He might've had independent media been a big thing back then. It wasn't. Not like now! People hadn't caught onto the huge propaganda machine called corporate media until recently.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! It sounds like you had two amazing role models and father figures. That’s why you have become who you are. You are the ultimate American success story and heaven knows we need more of those today. Keep inspiring us, Jojo.
Well deserved JoJo. You have helped me get through the insanity of the past few years. And I am SO jealous that you got a hug from Joe. Damn I am going to miss having such a caring decent moral person at the White House. Keep up the fantastic work you wonderful person!!
I’m not crying, YOU’RE crying! That was truly beautiful, Jo. What a wonderful man your father must have been. It makes me so sad that Joe Biden has been the recipient of such lousy press, from the media who seems to love them some fascist scumbags, while treating a good and decent man such as Joe with contempt. I’ve never understood his low approval ratings when he has done such great things for the country. One day the general public will realize what a huge mistake they made.
Any time a poll would be released, I always said that they clearly hadn't polled the right people. I've certainly never been polled before
I've always wondered how they collected their information. If the only people polled are the ones who answer their calls from numbers they don't recognize, it's a wonder poll results are ever even close to accurate. I'm still skeptical.
I have been following Jo for quite a while and have been cheering for her as hard as I ever have. This letter to her dad slayed me. I am so tired of this decade of trump and it’s been the most draining experience to only have a few people in my life who understand or care about the threat democracy has been under. But reading her daily posts have brought hope to me and others. I am frequently reminded that those who struggle the most are often the ones who are the most generous. There is still a glimmer of hope.
Thank you for a wonderful introduction to a great father and affirming my faith in our President who I believe is an outstanding leader but an even better human being! Bless you and enjoy the holiday!
Some of us, if we were lucky, we had a dad like that, complete with DW-40 and duct tape. I didn't start out that way, but when I was 11, my mother met a man who became my step-father and the brass ring was mine for the rest of his life. He taught me to fish, introduced me to chocolate sodas, fried okra, and Russian food. He was a Texan and sometimes talked funny to my Scottish ear. The family joke was listening to my mother (whose Scottish accent was even thicker than mine) talk to my Texan step-father. I'm pretty sure that half the time neither one knew what the other was saying, but it didn't seem to matter to them or to me. When I finished grad school with a Ph.D., he was so proud he could barely contain himself. He told everbody. Including a waitress at a Jewish deli that he had never met before. He was diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease shortly after I finished grad school. (My mother had died shortly before that of heart disease.)
We weathered that inevitable decline together. At each stage of the progressive dysfunction that is a hallmark of that awful disease, I would say to him, "We'll figure it out, Dad." And we did. Couldn't work buttons? Buy shirts with snaps. Couldn't line up the snaps?. Buy Velcro closures. Zippers too small? Attach a giant paper clip. (There's a hole in the tip of every zipper, you know. Take a look.)
One last story. He died shortly after this. I came to visit him one day and he was beside himself. The doctors had assigned a nurse to assist him with bathing and dressing. A female nurse. I don't remember now what all he said, but the very thought that he couldn't provide for his own basic functions was more devastating than the ALS. When he finally paused for breath, I asked him, "But, Dad, is she pretty?" That question changed the perspective. He broke up laughing. And that was the end of that.
Thank you, JoAnne, for your story and for bringing my story back to life in my mind. I think we both got the brass ring and would probably give up all the brass rings on the planet for one more hour with our dads.
That's so wonderful. I'm crying now too.
Ditto
Incredible story! Tell me, though, how many Presidents would even consider doing such a thing?
Zero. Literally zero.
Well, one, maybe two. Biden did, and Obama probably would.
I meant additionally lol. And I don’t know if Obama would. Biden has leaned into what we do in way no other president ever has.
He might've had independent media been a big thing back then. It wasn't. Not like now! People hadn't caught onto the huge propaganda machine called corporate media until recently.
You did great, JoJo.
You’re probably right.
This was beautiful. Your dad raised an exemplary woman
Betcha he's proud of you, Jo. And I'll betcha so is the other Joe. Merry Christmas, ma'am!
