Joe was not your "average Joe". After my sister, Marilyn, married Joe, I saw her have a delightful, warm, engaging smile once again. Her ability to smile so genuinely after being married to Joe has never ceased to amaze me. I had not seen that smile for so very many years. I had forgotten it existed. Joe brought that smile back. It was his gift to Marilyn. After getting to know Joe, I realized why. He was sheltering, loyal and all heart underneath it all.
Joe was all bark and absolutely no bite! He wanted to be a bad boy but never made the mark. When Joe was more healthy I would argue with Joe to wash a dish in that kitchen. As a out of town guest, my towels were washed and the sheets changed before I could put on my lipstick! It was actually kind of fun to spar with Joe. He would let me win just because. His bark was our terms of endearment. I could just say anything to Joe and I think he felt that comfortable with me. We just connected. We were kind of alike.
Joe would do anything for you. When I visited from Virginia, I would stay with Marilyn and Joe. My sister is not a 7:30 Sunday mass goer; I am. She is a 9 or 11 am mass person. When it didn't suite one of us to go together, I knew where to find my accommodating Uber driver. Joe would be in his cubby located at the front of the garage. It was set up quite nicely as a man cave ... radio, coke, chair, shelf and unfortunately cigarettes. No need to ask twice, Joe was in the car driving me to St. Bernadette's Church and afterward to Starbucks. Yes, Joe and I would go to church together ... me inside the church and Joe doing his curb-side church thing.
I will certainly miss Joe. I truly enjoyed Joe's personality and his friendship.
"No one can see all the facets of a diamond at once; our angle of vision always limits us. But we can see things of light and beauty. Sometimes we see these in the middle of great darkness. We can hope to find the light in the darkness of suffering" and grieving.
Making Sense out of Suffering by Peter Kreeft
Carole Bergin
