Well, it goes without saying that the days leading up to Comic Con were anything but non-emotional. Is that even a word? Seriously, my mind lately. Sissy Jo, one of the three girls I call my soul sister, passed away on June 29th, her funeral was held two days before we left for Comic Con. Admittedly, this reminded me, as well, of mama being sick last year during Comic Con, so of course our 8th trip to the 'Con', was a little bluer than I think we had hoped, but we did manage to have a good time, because we know that is what Jo would have wanted.
As we all know you can't make the pain just disappear, or the sadness that comes with losing someone so important and special to your life. As anyone could tell you, JoAnn was a force to be reckoned with, a little whirlwind of organization, love and smiles. She loved many who were in her path and she taught us lessons of survival, never giving up and fighting the good fight.
I met Jo almost seventeen years ago on July 16, 2008. I remember the date, because it is the day she hired me to be her receptionist. My previous life had been one of a pharmacy technician, so she was literally molding me into something else. Having always wanted to be a writer, she was one of the first that told me, 'Shell, one day you're going to win an Oscar for your writing'. While that remains to be seen, I love the faith she has always had in me, despite my late blossoming.
Our meeting was actually a funny story. I lived in South County at the time, about 30 miles from work. When I arrived at her office, someone was already sitting at the front desk, so me being shy, I assumed wrong, went across the way to a different company and was sent home. I called the agency placing me and JoAnn was so sweet and said, 'Oh I think I saw her', then she told the girl to send me back. The first question she asked, "why didn't you just come in?" I told her why and she said never assume, "always ask". Her and Sis Laura definitely have that in common.
We proceeded through the usual interview process, which was exceptionally short, then she said, "I like you. Would you like to work here?" I was stunned. I have never had that easy of an interview, or met with someone that easy going. I said, in my stunned and shy response, "Yes, if you would like to hire me." Jo just said, "well, I thought I just offered you the job." We chuckled and then she started staring at me, then cocked her head a bit to one side and said, "are you Asian?" I was stunned again. Being half Filipino, Part Caucasian/Hawaiian, everyone guesses everything, but that. I nodded and instantly became worried that this would be a problem, but she just responded with "I'm like you, half white, half Asian. Well, Thai." I know this probably seems unimportant to most people, but Sissy Jo was setting the foundation of what would become a long standing friendship.
In time, she told me I was a sister to her. We had our fights, we had our ups and downs and we had times when we didn't talk to each other, but when we came back to each other, we always admitted we never stopped thinking about the other. She was my soul sister and in time, she and Laura became close like sisters.
The three of us did a lot together, vacations, short trips, midnight drives (sissy and I), nights at her office when she worked late, dinners and of course she always invited us to big events that she was handling.
Though we weren't blood, we were sisters, connected by the soul and the heart. Her loss is as significant to me as my mom's passing and Laura's own family that has transitioned in the last several years, but we know she is out of pain and she is flitting about like a little Tinkerbell Angel. This doesn't wipe away the tears, or mend the broken heart, but it does give us a little bit of comfort knowing she isn't struggling anymore and that she can be that beautiful spirit that she was when she was physically here with us.
To Sissy Jo...you belonged to everyone, you were and always will be your dad's rock and your brother's protector. Everyone has a guardian angel now and somehow I think we all might be a little more organized without even realizing it.
Until we meet again. I love you sissy and you and mama try to stay out of too much trouble...AND NO HAUNTING ME! haha! <3
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