TRIED TO TELL HIM THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY FLOWERS AND CANDY TO BE ROMANTIC, ITS THE LITTLE THINGS. FOR A WHILE WE WERE BOTH WORKING 2 JOBS, TRYING TO MAKE A LITTLE EXTRA MONEY, AND I WOULD LEAVE HOME AT 6:00 AM AND GO TO MY ONE JOB AND LEAVE STRAIGHT FROM THERE AND GO TO THE SECOND  JOB.
HE DIDN'T WORK AS MANY HOURS AS I DID SO HE WAS HOME A LITTLE MORE THAN ME, BUT HE ALWAYS HAD MY PJ'S READY AND THE SHOWER READY AND MY CLOTHES FOR THE NEXT DAY ALREADY IRONED AND LAID OUT FOR ME.
YES HE WOULD GO TO THE CLOSET AND GET A SHIRT AND PANTS, UNDERWEAR AND SOCKS AND HAVE EVERYTHING READY FOR ME. MOST MEN WOULDN'T DO THAT FOR THEIR WIVES AND THEIR WIFES PROBABLY WOULDN'T WEAR WHAT THEY HAD LAID OUT. 
AND THE FUNNY THING IS HE NEVER MATCHED HIS OWN CLOTHES BUT HE ALWAYS DID GREAT TO GET MINE OUT.


I CAN STILL REMEMBER HIM WAITING FOR ME TO CALL TO SEE WHAT HE NEEDED TO SET THE IRON ON TO  IRON A CERTAIN SHIRT. 
AND YEARS LATER AFTER THE 2 JOBS WERE LONG GONE, HE WOULD STILL HAVE MY CLOTHES READY FOR  MY SHOWER WHEN I WOULD WORK LATE OR BE ON OVERTIME.

I CAN'T REMEMBER EVER COMING HOME AND HAVING TO DO ANYTHING, BECAUSE IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HE COULD DO HE WOULD DO IT.
FROM CLEANING THE HOUSE UP  TO LAUNDRY, TO COOKING , WASHING DISHES, YOU NAME IT IF IT NEEDED DONE OR IF I HADN'T GOT IT FINISHED HE WOULD STEP UP AND JUMP RIGHT IN.
I AM VERY STRANGE WHEN IT COMES TO A CLEAN HOUSE AND CLEAN LAUNDRY, BUT HE WOULD GIVE IT HIS ALL AND ALWAYS WOULD TRY TO DO IT THE WAY I DID IT.
BED MAKING WAS HIS WORST, BUT HE ONLY HAD TO DO THAT ABOUT 5 TIMES OVER THE YEARS, JUST WHEN I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL.
AND HE ONLY DID IT THEN BECAUSE HE KNEW I WOULD COME STRAIGHT IN AND DO IT, IF IT NEEDED DONE. 


WE ENJOYED DOING YARD WORK TOGETHER TOO, AND I WAS THE SAME WAY ABOUT THINGS OUTSIDE I WOULD TRY IT. I MAY NOT DO IT RIGHT OR IT MAY TAKE ME LONGER BUT I WOULD TRY.
I REMEMBER ONE TIME WE HAD A WOOD BURNING STOVE, AND WE HAD TO SPLIT THE WOOD, I JUMPED RIGHT IN AND WAS HELPING HIM,  I CAN STILL HEAR HIM LAUGHING SAYING, MOST WOMEN WOULD JUST STAY IN THE HOUSE AND LET THE MAN DO ALL THE WORK. BUT WE ALWAYS TRIED TO HELP THE OTHER ONE WITH WHAT EVER THEY WERE DOING.
IT WAS WITH JOE THAT I ROLLED UNDER MY FIRST CAR. HAHA HE WAS TRYING TO SHOW ME SOMETHING AND SO I HAD TO GET UNDER IT. NOW THATS FUNNY,,,IT ALL LOOKED THE SAME TO ME, BUT I SOON LEARNED THAT THIS WOULDN'T BE THE LAST TIME I WOULD END UP UNDER A CAR WITH HIM.
HAHA,,,
I AM SURE HE IS LAUGHING ABOUT THOSE TIMES WITH ME TONIGHT.
I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT WAS WRONG WITH JOE AT ONE TIME BUT HE COULDN'T RUN THE WEEDEATER SO I HAD TO. I WAS COMPLETELY COVERED IN GRASS, FROM HEAD TO TOE, BUT I DIDN'T MIND DOING IT. 

ANOTHER TIME , WE WERE TEST DRIVING A CAR MANY YEARS AGO, AND JOE HAD JUST HAD SURGERY, AND THE CAR RAN OUT OF GAS, IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION, AND HE COULDN'T HELP ME.
SO THERE WE ARE STUCK AND I AM TRYING TO PUSH THE CAR OUT OF THE ROAD, WHEN A MAN STOPS BY TO HELP AND GIVES JOE A VERY MEAN LOOK, UNTIL I EXPLAINED ABOUT THE SURGERY. I THINK JOE FELT SO BAD ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO HELP, BUT I NEVER GOT UPSET WITH HIM WE JUST LAUGHED ABOUT FOR THE REST OF THE EVENING.
CRAP HAPPENS EVEN WHEN ITS INCONVIENT. BUT WE JUST HAVE TO ACCEPT IT AND GO ON.


LOVE IS WHEN YOU LOOK INTO SOMEONES EYES,
AND SEE THEIR HEART......



