News Squib#7- Happy 80th Birthday, Joe

img_0475It’s Squib Saturday. Time to share the best, most interesting (or most entertaining, or most outrageous) tidbit of information I’ve gleaned from all the stuff I’ve read this week. Today: Best Husband in the World Turns 80

 

I didn’t need to read anything to find fodder for this week’s squib. It happened right in front of my eyes. My wonderful, loving, generous husband, Joe turned 80 . He was not yet 50 years old when we met. Just 51 when we married. He was 52 when he became a father for the fourth time — to our son, Daniel.

How wonderful is he? Well, I have a friend who has known us as a couple for more than 20 years. To paraphrase what she says about my husband: “Every woman needs a Joe.” ‘Nuff said.

img_0465This week, I started to write a squib based on info that’s coming out of a small village in Italy about aging.  Then, I thought:  “Save it. You’ve got ‘aging well and gracefully’ right here at home.” Friends, and strangers too, tell Joe he doesn’t look his age (he certainly doesn’t act it) and most recently he cut out breads and pasta to lose 20 lbs so he is down to the weight he was when we married at City Hall, New York in 1987.

COPD, however, has robbed my husband of the ability to enjoy life to its physical extremes the way he once did. He will never again (foolhardily) ski the double black diamonds at Sunday River in Maine. Nor will he sail singlehandedly out into the ocean off the Florida coast on our sailboat, Mirage (named after the Las Vegas casino where we won the entire price of the boat in one (long) night at the blackjack tables.)

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img_0243His pursuits these days take place closer to home. The front and backyards of our home in New York are his domain and his vision.  It was his idea to line our circular driveway with Leyland cypresses, and to plant boxwoods along the entire length of the front yard .  He chose the white pines and the flowering plums, cherry trees and Japanese maples that provide shade for the back of the house.

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img_0300He tends to the back yard every Spring, and through the Summer, filling a dozen or more big  flower pots with fresh potting soil, choosing the plantings, arranging them and watering them daily to create a tapestry of color and magic. The backyard is one of the best features of my summers in New York.

 

img_0458Suffice it to say, I wanted to get him something special for a birthday gift even though he said there was nothing more he wanted or needed. Eventually, I decided on something gold because gold, after all, is the most precious of metals, and I wanted to replace the gold bracelet I had bought for him many years ago, and which he lost.

I also thought he would look good wearing it at the pool of the country club I made him join when I “retired” a couple of years ago.

Of course, neither the bracelet, nor this squib are in any way commensurate with the joy he has brought to my life over the last thirty years. Happy Birthday, my love.

 

Top Photo: Joe and his oldest son, Joseph at a birthday dinner at Ta-boo, Palm Beach

Photo (second from top): Joe with son, Sean

7 thoughts on “News Squib#7- Happy 80th Birthday, Joe”

  1. Happy ,happy birthday to my favourite octogenarian Joey Elm. A lovely birthday tribute Joanna to your wonderful husband who is the most special of men. Cheers Joey, enjoy your special birthday & every word written here by your adoring wife.
    XX
    Ps the photos really do not do justice to your beautiful gardens!

  2. Gee!
    JOE I WOULD NEVER,NEVER IMAGIN THAT YOU WOULD HAVE ANY INTEREST IN HORTACULTSURE.

    YOU REALLY HOLD YOUR CARDS CLOSE TO YOUR CHEST. THE JOE THAT I KNOW SOO LITTLE ABOUT LOVES HIS CHURCH,LOVES TO ADORN HIS FAMILY WITH HIS HARDLY DRIVEN LUXURY CHARIOTS.CARES QUIETLY FOR THOSE IN HIS FAMILY,AND NOW TO LEARN THAT HE LOVES TO GET HIS HANDS INTO MOTHER EARTH

    JOE YOU ARE WHY THEY SAY YOU CAN’T TELL A BOOK BY IT’S COVER!

    HAPPY 80 AND KEEP YOUR GARDEN WELLL WATERED

    LIESEL & DON

  3. Love the article Joanna! Happy Birthday Joe! So happy you have each other. A love like this is so special. xo

  4. Wow!! How blessed am I?? What a blast of a weekend in FL. Thank you, thank you and I love the nose ring…good work by Uncle Phil…and Lara from GMA called me to ask if I would delete the photos. HA

  5. Hey great news. Way to go on weight loss. Keep up the good life we need you around to show the world how to appreciate what good there is living.
    Ivar

    1. Yep agree, quite an achievement to get to 80 in such good shape. And, you can’t forget the daily shot (or two) of Johnny Walker Black!!

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