Joe

Dear Joe,

If I ever decide to, start to, begin to, or finish a book...

I will dedicate it to you. You are a man of many words, cigars, Ralph Lauren, and pumpkin pies. I remember you like a story.

You were born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and adopted by a farm family in southern Minnesota. This is why you hate cheese. I love how you tested your memory by trying to remember all 12 names. The 12 names of the 12 kids enrolled in your grade school. You remembered them all. You remember everything. Two years of college and writing sports for the Minnesota Daily. At the time, the University of Minnesota was 16,000 in enrollment. Money was tight. You hitchhiked from Minnesota to California for work,  6 months and you enlist in the United States Marine Corp. The very first troop into Camp Pendelton. November 1, 1943 marks the first invasion.

"I had the pleasure of serving with three Medal of Honor winners. You know the Medal of Honor? The top award, beyond the Call of Duty type thing."

Nothing really interesting happened after the War until you met Evelyn in New York. I like how you put it that way. You worked for Pan Am as a steward. You wanted the opportunity. You wanted to see Europe.

"It was a very interesting experience, quite an experience."

"That was fun too."

"I did more things than a lot of people did with their lives, you know."

You don't need to prove that to anyone, Joe. You did more than anyone I know.  You are more than a Grandfather to me and greater than any story I could ever tell. I'm just glad I am able to tell it with your vibrant words and heavy spirit. You are in good hands.

Thank you for pulling me aside each holiday over the past year, every dinner with the family to tell me how proud you are, encouraging me to keep writing. I write with your hand. You have given me a beautiful gift: confidence and sentence structure (I hope that one made you smile).

I asked you, from experience, what the most important thing in life could be...

"Self-satisfaction...being happy with whatever commitments you've made. A feeling that it was well done."

Well done, Joe. We will always remember you under a dignified light.

I love you so much,

Arden