JOE ALWAYS LOVED WATCHING A GOOD MOVIE. HE DIDN'T CARE IF THEY WERE DRAMAS, HORROR, WAR, ACTION OR COMEDYS.
YOU COULD ASK HIM JUST ABOUT ANY QUESTION ABOUT ANY MOVIE HE HAD SEEN. HE HAD A GREAT MEMORY FOR DETAILS.
HE WAS REALLY GOOD AT RECOGNIZING A VOICE IN A COMMERCIAL. IT WOULD REALLY BUG HIM IF I DIDN'T HEAR WHO IT WAS OR IF I GUESSED WRONG. I REALLY COULD HAVE CARED LESS, BUT I HAVE NOTICED THAT I AM STARTING TO NOTICE THE VOICES TOO, MAYBE ITS JUST HIM MAKING ME HEAR THEM. 
MUSIC AND LYRICS RAN THROUGH HIS VEINS. HE WAS GREAT ABOUT NAMING BANDS AND SONGS FROM MANY YEARS AGO AND MANY DIFFERENT GENRES.
HE ENJOYED ALL TYPES OF MUSIC BUT I GUESS DEEP DOWN HE WAS A COUNTRY BOY AT HEART. ALL THE YEARS HE SPENT IN THE BAND, THEY ALWAYS TRIED TO KEEP UP WITH THE MOST POPULAR SONGS, AND KNOWING JOE HE DID HIS BEST TO SING THE SONGS THE WAY THEY WERE PLAYED ON THE RADIO.
RECENTLY WHILE LOOKING AROUND ON OUR COMPUTER I HAVE FOUND CLOSE TO 2000 SONGS HE HAS ON HERE. AND WHAT A VARIETY THERE IS. 



I COULD KEEP WRITING FOREVER ABOUT HOW MUCH I LOVE JOE AND MISS HIM, HOW GREAT HE WAS AND HOW MUCH WE ALL LOST THAT DAY. I JUST HOPE THAT HE CONTINUES TO WATCH OVER US AND KEEP SMILING DOWN ON US FROM HIS HEAVENLY HOME.
THOSE WE LOVE ARE WITH THE LORD,
AND THE LORD HAS PROMISED TO BE WITH US.
IF THEY ARE WITH HIM AND HE IS WITH US,
THEY CANNOT BE FAR AWAY..............

I HAVE SPENT ALOT OF TIME AT THE CEMETARY WHERE I LEFT MY JOE,(AND I CAN HEAR HIM, I AM NOT THERE WHY DO YOU KEEP GOING BACK?) I KNOW HE ISN'T THERE, I KNOW WHERE HE IS, BUT ITS THE LAST PLACE I LEFT HIM ON THAT COLD NOVEMBER DAY. AND I KNOW HE IS IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE THAN THE REST OF US, AND I HAVE OFTEN ASKED WHY HE HAD TO GO, THE ANSWER TO THIS AND MANY MORE QUESTIONS, I WILL NEVER HAVE THE ANSWER TO IN THIS LIFETIME. BUT SOMEDAY WE WILL BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND "GODS PLAN".....

FOR IT WAS NOT IN MY EAR YOU WHISPERED,
BUT INTO MY HEART.
IT WAS NOT MY LIPS YOU KISSED,
BUT MY SOUL.................


I KNOW THERE ARE STORIES THAT FRIENDS  AND FAMILY HAVE ABOUT JOE. IF YOU READ THIS AND WOULD LIKE TO TELL ME THAT STORY OR HAVE IT INCLUDED IN THIS SITE PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME. IF YOU HAVE PICTURES OF JOE I WOULD LOVE TO ADD THEM.  IF ANYONE SEES THIS SITE PLEASE FORWARD IT TO FRIENDS THAT WE HAVE LOST TOUCH WITH.
JOE, I LOVE YOU FOREVER AND EVER.......


JUDY



JOE'S FIRST BIRTHDAY IN HEAVEN.

I HAD BEEN PLANNING THIS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW,IT HELPS KEEP MY MIND BUSY.
I HAD MADE A FEW PHONE CALLS TO SOME FRIENDS AND HAD GOT IN TOUCH WITH ""WINGS OF PEACE"""
THIS IS S SERVICE THAT A LOVELY LADY AND HER HUSBAND OFFER.
THEY DO A DOVE RELEASE.
I HAD ORIGINALLY ORDERED THIS TO TAKE PLACE AT JOE'S FUNERAL, ( BUT HE HAD OTHER PLANS, HE ASKED FOR A SNOWY DAY, AND THATS WHAT WE GOT) THE DOVES CANNOT BE RELEASED IN BAD WEATHER.
SO I PLANNED IT TO TAKE PLACE FOR HIS FIRST BIRTHDAY.
AS THE PLANS STARTED TO TAKE SHAPE, AN IDEA HIT ME ONE DAY COMING HOME FROM THE CEMETARY. A BALLOON RELEASE, ONE BALLOON FOR EVERY YEAR.
SO I WENT SHOPPING, I BOUGHT THE HELIUM TANKS, AND BLUE AND YELLOW BALLOONS ( WVU COLORS) .
I WAS ABLE TO KEEP IT A SECRET FROM HIS FAMILY, (I KNOW I COULDN'T BELEIVE I DID IT EITHER)

I WOULD ONLY TELL THEM THAT I HAD SOMETHING SPECIAL TO TAKE PLACE, MAYBE THEY FIGURED IT OUT BUT THEY NEVER LET ME KNOW IT.

I GOT UP EARLY GOT ALL THE BALLONS, CAMERAS, AND FILM READY AND OFF WE WENT TO MEET THE FAMILY AT THE CEMETARY.
I DON'T THINK IT COULD HAVE BEEN ANY HOTTER. IT WAS AWFUL.


THE ENTIRE FAMILY SHOWED UP **IN ALL THE HEAT**, AND SOME VERY CLOSE FRIENDS.

NO ONE HAD ANY IDEA WHAT WAS ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE, I DID HEAR LATER THAT EVERYONE KEPT ASKING WHO DARLA WAS. THE LADY WITH THE DOVES.



