Six hours driving to McCallie with little conversation you could feel the tension in our car. We were returning to Chattanooga for Joe's Walk without Tony and David. Another first in our journey since Joe has passed away. Joe's friends were coming in from all different directions and those who could not make the walk were texting us wishing they could be there. Tony called in the middle of the afternoon to check up on us and the walk. David emailed setting a Skype time for Sunday. They both felt the importance of this date.
Driving on the campus memories filled my head with Joe's first visit, Honors Scholars weekends, moving him in his dorm and three years later doing the same for Tony and David. Stepping on to this campus for the first time since Tony and David graduated was a bit overwhelming especially when the chapel came into focus and then when we gently laid rosemary in the gardens in front of Caldwell Hall where we spread his ashes.
We arrived to the start of the walk and were embraced by faculty wanting to now how the boys were, how we were and conversations were seamless as if we had never left. It was comfortable as they all opened their arms to welcome us back. Joe's friends walked the "no walk" he had set up six years ago before going on to the Odle's who graciously opened their home giving us a platform to remember.
Joe was a boy with so few years shared by all but has lived on in the hearts, tears and love by many. And thank you to those at McCallie for your devotion to keep my son's memory alive through all of your efforts and hard work supporting Joe's Walk.
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