Friday, December 13, 2024
FRIENDSHIP … THE WORD means many things to different people…
To some, it’s a meaningless reference or just a casual word.
But to my dad, friendship was TRUE and LIFELONG. When he befriended you there was nothing, he would not do for you. That’s why everyone you ask ALWAYS felt the same SPECIAL way about him.
Even his old school friends from New York referred to him as HONEST JOEY. He was their truest & best friend. He had a magnetic charisma about him that immediately attracted people to him.
When TERESA was moving to Europe he gave her a note that said he was sad because his best friend was moving away. We were sad to be missing our best friend too, but we knew he had so many great friends that he enjoyed sailing with and playing water volleyball with every day.
He and my mom enjoyed hosting countless parties and there was always a place at the table for everyone – there was never a guest list – it was always “come one…come all” – no matter how many!!
It didn’t matter if you were invited or not, you were treated like royalty at every party.
His 91 years were filled with love and he always gave more than anyone expected and never uttered a mean word toward anybody.
I have NEVER heard anybody utter a negative word about him. NEVER.
He was proud of his Maltese roots and was a devoted Catholic and even watched the televised mass every Sunday till his very last day.
His youthful spirit faded this past year as he struggled with an illness that ultimately took him away from us on October 13th.
He told Teresa and me that morning that he wanted to go home. We struggled with that notion but we reluctantly agreed to give him our blessing to go peacefully back home.
As evening fell, the gloomy day blossomed into a dreamy dusk and two rainbows blessed the sky outside his hospital room window.
I know that was my mom,Joan opening the gates of heaven to usher him back into her arms. They would soon be eternally reunited .
He lovingly squeezed Teresa’s and my hand as he drew his last breath and passed in a most peaceful way.
As he was passing, he kept uttering the word SEVEN…SEVEN…SEVEN..and stared deeply into the sky.
We didn’t really know the significance of those last words …
Was it that his favorite drink was a 7&7?
Was it a long shot horse running at AQUEDUCT RACE TRACK?
Was it him calling to the angels to come get him in his hospital room 7710?
We learned that it was much more meaningful. The number 7 has a deeply spiritual meaning….
In SCRIPTURE, the number SEVEN represents
PERFECTION AND COMPLETENESS…
The Lord was speaking through him to let us know that this righteous man has led a near perfect and complete life – and he is now moving toward an even more perfect life with THE LORD and his loved ones.
In that moment, God welcomed our perfect dad back home and we should continue to live on with his spirit and love to guide us.
His MEMORY will be missed, but his life lives on in all of us who were blessed to have known him.
WE LOVE YOU FOREVER DAD…REST IN PEACE.