DARLA'S HUSBAND STOOD BEHIND JOE'S GRAVE AND AS SHE READ A VERY PRETTY POEM. HE OPENED THE BASKET AND OUT FLEW 3 WHITE DOVES, THEY REPRESENTED THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND IN A SEPERATE BASKET THAT I GOT TO OPEN FLEW A SINGLE WHITE DOVE TO REPRESENT JOE'S SPIRIT.
THIS WAS OVERWHELMINGLY EMOTIONAL FOR ME.

I HOPE WITH ALL MY HEART THAT IT TOUCHED EVERYONE AS MUCH AS IT DID ME.

THEN TO TOP OFF THE DAY 
I BROUGHT THE BALLOONS.
I HAD 21 BLUE ONES AND 21 YELLOW ONES,
AND ONE RED ONE.

I HAD TOOK A MARKER AND WROTE ON THE ONE RED ONE A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO MY JOE.
AND I THOUGHT, I COULD ASK EVERYONE IF THEY WANTED TO SEND A SPECIAL MESSAGE WITH THEIR BALLOONS, JUST TO MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE PERSONAL.
AT THE TIME I REALLY DIDN'T THINK ANY ONE WOULD. BUT TO MY SURPRISE EVERYONE THERE TOOK A MARKER AND WROTE SOMETHING SPECIAL TO JOE.

WE STOOD OUT IN THE FIELD BELOW JOE'S GRAVE AND RELEASED THE BALLOONS ALL AT ONCE.
IT WAS SO NICE JUST TO THINK OF WHAT SOME OF THE MESSAGES MIGHT HAVE SAID.
WALT , ONE OF JUSTIN'S FRIENDS SAID, " I HOPE HE CAN READ MY WRITING"

I AM SURE JOE NOT ONLY COULD READ THE WRITING ON THE BALLOONS BUT COULD READ EVERYONES HEARTS TOO.

I do not remember the exact time this story took place but I am guessing around 1989 or 1990.
Joe and I lived just three doors down from his parents. We( at the time) done a little drinking at the house after the kids went to bed.
Joe never wanted his mom to know that we drank so we always did it late at night behind closed doors.
We were going out one night and Connie, Joe's mom was going to come down and watch the kids for us at our house, so that she could put them to bed when the time came.
I had no idea what Joe had done until the next day.
The house we lived in was a small house so the laundry was in the kitchen.
The day after we had went out. I had gone into the litchen to get some laundry started, and I had dropped some towels into the washer from the night before, and I started to get them out when I heard what sounded like glass.
I looked down into the washer and right there sitting in the bottom of it was all of our beer bottles and liquor bottles.
Joe had taken them all out of our fridge and hid them in the washer so that his mom wouldn't see them.
and yes she knows about this story so its not going to be a shock to her.
I will never forget the smile that came across his face when I asked him what in the world he had done.
I did ask him some time later what he would have done if Connie would have put something in the washer, or I had started it without looking inside of it.
Of course he just laughed.........





Another time later on ....
Joe and I have given up all drinking and it had been years since we had a beer.
He was working late one night at RUS and it was close to Christmas time and they had a buffet type dinner for the guys when they came back in off their routes.
Joe of course would try just about any type of food, so as usual he got him a plate full and ate and went back to loading his truck, but there was one thing on his plate that he really liked so he kept going back and getting more of it.
He was laughing and having a good time, but he said he felt really funny ( wierd)
everyone knew what he had been eating but him. 
RUM BALLS
He was getting drunk eating RUM BALLS.
He felt really bad when he got home that night, not from a hang over or anything, he just didn't want anything to do with alcohol.

We always loved Halloween. We took the kids every year. Until they didn't want us to go with them and they were old enough to go by them selves.
We had several original costumes.
Jessica was a Christmas gift one year and Justin was a home made scarecrow,  Jessica went as a giant sunflower one year and justin went as a pumpkin head , and a can of coke. They went as the popular cartoon characters too. Batman and Queen of hearts and the Joker. A jail bird lots of great costumes.
Some years I can remember taking home several large paper grocery bags full of candy.
We usually still had over half of it left when Christmas rolled around.

The last few years since we have been in our home in Nitro, we have so enjoyed watching the little kids.
Joe was always great with kids be it ours or someone elses.
It was as if they could see the angel in him.




Joe always enjoyed carving his own pumpkin. He always wanted to have one that was really different.
I can remember buying a book with a bunch of patterns in it but he would end up with something of his own or at least something very simple.

MY JOE WILL BE MINE FOREVER....




JUSTIN AND I DID SOME WORK AROUND THE HOUSE TODAY. WE ACTUALLY HAD TO REBUILD THE STEPS ON OUR FRONT PORCH. SOMETHING WE HAD NEVER DONE AT LEAST NOT ME AND HIM. WE TOOK THE OLD STEPS OFF AND MEASURED FOR THE NEW, WENT TO LOWES TO BUY THE WOOD THAT WAS NEEDED. WE CAME HOME GOT EVERYTHING READY AND MEASURED AND MARKED AND CUT, ALL THE TIME ASKING JOE TO HELP US OUT. EVERYTHING WENT GREAT WE MADE NO MAJOR SCREW UPS. HAHA
AND WHEN WE WERE PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON I LOOKED AT JUSTIN AND SAID " DADDY IS SMILING ON US, BECAUSE HE TAUGHT US WHAT TO DO."
I GOT A TEAR IN MY EYE JUST KNOWING THAT JOE WAS TRULY HELPING US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY THINGS THAT WE HAVE SAT AND WATCHED JOE DO, AND NEVER PAID THAT MUCH ATTENTION TO HOW HE DID IT. BOY ARE WE WISHING WE WOULD HAVE HELPED OUT MORE OR AT LEAST PAID MORE ATTENTION TO HIM.
BUT ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS ASK FOR HIS HELP AND I KNOW HE WILL TELL US OR SHOW US SOMEHOW.



