All of us know Joey is the only son of Karen and Joe. However, many of us also know he's not without a brother. Kevin and Joey are best friends. More so, Kevin and Joey are like brothers.They grew up together. They were inseparable.
I really am not sure what to post here, but whenever I think of Kevin, and how he is grieving Joey's loss, I think of a song that is written to a friend who also passed away. So I guess I would just write the lyrics here.
FRIENDS ARE FRIENDS FOREVER ...
Packing up
the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
I can't believe the hopes
He's granted
Means a chapter
of your life is through
But we'll keep you
close as always
It won't even seem
you've gone
'Cause our hearts
in big and small ways
Will keep the love
that keeps us strong
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy you live in
Is the strength that now you show
We'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong
And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends
This post really does not do justice in describing the closeness Kevin and Joey has as best friends. To all of you who knows Kevin and Joey and has stories to tell, please share your thoughts and stories in the comment section....
2 comments:
Proverbs 18:24
"There are "friends" who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
Joey and Kevin became best friends when Joey was 1 year old and Kevin was three. They lived on the same street for most of their childhoods and played together every day. Their universe was our culdesac and as far as we would let them explore. When Kevin went to Jr Hi 2 years before Joey, I thought that would be the end of the friendship, but it wasn't. When Kevin went to high school I thought that would be the end, but it wasn't. When Kevin went to college, moved to Ohio, got married, I thought these things would somehow reduce their friendship...but not a chance. Their friendship only deepened as the years passed and distance separated them. When apart they were always planning their next trip.
Joey also bonded with Kevin's two brothers, Ryan and Jeremy. Their mother, Melissa, became his second mother. He even preferred the smell of his t-shirts after she washed them, and he let me know it. She even moved him into college on his first day at USC, because we were saving our trip for Parent's Weekend a month later.
When Melissa married Tom, Joey bonded with Tom's three boys, Mark, Michael, and Chris. Joey became the 7th son in that noisy, wild, fun-loving clan of mighty young men. They got each other into and out of trouble. They were a band of brothers. They played Risk all night long and had nerf ball wars in the living room. Tom taught them all to play golf!
They all feel Joey's loss, but no one more than Kevin. Kevin left his vet practice in WA twice to come to both memorial services, and he spoke twice about his best friend. Joey had spent the previous week together with Kevin and Molly and both families in Waikiki and Maui. They were already planning their next trip together.
Kevin was a wonderful friend to Joey for the past 27 years... from beginning to the very end. That friendship will extend on into eternity someday, and we will all be united once again. Till then, Kevin, we love you and thank you for being such a good and enduring and faithful friend to Joey.
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