[Gpdd] MIsc: Re: In Memory of Joe

[adcavy at aol.com]

For those of us who have been members of the digest for many years the 
news of Joe's death is a shock. Since losing his beloved George, Joe 
hadn't posted much on the digest. I expect it reminded him too much of 
George and his terrible loss.

For members who never knew of Joe I can tell you he had such a big 
heart and spirit and whenever he posted they both lit up the digest. 
Whenever anyone lost a pig Joe would post such wonderful touching and 
comforting tributes for the owner as well as their departed pet. No one 
could put the feelings we all have when our beloved pets die into words 
better than Joe.

I remember George's marriage to Angel. The descriptions of the event 
and celebrations all written in Joe's wonderful way. I also remember 
George's struggle at the end as he fought to stay with Joe and Gail and 
ow hard they fought  to keep him with them. Only people who were on the 
digest at that time know of the valiant efforts they both made to keep 
him healthy for as long as they could. I felt humble every time Joe 
posted another episode in George's daily struggle with illness.

When it finally came to the time for George to go to the Bridge it was 
almost too painful to read Joe's tribute to him. His loss and grief 
were so strong you could feel them in his words. Sadly none of us on on 
the digest at the time could do justice in words to George as Joe had 
often done for our pigs. I guess we were just not elequent enough.

I had the great privilege of not only having Joe post tributes to my 
pigs, especially Golden Girl who died many years ago( it still brings 
tears to my eyes to read it) but of having some emails from him as 
well. I treasure them still.

Our thoughts and prayers are with gail at this sad time. May the 
thought of Joe at least being reunited wih George bring her some small 
comfort as well as the support of those of us who are proud to call him 
a digest friend still.

Always remembering Joe and George.

Antoinette and the Magic 60