TODAY WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL DAY. THE EVENING WAS JUST PERFECT FOR PORCH SITTING.
I WAS SITTING OUT ON OUR PORCH AND COULD SEE JOE SITTING THERE WITH ME WITH HIS FEET UP KICKED BACK WATCHING ALL THE TRAFFIC GO BY.
WE REALLY ENJOYED SITTING OUT IN THE EVENINGS. BUT I JUST CAN'T SEEM TO DO IT. ITS THE LITTLE THINGS THAT I TRULY MISS.

WE WOULD PROBABLY BE WATCHING THE MOMMY BIRD THAT HAS A NEST IN ONE OF MY FLOWERS OR HE WOULD BE PLAYING WITH DROOPY. AND JUST ABOUT THE TIME THAT DARK WOULD TAKE OVER WE WOULD TURN TO COME IN AND CALL IT A DAY.
I THINK THE EVENINGS ARE THE HARDEST FOR ME, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE LONELIEST. I MISS MY JOE. WE HAD SUCH A ROUTINE EVERY EVENING. I DO NOTHING LIKE BEFORE, BECAUSE HE IS NOT HERE TO SHARE IT. 
I SIT AND JUST STARE AT HIS PICTURES AND TRY TO REMEMBER EVERY LITTLE THING. FROM FRECKLES TO WRINKLES TO THE TWINKLE IN HIS EYES.  I KNOW HE IS WATCHING OVER US  IN EVERYTHING WE DO OR ATTEMPT TO DO. BUT OH WHAT I WOULDN'T DO TO HAVE ONE MORE DAY OR EVEN ONE MORE HOUR.
NO ONE CAN TRULY UNDERSTAND HOW I FEEL. I KNOW EVERYONE TRIES THEIR BEST, AND I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE BUT JOE KNEW MY EVERY THOUGHT MY EVERY HEART BEAT.

I NEVER THOUGHT I COULD LOVE SOMEONE AS MUCH AS I DO LOVE HIM.
AND IF GOD LOVES EACH ONE OF US HALF AS MUCH AS I LOVE MY JOE THEN ALL I CAN SAY IS ***WOW****.
I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THINGS I WISH I COULD GO BACK AND CHANGE, BUT TIME IS THE ONLY THING I WOULD TRULY CHANGE, AND I WOULD JUST SLOW TIME DOWN TO ALMOST STAND STILL. 
I OFTEN WONDER IF SOMEHOW WE KNOW WHEN OUR TIME WILL COME. I WONDER IF HE FELT SOMETHING THAT MORNING, THAT THIS WAS HIS LAST DAY HERE ON THIS EARTH. 
WE WILL NEVER KNOW.


I JUST PRAY THAT JOE ASKS GOD TO HEAL OUR HEARTS AND FILL US WITH LOVE.
GOD KNOWS HOW MUCH I LOVE MY JOE AND I KNOW JOE KNOWS HOW MUCH I LOVE HIM, AND MISS HIM.

TIL WE MEET AGAIN BABE, I LOVE WITH ALL MY HEART AND SOUL.

WE ALWAYS LOVED WATCHING FUNNY VIDEOS ON TV. BUT JOE WOULD JUST CRACK UP WHEN IT WAS ABOUT SOMEONE SNOW SKIING AND FALLING HEAD OVER HEELS DOWN A MOUNTAIN.  AND THE LONGER THEY FELL AND THE FURTHER DOWN THE MOUNTAIN THEY WENT THE FUNNIER IT GOT TO HIM. I NEVER COULD UNDERSTAND WHY HE THOUGHT IT WAS THAT FUNNY. HE AND JUSTIN BOTH WOULD JUST LAUGH THEMSELVES SILLY. AND THEN THEY WOULD REWIND IT PLAY IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I AM LAUGHING WRITING ABOUT IT.


I CAN STILL HERE HIM LAUGHING...

I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THINGS THAT WE USED TO LAUGH ABOUT.
WHEN I WOULD DO OUR LAUNDRY I WOULD USE DRYER SHEETS IN THE DRYER. AND IT NEVER FAILED ALMOST EVERYTIME HE WOULD PUT ON A PAIR OF PANTS, OR A LONG SLEEVE SHIRT, HE WOULD ALWAYS FIND A DRYER SHEET. I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY BUT IT USED TO AGITATE HIM. HE SAID WHAT IF I HAD WALKED AROUND WITH THAT THING STUCK TO MY CLOTHES. TO WHICH I WOULD ALWAYS ANSWER,, WELL AT LEAST  EVERYONE WILL KNOW THAT YOUR CLOTHES ARE CLEAN AND THAT THEY SMELL GOOD.
WE HAD ALOT OF FUN OVER THE YEARS, BUT I WASN'T DONE HAVING FUN.
JOE HAD SUCH A STRANGE SENCE OF HUMOR.
WE WERE AT A FLEA MARKET ONE TIME AND HE SEEN A GAS MASK. AND HAD TO HAVE IT. THE KIDS WERE YOUNGER, SOMETHING LIKE 11 OR 12. THE "MY PARENTS ARE SO EMBARRASSING" AGE. 
I WILL NEVER FORGET HIM BRINGING IT HOME AND GETTING THE KIDS WITH IT.
HE WENT INTO THE BATHROOM, STAYED QUITE A WHILE AND WHEN HE CAME OUT HE WAS WEARING THAT MASK. AND TOLD THEM THAT IF THEY NEEDED TO GO IN THERE ANYTIME SOON THEY MIGHT WANT TO WEAR THAT MASK.
WE LAUGHED OURSELVES SILLY ABOUT THAT ONE.
THE KIDS DIDN'T THINK IT WAS FUNNY THEN BUT WE ALL DO NOW.
I CAN REMEMBER JOE WEARING CLOTHES THAT DIDN'T MATCH, JUST TO GET JESSICA. SHE ALWAYS TRIED TO TELL HIM THAT HE DIDN'T MATCH, BUT THAT USUALLY JUST MADE IT WORSE. BUT HE DIDN'T CARE . I CAN STILL HEAR HER ASKING ME TO LAY HIS CLOTHES OUT FOR HIM SO HE WOULD MATCH. I AM SURE IT WAS AWFUL THEN BUT I BET THAT IS ONE VERY GOOD MEMORY THAT SHE HAS OF DADDY.
AND THE HAIR AND HATS JUST DROVE THEM CRAZY.
UNLESS JOE WAS GOING SOMEWHERE REALLY NICE, HE DIDN'T " MOST OF THE TIME" EVEN BRUSH HIS HAIR. HE JUST DIDN'T CARE.
AND HE USUALLY IF NOT ALWAYS HAD A HAT ON. OR RATHER A VISOR. HE ONLY WORE A FULL HAT IF HIS HAIR WAS STICKING UP REALLY BAD, AND THEN IT WAS ONLY LONG ENOUGH TO GET HAT HAIR, AND THEN HE WOULD SWITCH TO A VISOR.
IT NEVER BOTHERED ME ABOUT HIS HAIR OR HATS. I AM NOT A HAT PERSON, AND HAVE ONLY WORE A HAT ONE TIME IN MY LIFE. AND MY HAIR HAS TO BE FIXED. BUT THAT WAS HIS WAY. NOTHING FRILLY OR FANCY OR FAKE ABOUT JOE.
AND ANYONE WHO KNEW HIM 20 YEARS AGO, KNOWS THAT TO BE TRUE AND IF YOU ONLY KNEW HIM A YEARS AGO, YOU KNOW THAT TO BE TRUE.






