Dean, Death & Dallas
A dear friend of my "eclectic family" has died. He'd been in poor health for a while, but was vibrant and encouraging the bulk of his 91 years on this earth. The funeral is tomorrow in Dallas and at first I couldn't conceive of how I could be there for it. Although we're less stressed about Amy's health, she's not exactly rebounding yet, plus there is this hurricane which I initially believed would be bearing down on Texas fairly rapidly. I can't skip out on work during hurricanes...it's not good for my long term job prospects.
The more I considered it though, and admittedly Amy had a great deal of influence, the more I realized I really needed to be there to praise this man, and to stand by my other "eclectic family members" whom he stood by for so many years.
So I scrambled with schedules, praised God that Hurricane Dean is apparently taking a cue from Howard Dean's Iowa debacle and running off in an unexpected direction, rented a car (not going to risk driving our car in such a rushed situation) and will stop into the office for a couple of hours in the morning to get things organized and before zipping up to Dallas. I'll only have a handful of hours before I'll have to turn right around and come back, so it will be a long day. I think it will be good day nonetheless.
Amy won't be making the trip. She's not happy about that but she knows she needs rest and a regular schedule of sleep. I don't want her to endure 10 or 12 hours of driving...so it will be a bit lonely.
I plan to rest in the company of my memories...of a very good man, a loving man and a legacy of integrity. I suspect that will sustain me.
Joe Jackson
January 1916 - August 2007
January 1916 - August 2007
posted by Michael
©The Main Point by Michael Main
1 Comments
1 Comments:
Thank you, Joe, for welcoming me into the "family" so many years ago. It makes me sad to let you go, but I am overjoyed that you are no longer in pain and in the loving arms of our Savior.
Many of you know that Michael's parents died when he was 14. His father died of a heart attack. Just a few weeks later, his mother was killed by a drunk driver. Michael and his two older brothers were "shipped" from Long Island to the Dallas area to live with their mother's half-brother and his wife -- a couple with no children and not much of an idea what to do with them.
Fast forward... the boys grew up and out, their uncle and his wife divorced, etc... But "Aunt Kathy," only related by marriage for a time, held the homing beacon for those boys. At some time, I believe, Kathy worked for Joe.
We have spent most of the last 14 Thanksgivings with her in Farmers Branch. Joe has always been there -- part of Michael's "eclectic family." I consider Kathy & Joe my "in-laws." Somehow I knew that this past Thanksgiving was our last with him. I think everyone knew -- even Joe.
Rest well, Joe. I miss you already. Who's gonna make the pork loin?
Be safe, Michael. I love you. Hoping you'll be home within the hour!!!
love,
me
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