Joy to the World

It started out like any vacation going to the East Coast to visit my Mom’s family, except my Parents decided to drop a bombshell to my sister Kim and myself.  My Mom was pregnant.  I reacted like Luke Skywalker in TESB ….”Nooooooooo, that is not true, that is not possible”.   And of course adding, okay that is gross.  It crushed my 13 yrd old brain.  I already hard enough time with one my sister Kim, now I have to deal with another sibling.  Don’t get me wrong Kim and I got along great, well we had our moments.  I might have practiced my Ultimate Warrior gorilla press from time to time on her. But I digress, my Mom was pregnant and we were going to have another Hoffman in the mix.

Fast forward a couple months, I got a new room out of the deal (sweet) and moved me downstairs to planet Hoth.  Yea, it was always cold downstairs, summer, winter it didn’t matter.  This was really happening, I going to have a new baby sister.   The day finally came and my Mom woke me up and said going to have a baby, now granted my Mom has also woke me up from deep slumber and said your sister Kim is dying come up stairs….that is a whole another story, but Kim just had trouble breathing.  In a couple hours, I was going to be a big bro.

On March 10, 1990, Joy Lynn Hoffman was born.  I was exactly 14 ½ years old and it was life changer.  It really brought our family together and it was a whole new world for everyone.  The selfish teenager was like this going to cramp my style, lets just say right off the bat I didn’t have any style, but in my head I did. 

Babysitting duties entailed and an almost every time I watched Joy she would always give me a surprise…thus the nickname “Stinky” was developed.  I called her Stink for quite sometime.   Granted, now I days I try not embarrass her to much, but hey that was what Big Bros are for.

I have always, always been a big kid at heart, but Joy let me be a kid again.  Whether it was going to see the latest Disney movie or playing with Polly Pockets but I drew the line at N’Sync, Kim and Dad had to handle that one J.

I think because I was older, I can remember more.  I remember a lil bit with Kim growing up, mostly our completely dorkiness, but with Joy I remember quite a bit.  One of my favorite Joy’s story is one day my best buddy Jake and I were watching TV, just chilling downstairs and Joy is like 3 or 4yrs old playing with her toys.  Her toys were having a very intense conversation and she finally said  “Simba (from Disney Lion King),  you really piss me off”.  I just look at Jake and I am like, yep I am going to hear about this one later.

They said kids are sponges and Joy is no exception, the big brother was rubbing off on her.  I think that is why today she is one of the coolest people I know. 

When I met Jen and things were progressing, I was really worried about Joy and wondering if she will get along with Jen.  It has been great blessing seeing Jen and Joy bond and as I grew to love Jen.  It has equally enjoyable seeing Joy also developed a relationship with Jordan.  Jordan was the younger brother Joy never had.  It was fun watching them grow up together.  Now she has full reign to pick on Jordan like no other Aunt can.

14 ½ years is a big gap between siblings and some might say that Joy was a oops.  I beg to differ, my parents picked a perfect name for my sister, Joy.  She is a true joy.  She has the most sweetest spirit and very, very tender heart.  There are many, many other stories I can share about Joy, but maybe I will save that for another time.

I just wanted to say Happy 22^nd Birthday Joy!!!!!!! I love you so much!!!!!!!!