TODAY ISN'T A GOOD DAY...


FOR THE TIME THAT JUSTIN WAS AWAY AT BASIC TRAINING, HIS GOOD FRIENDS, JEREMY AND HIS GIRLFRIEND COURTNEY AND JUSTIN'S GIRLFRIEND CAMIE. WOULD SPEND ALMOST EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT AT OUR HOUSE PLAYING CARDS.
WE WOULD GET PLENTY OF SODAS AND RAISONETTES,  SALSA AND CHIPS JUST LOADS OF JUNK FOOD, AND WE WOULD PLAY FOR MANY MANY HOURS. WE WOULD SOMETIMES PLAY POKER OR JUST ABOUT ANY CARD GAME WE COULD COME UP WITH.
WE EVEN TEASED JEREMY ABOUT HIM LIKING BINGO, SO ONE NIGHT WE ACTUALLY PLAYED BINGO.
WE REALLY LIKED THE CARD GAME " BULL CRAP"" OR AS JOE WOULD SAY "SNOT" BECAUSE HE NEVER SAID A CURSE WORD. THOSE WERE THE BEST TIMES.

SOMETIMES WE WOULD CARRY OVER UNTIL THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING.
JOE AND I REALLY ENJOYED THOSE TIMES. SOME NIGHTS JUSTIN WOULD CALL DURING OUR GAMES AND JUST COULDN'T IMAGINE THE FUN WE WERE HAVING.
UNTIL THE WEEKEND THAT HE FINALLY GOT TO COME HOME. AND HE GOT TO JOIN IN ON ALL THE FUN. THAT NIGHT WAS ONE OF THE BEST NIGHTS I CAN REMEMBER. WE ALL LAUGHED SO HARD. I REALLY THINK THAT NIGHT WE WERE ALL HERE ACTUALLY BROUGHT JOE AND MYSELF AND JUSTIN ALOT CLOSER.  AND THE CARD GAMES WERE GREAT TOO,  I OF COURSE USUALLY ALWAYS LOST AND JOE USUALLY ALWAYS WON. MOST TIMES IT GOT DOWN TO JUST JOE AND JEREMY. AND SOMEWAY SOMEHOW HE WOULD ALWAYS BEAT JEREMY IN THE END. COURTNEY EVEN TRIED SWITCHING JOE CHAIRS SAYING IT WAS A LUCKY CHAIR. BUT THAT DIDN'T HELP ANY OF US EITHER.
THE WEEKEND THAT JUSTIN CAME HOME HE WATCHED DADDY AND FIGURED OUT WHEN HE WAS BLUFFING AND WHEN HE WASN'T. 
WE ONLY PLAYED ONE NIGHT AFTER WE LOST JOE. AND IT JUST WASN'T THE SAME. JOE WAS THE ONE WHO KEPT US ALL LAUGHING AND WOULD BE THE ONE TO CATCH US WHEN WE WERE BLUFFING.
WE COULDN'T GET ANYTHING OVER ON HIM.
THESE FEW MONTHS THESE FRIENDS GOT TO SEE A SIDE OF JOE THAT MANY PEOPLE DIDN'T GET TO SEE. WE WOULD LAUGH TIL IT HURT TO LAUGH ANYMORE. AND WHEN THE KIDS WOULD LEAVE WE WOULD BE COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED. WE JUST WEREN'T USED TO STAYING UP LATE OR EVEN HAVING COMPANY OVER.
IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.
JOE AND I TRULY TREASURED THOSE NIGHTS, AND WOULD CONTINUE TO LAUGH AFTER THEY HAD LEFT, WHEN WE WOULD FINALLY GET INTO BED, WE WOULD STILL BE TALKING ABOUT WHO HAD WON OR WHO HAD GOT CAUGHT CHEATING OR WHATEVER.  WE ALWAYS LOOKED FORWARD TO THE WEEKENDS WHEN THE KIDS WOULD COME OVER, WE ACTUALLY WOULD PREPARE FOR IT EITHER BY STOCKING UP ON ALL THE JUNK FOOD AND DRINKS TO TAKING A LATE NAP SO THAT THESE OLD FOLKS COULD RUN WITH THE YOUNG CROWD.
I MISS THOSE TIMES WHEN WE WOULD JUST LAUGH...