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! It sounds like you had two amazing role models and father figures. That’s why you have become who you are. You are the ultimate American success story and heaven knows we need more of those today. Keep inspiring us, Jojo.
Well deserved JoJo. You have helped me get through the insanity of the past few years. And I am SO jealous that you got a hug from Joe. Damn I am going to miss having such a caring decent moral person at the White House. Keep up the fantastic work you wonderful person!!
AMEN!
JoJo, why do I cry when I read your stories.
I hope I am around when we emerge from the shit storm we are about endure so I can read the victory story you will surely write!
This amazing letter had me crying and laughing at the same time. Your soul shines thru. And I'll bet that comes from him. You are just the best.
I’m not crying, YOU’RE crying! That was truly beautiful, Jo. What a wonderful man your father must have been. It makes me so sad that Joe Biden has been the recipient of such lousy press, from the media who seems to love them some fascist scumbags, while treating a good and decent man such as Joe with contempt. I’ve never understood his low approval ratings when he has done such great things for the country. One day the general public will realize what a huge mistake they made.
Any time a poll would be released, I always said that they clearly hadn't polled the right people. I've certainly never been polled before
I've always wondered how they collected their information. If the only people polled are the ones who answer their calls from numbers they don't recognize, it's a wonder poll results are ever even close to accurate. I'm still skeptical.
As a father, all I can say is wow! That was something to read and then read again.
Cherish everything and you’ll never go wrong. You have an eye for both truth and beauty.
God dammit girl made this old man cry like a little baby.
I’m sure the old man is real proud of his little girl
You speak for a lot of us and do a damn fine job of it
Keep up the good work
I have been following Jo for quite a while and have been cheering for her as hard as I ever have. This letter to her dad slayed me. I am so tired of this decade of trump and it’s been the most draining experience to only have a few people in my life who understand or care about the threat democracy has been under. But reading her daily posts have brought hope to me and others. I am frequently reminded that those who struggle the most are often the ones who are the most generous. There is still a glimmer of hope.
Very cool story, JoJo. Really excellent writing, by the way.
Thank you for a wonderful introduction to a great father and affirming my faith in our President who I believe is an outstanding leader but an even better human being! Bless you and enjoy the holiday!
Some of us, if we were lucky, we had a dad like that, complete with DW-40 and duct tape. I didn't start out that way, but when I was 11, my mother met a man who became my step-father and the brass ring was mine for the rest of his life. He taught me to fish, introduced me to chocolate sodas, fried okra, and Russian food. He was a Texan and sometimes talked funny to my Scottish ear. The family joke was listening to my mother (whose Scottish accent was even thicker than mine) talk to my Texan step-father. I'm pretty sure that half the time neither one knew what the other was saying, but it didn't seem to matter to them or to me. When I finished grad school with a Ph.D., he was so proud he could barely contain himself. He told everbody. Including a waitress at a Jewish deli that he had never met before. He was diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease shortly after I finished grad school. (My mother had died shortly before that of heart disease.)
We weathered that inevitable decline together. At each stage of the progressive dysfunction that is a hallmark of that awful disease, I would say to him, "We'll figure it out, Dad." And we did. Couldn't work buttons? Buy shirts with snaps. Couldn't line up the snaps?. Buy Velcro closures. Zippers too small? Attach a giant paper clip. (There's a hole in the tip of every zipper, you know. Take a look.)
One last story. He died shortly after this. I came to visit him one day and he was beside himself. The doctors had assigned a nurse to assist him with bathing and dressing. A female nurse. I don't remember now what all he said, but the very thought that he couldn't provide for his own basic functions was more devastating than the ALS. When he finally paused for breath, I asked him, "But, Dad, is she pretty?" That question changed the perspective. He broke up laughing. And that was the end of that.
Thank you, JoAnne, for your story and for bringing my story back to life in my mind. I think we both got the brass ring and would probably give up all the brass rings on the planet for one more hour with our dads.
Thank you for sharing your dad with us. ❤️🩹