That was one of the favorite sayings of the wonderful Jo-Jo, my friend Eryn's grandmother. She died last week at the age of 87. Her wake and funeral and the amount of people who attended were a testament to what a great woman she was: large, loud and in good spirits. So many people, so many different families and ages, just loved her. In every setting, she was the many attraction.
She raised a great, extremely close family; kids, grandkids and 3 great grandchildren. She made everyone feel welcome, family, friends, friends of family, or family of friends. She talked openly about taboo topics like religion and politics, and even if you didn't agree with her, you were disarmed by her charm and wit.
When E called and told me Jo Jo had died, it was sad, but we talked about what a great life she had led and that with how much pain she was in towards the end, that it was better this way. When I told my mom that despite the unfortunate circumstances, it would be nice to get all my high school girls together again, she said that one of things about getting older is that you only get to bring everyone together at weddings or funerals. It was depressing to hear that, but it's true. It's a shame that life takes over and you don't get to see the people who are most important to you until something big happens.
As sad as the last couple of days were, all I heard were these incredibly funny stories. I hope one day, my friends and family will have such great things to say about me. Jo-Jo is certainly a woman whose life brought joy to others, whether it be through dinners, stories and just the pleasure of her company.
She loved a good drink, a good laugh, and good friends. Right-Oh.
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