Make New Friends But Keep The Old - One Is Silver And The Other Gold (Part 2)

* the following is a post entry written by Mackenzie on their blog "The Abrahams". Mackenzie and her husband Jim are among the precious "new friends" in Joey's life (as opposed to an "old family friend" that Wendy is). They are among the latest, closest friends that Joey has. One that "sticks closer than a brother" kind of friends. Jim is among them who found Joe(y) in his room that night ... you can just imagine the impact of that .... The Abrahams sent off Joey and Rachel to their "Van Down By the River" trip. They have so much fun memories together. They miss Joe(y) as much as Joey's family misses him. Here's a glimpse of the Abrahams' thoughts from their blog (re-printed here with permission):

This is hard

It is still hard for me to believe that Joe is gone. I am still expecting him to call Jim and make plans to hang out for dinner or have lunch after church. I still feel the presence of his spirit when we are all sitting around the table at Rachel's house eating, laughing, and sharing stories. I miss his laughter, his business banter, and the way he called my husband "Jim da Hawaiian." He was such a good friend to Jim.

Although the shock has subsided a bit it is still very surreal. And hard. The experience of grief this personal is new to me. And what is more, I feel the grief and the pain of this loss at so many different levels. I hurt for my friend Rachel who has lost the love of her life, the man she hoped to marry. Even typing those words is hard for me because I don't want to believe that it is true. I grieve for Joe's amazing family - Papa Joe, Karen, JoAnne & Jaime and their husbands, Joe's nieces and nephews. The pain they are experiencing is palpable and I wish I knew how best to comfort them. It is a bit ironic that in the past couple weeks that we have spent with them while they are here in LA, they have encouraged me - in my faith, in the hope that Joe is in the arms of God, safe and secure. That is just one thing that makes the Johnson's so amazing. At the same time, I know that they are hurting and I hurt with them. This is so hard.... I also grieve for Jim because he has lost a really good friend. Although Jim and Joe had only become close friends in the last few years, their friendship was true and real (see previous post). They "got" each other and that was so refreshing to me for some reason. The last time Jim talked to Joe {over g-chat} they were engaging in their usual witty banter. I was sitting next to Jim on our couch as they chatted. They shared a humor that only they really understood. I didn't really get it. It is a good memory.

We will be missing Joe so much in the days, weeks, months, and years to come. The memories will keep coming back to me followed by the pain and sadness of the realization that he is no longer with us. I am not ready to say goodbye yet. I think that's why being at his Memorial Service was so difficult for me. I'm just not quite ready to say goodbye. I wish we could hang out again. Head up to my parents house in Ventura for a relaxing weekend of surf, good food, and puzzling. I wish that we could have him and Rachel over for fondue in our new place by the ocean that he will never visit. We would skip the chicken this time. I wish he could show me one more time how to make a white wine reduction so I could remember how to do it right.

I think that is all I can write for now, even though it doesn't do Joe justice.
We miss you so much, Joe.

...::More Joe Memories::...

Rachel's Preppy Croquet Birthday Party
-Feb 06-

Croquet Rockstar

Preparing Gunther for the Epic Voyage

Our Beloved Traveling Friends
-June 06-

fondue mania
-Jan 07-

{kenz}