From the first time I met Joe, I knew he was not ordinary, by any means.
Born in Texas, Joe was raised in a small town called Cuero in the “straight and narrow”.
A proud Tex-Mex Hispanic that can still recall the old simple ways of life,
Joe can still verbally state the old Spanish “Dichos” – old sayings that his Grandpa used to tell him.
He is very proud of his close beautiful family, most especially, Sylvia, his wife.
Early on, he learned to wire houses, lay carpet; paint, put roofs on houses,
Working different jobs, just to make ends meet and provide for family back when.
All throughout this, he worked for the State for twenty-six years.
I was told that Joe never failed to amaze folks, even back then.
When Joe retired from the State, he was not one to sit at home and dally.
We hired him and he came to work for the feds as our modern day “Columbo”,
I clearly recall the time in a US Attorney’s office, Joe arguing a case and leaving everyone speechless,
With a closing argument better than the best Harvard lawyer, that most certainly was not routine!
Our “no middle name” or “just plain” Joe, is none of that, for sure,
Recalling funny moments, wearing two pair of glasses; his funny jokes and times at play.
Or the times he’d clumsily knock his head on overhead cabinet doors.
When not in, you can bet the office is most certainly quiet on that day!
Certainly, I’ve been blessed by knowing great folks like Joe in my life,
I can also surely vouch that Joe is no ordinary Joe, by any means!
Robert Collazo, 2/11/10
