"Who's Watching Jeffrey?"
…My oldest sister at home
with me growing up, Jo-Alice "The Drill
Sergeant," has and will always have a
very special place in my heart. Not only for
the fact that she is my sister and single-handedly
prepared me for the rigors of kindergarten
by teaching me my ABCs, but she has truly
done (and is doing!) much, much more…Jo-Alice,
I am told, was a very skinny child growing
up. The stories trickled down to me of her
being teased, and I bet if you asked her,
"tormented!" Oh, I heard all the
stories of her imaginary friend "Henrietta"
whom she talked to, played with, scolded,
taught, and I guess thoroughly enjoyed.
In the early 60's our father would take us
both to Chicago to see the Cubs and Sox play
ball. Jo would teach me math as we kept the
scores of the games and figured out the batting
averages of the players… You know I never
quite figured out why he brought her along
though.
Jo was a cheerleader all throughout junior
high and high school at Beckman and Roosevelt.
She was also into modern dance and one of
the editors on her high school newspaper.
I really enjoyed all the high school basketball
games she took me to as her guest…
Jo was always doing something, saying something,
being something, and I always had my eyes
on her and my young ears were always listening,
waiting for that new truth, that new and different
look at a culture I was being awakened to.
I remember the 2 weeks in June of 1969, before
Jo's graduation from high school, the excitement
and fun she and all her cronies were having.
I dreaded the thought of losing my instructor,
my entertainer, my friend to the clutches
of those Boilermakers down there in Lafayette,
Ind. It even came into my mind to quit school
and leave with her. The prospect of 6 more
years without my private, lovable tutor was
almost unbearable. No longer would those tunes
from "Mary Poppins," "The Wizard
of Oz," and "Westside Story"
be reverberating all around the walls of that
small project house located at 2245 Carver
St…. No more correcting of my English
and grammar from the kitchen, bedroom or living
room… And oh, let me not forget to mention
the free admission into the Roosevelt Panthers
basketball games… Yes, Jo-Alice was leaving
and with her, a part of my heart.
Jo-Alice was a very attractive young girl,
(that is, after she passed that Olive Oyl
stage), and is to this day a very attractive
woman, minister, wife, mother of 5 and young
grandmother at 50. Jo has been one of my spiritual
mentors from the time I entered the Oakland
County Jail in October of 1991. When I needed
a new start in life, who came and scraped
me off the ground? Jo did… When I was
3000 miles away in an Alaskan county jail
awaiting a very important, life-changing decision
and in need of support, faith, and comfort,
Jo was there. And who sent me a brand new
$100 study Bible and encouraged me to use
it, as it is being used this day, 10 years
later? Jo did…
My sister Jo-Alice and I disagree often. We
get mad, angry and upset with one another.
But we also cry together, pray together, laugh
together and believe God for my imminent release
from this incarceration together. Jo has been
an awesome presence in my life and I know
that I am a better, much better man, father
and minister of the most high and holy God
because of my sister who cared. I love you
Jo!!!