JOE AND I BOUGHT US A BICYCLE MADE FOR TWO A FEW SUMMERS AGO.
WE HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR ONE FOR QUITE A WHILE, AND I MENTIONED IT TO MY SISTER. SHE CALLED AND HAD FOUND US ONE DOWN IN NORTH CAROLINA. SO THAT WEEKEND OFF WE WENT, WE DIDN'T EVEN TELL THE KIDS WE WERE GOING. IT WAS NOTHING FOR US TO TAKE OFF FOR SEVERAL HOURS. WE GOT UP REALLY EARLY AND DROVE DOWN IT ONLY TOOK US LESS THAN 4 HOURS TO GET THERE. WE WENT OUT TO EAT, AND GOT THE BIKE AND BACK WE CAME.
WE WERE THRILLED ABOUT THE BIKE.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT GETTING A 2 SEATER BIKE, I DIDN'T THINK HE WOULD GO ALONG WITH IT.
WE BOTH HAD SINGLE BIKES BUT WHEN WE WENT WE COULDN'T DO MUCH TALKING BECAUSE WE WERE TOO FAR APART.
WE TOOK OFF THE VERY FIRST NIGHT ON THE BIKE AND HAD A GREAT TIME. LOTS OF PEOPLE COMMENTED ON IT, AND THEY ALWAYS TOLD JOE THAT I WASN'T PEDDELING. BUT I WAS....
IT WAS THE ONLY 2 SEATER AROUND AT THE TIME. SO WE KINDA STUCK OUT.
I ENJOYED IT BECAUSE WE COULD TALK, AND I WAS ALWAYS RUBBING HIS BACK AND TOUCHING HIM. WE JUST FELT LIKE A COUPLE OF KIDS WHEN WE WERE OUT RIDDING. OH I MISS THOSE DAYS.
OUR BIKE HASN'T BEEN TOUCHED SINCE LAST SUMMER.
I HAVE NO ONE TO RIDE WITH ME.
I MISS MY JOE.




ANOTHER TIME WE TOOK OFF AND RODE JUSTIN'S MOTORCYCLE TO PARKERSBURG.
JOE WAS WANTING TO BUY A TRUCK, HE HAD A VERY NICE TRUCK, BUT IT WAS A SMALL TRUCK AND HE WANTED A FULL SIZE ONE.
SO OFF TO PARKERSBURG VERY EARLY ONE MORNING WE WENT. WOW, IT WAS COLD. IT WAS JULY BUT AT THAT HOUR OF THE MORNING IT WAS COLD.
WE MADE IT TO PARKERSBURG, AND STARTED TRUCK SHOPPING, AND THE HEAT WAS ON. ONCE THE MORNING CHILL WAS GONE IT GOT TO BE ABOUT 90 DEGREES.
WE SPENT THE ENTIRE DAY UP THERE BUT WITH NO LUCK HE DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING, HE LIKE AND WHAT HE DID LIKE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH HIM.

SO WE HEADED BACK DOWN THE INTERSTATE.
NOW I AM FEELING FINE BUT I AM JUST A PASSENGER, AND HE IS DRIVING, OH BY THE WAY JUSTIN'S BIKE IS A CROTCH ROCKET..
WHICH IS NOT THE TYPE OF BIKE THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY RIDE. ITS NOT FOR A LONG ROAD TRIP.
JOE STARTS SAYING THAT HIS BACK AND NECK ARE REALLY HURTING. HE IS GETTING ALL THE WIND AND PRESSURE.
SO WE WOULD PULL OFF THE ROAD AND HE WOULD GET A BACK AND NECK MASSAGE.
WE MADE SEVERAL STOPS FOR A QUICK MASSAGE, AND I WOULD TRY TO KEEP RUBBING AS WE WERE RIDING, WE EVEN STOPPED JUST ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE, FOR A QUICK BREAK.
WE WERE BOTH SO TIRED BY THE TIME WE GOT HOME. I THINK IT WAS A VERY LONG TIME BEFORE WE GOT ON THAT BIKE AGAIN.
IF IT HAD BEEN A NORMAL BIKE IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THAT HARD ON HIM.
( I EVEN CARRIED 2 STEAKS FROM A GROCERY STORE IN PARKERSBURG HOME THAT DAY)
OUR LOCAL STORE HAD QUIT CARRYING THEM AND THEY WERE OUR FAVORITE STEAKS.
THATS SO FUNNY TO THINK US RIDING A MOTORCYCLE AND ME RIDING WITH 2 ROZEN STEAKS BETWEEN MY LEGS, AND TRYING TO RUB HIS BACK AND NECK AND HOLD ONTO THE STEAKS.
BY THE WAY WE BURNED THE STEAKS. OR SHALL I SAY HE BURNED THE STEAKS, WE WERE JUST TOO TIRED TO GRILL OUT BUT WE WANTED THOSE STEAKS SO BAD.BUT WE ATE THEM ANYWAY, THE BURNT PART TOO.



HE WAS THE MASTER OF THE GRILL....
OUR BIRTHDAYS ARE VERY CLOSE TOGETHER. SO FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WE WOULD JUST BUY ONE NICE GIFT FOR THE BOTH OF US. SOMETHING WE BOTH WANTED OR NEEDED.
ONE YEAR WE BOUGHT A VERY NICE CAMERA. AND ANOTHER YEAR WE BOUGHT THIS HUGE GRILL.
IT IS STAINLESS STEEL AND HE WAS GREAT WITH IT. I NEVER EVEN LEARNED HOW TO TURN IT ON.
BUT HE WOULD GRILL OUT HAMBURGERS AND HOT DOGS. THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY GREAT. ALL THE FAMILY LOVED HIS BURGERS, BUT HIS STEAKS WERE MAGNIFICENT.
WE EVEN TRADED OFF THE TRADITIONAL  THANKSGIVING TURKEY FOR STEAKS ON THE  GRILL ONE YEAR. IT WAS GREAT. HE WOULD GRILL OUT IN ANY WEATHER. HE REALLY ENJOYED IT.
JUSTIN AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT LEARNING HOW TO USE DADDYS GRILL, BUT I KNOW WE WILL NEVER BE AS GREAT AS HE WAS ON IT.
I BOUGHT BURGERS ABD HOT DOGS , EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR A GOOD COOKOUT, AND I AM GOING TO ATTEMPT TO DO IT THIS WEEKEND. BUT I WILL BE TAKING THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER WITH ME TO THE PORCH BEFORE I START JUST IN CASE I NEED IT.

