the story of donna and joe

A long time ago, when Larry & I were living in our first house that we owned, we had some, how should you say, interesting neighbors.

Directly across the street lived Donna and Aaron. Next to them, Joe and Chris. Joe was a blast, always throwing Rockets parties, playing pool in out garage (we were storing a table for a friend), etc. If we opened the garage door, it turned into a mini block party.

Joe & Chris were so not suited for each other. They did not have a "wedding", choosing to get married in the Bahamas, then have a reception. No big deal, right? She didn't want a big wedding because she didn't want people staring at her while she walked down the aisle. She was very weird. Joe would do anything for her though. He had a nose job so he would stop snoring. (I think they were living in separate beds), he quit smoking so she would have another baby. She never did.

They decided to divorce. Joe, rented Donna & Aarons rent house.

Donna and Aaron a complete mismatch as well. Aaron you never saw. He degraded Donna and bewildered her constantly. One day, she and her daughter were going to take pictures, and I was doing her hair. I told her on her way out, "Do not listen to anything he says when you walk in". We had put some baby's breath in it, and she looked gorgeous. He did not go to take the picture with her.

Along that same time, (see why I can't watch basketball) Larry & I were having issues as well. One thing led to another and Larry moved in with Joe, in Donna and Aarons rent house.

During this time, Larry & I reconciled, Joe & Chris divorced. Joe went wild. There were many nights he would call at 2am, drunk, not being able to drive. One of us would always go get him. I'm not exactly sure, but something was said, misunderstood and Donna & I stopped talking. Not really a fight, just not talking.

Joe was OBSESSED with his ex. She started dating and Joe lost his mind. It was very hard to be friends with him. He was/is extremely high maintenance. As things went, Donna finally divorced Aaron. She and Joe were spending a lot of time together with their kids. She had a girl, he had a son, same ages.

One thing led to another, and they ended up getting married to each other. Somewhere along the way, Joe, Donna, Larry & I were all hanging out again. Whenever we would be in each others company, Joe would say something, I would call him on it, and a debate would ensue. All in good fun, or one would think.

We decided we would all take a trip to Florida. Joe, Donna, their kids, us, our kids, Marilee and then boyfriend John and her daughter. Just for fun we also brought Ashley's best friend and Joe's mom.

We were all caravaning east, and Joe just took off. I had just gotten the Tahoe, we were pulling our jet skii's and got into a fender bender with a trash truck. My Tahoe was quite a bit longer than my previous suv, in true Houston construction form, a lane ended with no warning. Joe & his crew turned around, then left again.

Our house was gorgeous. Donna & Joe arrived first, of course. I called Donna & inquired how it was. I could hear the tension in her voice. Joe had started in on them for something. When we all got there, we made a list of little chores for the kids. Sweeping sand, hanging towels, little stuff. No where did his son have a chore. This was always an issue with them, the kids.

We had decided as a group (and for fun) that anytime Joe mentioned Chris, we would all get up and have to "do something". He caught on to that and didn't take it in the spirit it was intended. Another discussion, led into a fight, which somehow became my fault because he heard me say "leave him" (something I had never said to her before) and he went into a manic rage.

He took his son and Mom and left. Two days after we got there, he left Donna & her daughter in Florida with us.

Then called all the time. One night I went to bed, she was on with him, I woke up, she was on with him.

We went on with our vacation, and ended up having a great time. We crammed Donna & her daughter into our car and drove home. I gave her a hug and told her to call if she needed me. She never did.

Since Joe was convinced I was sabotaging them (he had a huge ego combined with extremely low self esteem, a lethal combination), he forbid Donna to talk to me. She came into the mall years later while I was working a Kirklands, we exchanged pleasant hello's, how are yous, etc.

Easter of that same year, she came back in. She was leaving him. Things had gotten worse for them. The raging, the drinking, the kids, everything. She kicked out his windowshield, he broke doors, it was horrible. Larry & I offered her to stay the night, but she went back to him. I never really heard from her again.

Until she called Larry the other night. It seems she is really leaving him this time (or maybe not), she wanted to call and tell me "It wasn't my fault, he was crazy". Larry told her we kind of knew that.

Every time we came across each others paths, I was always there, to listen, to hug. It was she who always chose her men over her friends, and I have never held that against her.

However, when Larry's Mom died, she never called, didn't send a note or anything. I know she knew, we still had the same friends, and I am sorry, that is just wrong.

I'm not the kind of person that holds grudges, I wish her all the best. But when someone calls and tells you "it's not your fault" after ten years, it's kind of hard to forget.

It must have been odd for Larry to tell her we are divorcing as well. I wonder if he listened when she told him it wasn't my fault.