I couldn't wait to have a blog post for October, to talk about Oktoberfest, and Halloween, and all the fun things going on in my life, but tragedyy struck me and my family early this October, a little over a month ago, and I guess now feels like the right time to talk about it.
On October 2nd, my mom and I were ready to make a nice dinner when we received a call from my grandmother. She was on the way to the hospital because my uncle had collapsed in his home after running on the treadmill. He was taken by paramedics, and my aunt followed behind (his wife). My grandparents were on their way, and my sister and her boyfriend were on their way from Tempe.
When we got to the hospital, they put us in a little room and we (impatiently) waited for the doctor to come, after the nurse told us he was in "critical" condition.
My uncle Joe had turned 60 years old this past May. He was a diabetic since he was 7 years old. Through out his life, he struggled with his disease, but kept himself in amazing health, his only loss being his right eye, when I was about 6 years old.
Presuming my uncle had just had a bad diabetic reaction, we were hopeful. The doctor came not long after and told us the worst thing anyone can ever tell a human being: that they have lost the person they love.
My uncle and I were very close. Anyone who knows me well knows I looked up to him. We were closer than most nieces and their uncles. We have had a kinship that has been since day one. He was there the day I was born. We talked and emailed on a regular basis. He and his wife had no children, so he sudo-adopted me and my sister. He was like a father to me. He was my favorite man in the whole wide world (aside from my Aaron). I also think I fell in love with Aaron because he reminded me so much of my uncle: his mannerisms, his dry humor, his generosity.
I didn't mean for this to be sad,but a tribute. As I as looking for my next "blog" subject about whats been going on in my life, how do I not speak of the most life changing event in my life?
Below is what I said at his funeral. It amazing how you have to sum up the person you love so much in a few words.
Dear Uncle Joe Baby,
How do I write you a letter to tell you how much I love you? I don't know how in a few words I can say how much one person can mean to me. There aren't enough words in the universe. Yet, I know if you were reading this, you'd be telling me, “Pietrina, don't make a Marx brothers movie out of this, keep it simple”... so I will try my very best...
I guess it all started when I was lucky enough to be born your niece, and even luckier, your God daughter. And as you would call over to me before I could walk, you would say, “Come here baby”, and so I thought your name was “Joe Baby”, and that is who you are.
I truly am the luckiest little God Daughter that ever lived. You never did anything on a “small” scale. I was so showered with the coolest gifts, and of course, you have a knack for finding the funniest, most perfect cards. Sometimes I wondered if you searched for cards year round.
I guess a lot of nieces aren’t normally very close to their uncles. They see them a few times a year, but you, you were more than an uncle, more than a parent, you were more than a mentor, and anyone that knows us knows that we are close as close can be.
You are the only person I know who knows something about everything. I often wondered why you never tried out for Jeopardy.
I guess we sort of have a kin ship. Being the “oldest” kids, we always worry about every body else, making sure they are okay. But you and I, we always worried about each other, too. We looked out for each other.
When I got older, you would take me out on “dates”... we would meet for lunch or dinner, and talk till the coffee ran out and the waitress was annoyed and wanted to go home.
You have the strongest tightest hugs. I could feel your hugs deep down in my bones, they'd stay with me for hours.
The older I get, the more I idolize you. You always have the best advice. You are the most wise and encouraging person I have ever known. You are the glue that holds are whole family together. I don't know how I can keep everything from unsticking.
You have given me so much in my life, more than you will ever know. You want to know a secret? Every time I have a tough decision to make, and you aren't there to call immediately, or email, I think to myself, “WWJD... what would Joe do?”... and I always know just what to do.
You are stolen from me too soon. I don't know why, but you are. I need more strong hugs, more dinner dates, more words of wisdom... but the love we've had in 25 years is more love than most kids see in their whole life, and you have given me more love that will last me my whole lifetime.
I love you so much Joe Baby, and I don't know how I am gonna make it with out you.
I promise to be the best kid I can be, make sure to take care of everybody, keep it simple, and never ever ever ever ever stop loving you every single day, more and more and more. I love you.
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