The JKB Marketing Blog

Mr. Joe died over the weekend.

Joe was actually his first name, but I have always known him as Mr. Joe since I was a kid visiting my grandmother's house. Mr. Joe lived next door to my grandma.

He seemed old to me even then.

Twenty years later, I am renting the bottom floor of my grandmother's house and still next door is Mr. Joe.

Recently he's been spending a lot more time in Florida getting treated for cancer (and probably other maladies of old age.) When he could, he would drive himself to and from Florida. Occassionally he would fly and I would print out his boarding pass on my computer.

About a week ago he had come back from Florida after receiving his latest batch of treatments. He was trying to turn over his garden but didn't have the strength. I went over and turned it over for him--a much smaller patch than usual.

He was also working on a lawn mower. He must have about 50 scattered throughout his yard. He was always tinkering with cars, or lawn mowers or whatever. Everything could be improved and wasn't right until it was how he wanted it.

At the end, though, he was only able to plant five tomato plants. And the lawn mower is till in pieces. He wasn't feeling well and wasn't getting better so he went back down to Florida.

It will be his last trip.

I planted another couple of rows of tomatoes to fill up the patch.

I am going to go water them now.