Johnny Delaware

“Johnny no kidding. Underneath that arch I had this revelation that I’m halfway through my life. This first half was me discovering a purpose, but now this second half is me evolving into who I really am. There’s not a lot of time left.”

Joe told me this after reflecting alone under one of the many majestic arches in Utah. The world was shutdown, it was late spring of 2020 so we had the entire national park to ourselves, so it felt like we wandered through a portal into some dreamworld backyard. It was so quiet. I don’t doubt the spirit of the desert communicated through him.

Joe was my best friend. I loved him beyond measure & I’m not gonna lie, I’m hurting a lot without him here. Though It helps to have the good times to hold onto — and there were many wonderful memories.

I remember after Arches, we drove listening to Me and Michael 100 times and giggling about Conway Twitty’s lyrics. We settled near Area 51 and set up camp five feet away from a mountain lion den. We could never forget how the cat launched out of the bushes and shook the ground. It should’ve mauled us, but it decided to spare us for what the great mystery had already pre-measured — though Joe’s time I thought would be longer. Ironically he was always the dude telling everyone “we can die at any moment, It could happen any time, and also no one’s gonna remember you in 100 years, so don’t take your mask too seriously.” Hahaha I loved his humor. Intelligence and wisdom intertwined — that was Joe ( or Wes or whatever name he was living by). No matter what name, he was an electric human who loved being alive and took it seriously. He was 2 months away from finishing his PH.D in archaeology and had an affinity for history, and if you had any question, he would flow through his lexicon and tell you practically anything.

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