WELL I DID IT. I FIRED UP THAT MONSTER OF A GRILL AND GRILLED HAMBURGERS AND WIENERS. THEY WEREN'T TOO BAD, JUSTIN SAID I NEED TO PUT MORE SPICES ON THE BURGERS. I SAID I WOULD HAVE TO WORK ON THAT.
THAT IS IF I EVER TRY THAT AGAIN.
IT WAS AWFUL. I BURNT MY EYES MY EYEBROWS AND MY EYE LASHED. HAD SEVERE SMOKE INHALATION AND DIDN'T FIND IT ENJOYABLE AT ALL.
IT MUST BE " A MAN THANG""

BUT I WILL TRY IT AGAIN SOMETIME. WHEN MY EYE BROWNS NEED TRIMMED OR MY EYE LASHES NEED CURLING. NO BUT SERIOUSLY I WILL ATTEMPT IT AGAIN. ONE GOOD THING I DIDN'T NEED TO USE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER.
BUT ITS STILL THERE FOR THE NEXT TIME.



MY NEIGHBOR, LISA CAME OVER TO SHOW ME HER NAILS TODAY AND IT GOT ME THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING REALLY SILLY WITH ME AND JOE.
I ABSOLUTLEY CAN NOT STAND TO SEE OR FEEL OR HEAR  A METAL NAIL FILE.
JOE ALWAYS KEPT HIS NAILS TRIMMED AND CLEAN BUT HE ALWAYS USED A METAL NAIL FILE.
SO IF I WAS AROUND WHEN HE NEEDED TO FILE HIS NAILS, I WOULD HAVE TO HOLD MY EARS AND TURN MY HEAD OR LEAVE THE ROOM, I COULDN'T STAND TO SEE IT OR HEAR IT.
TO ME IT IS WORSE THAN SOMEONE TAKING THEIR NAILS TO A CHALK BOARD.
CHILLS JUST RUN OVER MY BODY, AND MAKE MY TEETH HURT. JUST ANOTHER ONE OF MY STRANGE QUIRKS.
HE WOULD TRY TO DO IT WHILE I SHOWERED OR BEFORE I GOT HOME BUT WHEN HE WOULD FORGET HE WOULD DO THEM WHILE WE WERE WATCHING TV.
BUT AGAIN HE WOULD ALWAYS WARN ME SO I COULD PREPARE MYSELF. I WOULD HOLD MY EARS AND TURN MY HEAD, AND WHEN HE WAS FINISHED HE WOULD YELL AT ME OR THROW A PILLOW AT ME TO LET ME KNOW HE WAS FINISHED.
JUST ANOTHER WAY JOE WAS ALWAYS MAKING SURE EVERYONE WAS HAPPY AROUND HIM, EVEN IF IT WAS SOMETHING AS SILLY OR SIMPLE AS A NAIL FILE.
I LOVE YOU BABE.

JOE DONE SOME STRANGE THINGS, WELL I CAN'T REALLY CALL THEM STRANGE JUST DIFFERENT. THINGS I HAD NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE.
IF WE WERE WALKING DOWN A STREET, HE WOULD ALWAYS WALK ON THE OUTSIDE OF ME, HE SAID IF A CAR CAME TOO CLOSE HE WOULD BE ABLE TO PUSH ME OUT OF THE WAY.
AND HE ALWAYS SLEPT ON THE SIDE OF THE BED CLOSEST TO THE DOOR, HE WOULD SAY IF SOMEONE CAME IN THE HOUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH HIM FIRST.
HE WAS ALWAYS MAKING SURE HE KEPT ME SAFE EVEN IN THE LITTLE THINGS. THAT NOW I CAN LOOK BACK ON WITH AHH.

I CAN REMEMBER ONE TIME JESSICA HAD A HAMSTER, AND IT GOT OUT, JUST ABOUT THE TIME THAT I WAS COOKING DINNER. WELL WHEN THAT LITTLE RAT RAN ACROSS THE FLOOR AND I SAW HIM,,NEEDLESS TO SAY I STARTED SCREAMING.
I WILL NEVER FORGET JOE GOT REALLY MAD AT ME BECAUSE MY SCREAMS SCARED HIM AND HE RAN SO FAST UP THE STAIRS, THINKING I HAD GOTTEN BURNT REALLY BAD. I FELT BAD THAT I HAD SCARED HIM IN THAT WAY, BUT I STILL HAD A RAT RUNNING AROUND. BUT OF COURSE HE SOON CAUGHT IT AND PUT IT BACK IN ITS CAGE.

I ALWAYS FELT SAFE WITH JOE.I WAS NEVER SCARED REALLY ABOUT ANYTHING. AND I HAVEN'T BEEN SCARED SINCE I LOST MY JOE, AND I THINK IT IS BECAUSE I KNOW HE IS STILL WITH ME TAKING CARE OF ME.
HE ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF ME THE REST OF MY LIFE, AND I TRULY BELEIVE HE IS STILL  DOING IT. EVEN AFTER HE HAS GONE. 







JOE AND I AND JESSICA AND JUSTIN , ALWAYS HAD A LARGE SUNDAY DINNER. EVEN IF THAT WAS THE ONLY DAY OF THE WEEK THAT WE COULD ALL SIT DOWN AS A FAMILY.
AND IF YOU KNEW JOE, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH HE COULD EAT.
AND JOE AND I WOULD ALWAYS FIND LITTLE SAYINGS THAT JUST BOTHERED THE KIDS.
THEY LIKE ALL TEENAGERS THOUGHT WE WERE CRAZY.
JOE WOULD ALWAYS SAY""I JUST CROSSED THAT LINE" MEANING HE SHOULD HAVE STOPPED EATING SOONER, BUT BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HE WAS NOW MISERABLY FULL.
JUSTIN ALWAYS WOULD QUESTION US AS TO WHAT LINE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT. JOE ALWAYS LAUGHED SO HARD JUST TRYING TO EXPLAIN IT TO HIM. AND I THINK JUSTIN LIKED GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH DADDY, ABOUT ""WHAT LINE""?????
JUSTIN WOULD ALWAYS SAY "I DON'T SEE ANY LINE"".
WE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WAS SO FUNNY.
WHEN JOE GOT IN THE MOOD FOR A SPECIFIC FOOD, HE WOULD ALWAYS SAY
"THAT HIT THE SPOT"""
TO WHICH JUSTIN WOULD ALWAYS SAY,
" WHAT SPOT""????

I CAN STILL HEAR THE LAUGHTER FROM JOE ABOUT "THE SPOT"
IT WAS ALWAYS SO FUNNY LISTENING TO HIM TRYING TO EXPLAIN THAT TO JUSTIN.
JUSTIN WAS THE ONE QUESTIONING IT MORE THAN JESSICA, I THINK BECAUSE SHE KNEW SHE WOULDN'T GET AN ANSWER FROM DADDY THAT MADE SENSE TO HER OR THAT SHE WOULD UNDERSTAND.

I CAN REMEMBER DADDY TELLING JESSICA, THAT SHE WAS
"DOMESTICALLY CHALLENGED"""
HE COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND HOW SHE DIDN'T GET ANY WOMANLY INSTINCTS, ABOUT CLEANING HOUSE OR EVEN WASHING DISHES.
SHE WOULD UNLOAD THE DISH WASHER AND STACK THE BOWLS IN THE CABINET BUT SHE WOULDN'T STACK THEM LIKE MOST PEOPLE DO.
BIGGER BOWLS ON THE BOTTOM AND SMALLER ONES ON TOP.
SHE WOULD STACK THEM BACKWARDS AND GET UPSET BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T GET ALL THE DISHES TO FIT IN THE CABINET.

I CAN REMEMBER WHEN JESSICA WOULD HAND WASH THE DISHES BEFORE WE GOT A DISHWASHER, AND SHE WOULDN'T GET THEM CLEAN THAT JOE WOULD MAKE HER RERUN THE DISH  WASHING WATER 3 OR 4 TIMES AND REDO THE DISHES UNTIL SHE GOT THEM CLEAN. AND NO IT WASN'T HARD BAKED ON STUFF SHE DIDN'T GET CLEAN IT WAS SIMPLE MILK OR CHEESE, SHE JUST DIDN'T WANT TO DO THEM.
MANY ARGUMENTS CAME FROM DIRTY DISHES THAT SHE CLAIMED WERE CLEAN.
SO BAD THAT IF SHE DIDN'T GET THEM CLEAN WHEN WE SAT DOWN FOR DINNER THE NEXT EVENING, HE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT SHE GOT THE "DIRTY" CLEAN DISHES PUT AT HER PLACE SETTING.

I CAN STILL HEAR HIM YELLING AT HER WHEN HE GOT IN THE CABINET FOR A BOWL, FOR OUR EVENING BOWL OF CEREAL AND THE BOWL STILL HAD WET MILK IN IT.




MY MOM, RUTH, ALWAYS HAD THIS FAVORITE SHIRT THAT SHE WORE AROUND THE HOUSE.
IT WAS HER FAVORITE SHIRT, IT HAD HOLE AND TEARS ALL OVER IT BUT SHE LIKED IT.
AND JOE,,,,,,OF COURSE IF WE WERE THERE AND HE SPOTTED THIS SHIRT, IT WAS ON.
HE WOULD GO OUT OF HIS WAY TO LOOK FOR THIS SHIRT ABND HIDE IT FROM HER.
HE WOULD PUT IT IN THE CABINET WITH THE BREAD, OR THE FREEZER, OR FRIDGE AND ONE TIME WENT SO FAR TO TAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE GARAGE.

HE WOULD DO IT ALL WITH A STRAIGHT FACE AND NEVER CRACK A SMILE.
AT LEAST NOT TIL WE GOT IN THE CAR TO LEAVE AND HE WOULD TELL ME WHAT HE DID WITH IT.
AND WE ALWAYS KNEW WHEN SHE NOTICED THAT IT WAS MISSING, BECAUSE SHE WOULD START CALLING AND ASKING,,
" JOEY WHAT DID YOU DO WITH MY SHIRT"""???

AND AGAIN HE WOULD , WITH A STRAIGHT FACE AND NO LAUGHTER, SAY,
" I HAVEN'T SEEN IT""
WHICH WASN'T A LIE HE HADN'T SEEN IT FOR A WHILE.
AND WHEN SHE WOULD FINALLY FIND IT, SHE WOULD CALL AND ALWAYS ASK FOR JOE,
AND I ALWAYS KNEW SHE HAD FOUND IT.
THEY ALWAYS SHARED A GOOD LAUGH OVER THAT HOLELY SHIRT.

SHE FINALLY HAD TO RETIRE THAT SHIRT TO THE TRASH.
BUT SHE HAS GOT ANOTHER ONE THAT SHE SAID JUST THE OTHER DAY, THAT SHE LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED SOME SMALL HOLES STARTING, AND SHE LOOKED AT A PICTURE OF JOE AND SAID,

I'M GETTING STARTED ON A NEW ONE, JOEY.
I WISH YOU WERE STILL HERE TO HIDE IT FROM ME.