Tomorrow is my grandpa Joseph's 74th birthday, and to celebrate we're going to take a trip around the world in a map.
It's an important birthday for Joseph, and it's been a very hard year. In November we lost my grandmother Zarina. They had been married for 51 years. He took wonderful care of her when she was sick, and he was absolutely devoted to his wife. He's doing alright now, but this is his first birthday since she passed away. So we're going to use a map to celebrate his life, and their life together. Click to enlarge.
The American
Joseph Champagne was born and grew up in Cahoes, NY in the United States in 1947. He got his super cool last name from his French Canadian side, and his solid build from his Polish side. As an adult, he joined the US Air Force, and it was one of the best decisions he ever made. Joe wouldn't become a pilot, but his work in the airforce was more information-oriented. In his first few years in the Air Force he would be stationed in several place and receive his training. It took him first to the Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX -- already a long way from home -- for basic training. Then to Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS for specialized training before making his first big move across the world to Okinawa Japan in February 1964, where he stayed for a little over a year. The next year he was back in the US at Travis AFB in Fairfield, CA.
Then in late 1966, Joseph received a special assignment in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, near PAF Badaber AFB in Peshawar, Pakistan. His life was about to change forever. On New Year's Eve 1967 at a party at the base he met Zarina Ellen Bawa, a young Indian woman whose Christian family was living in Pakistan not far from the Base. Here he was on the other side of the world from Cahoes, NY, practically as far from home as he could be, when he met the person he'd make a home with for the rest of his life. Before he could marry her, he had to return to Okinawa for additional special training. But in 1969 he traveled back and they were married. The very tall, handsome white American and the pretty little Indian lady from two very different worlds set off on their adventure.
The Spinning Globe
Joe returned to Okinawa with his wife, and their travels began. Soon afterward they moved back to America, traveling through Hawaii and California and stopping to visit his family in Cahoes to introduce Zarina to his family, before arriving at their new home in Chicopee Falls, MA not far away. That's where they had their first baby, my mom Tamatha. For a while, Zarina was the one on the other side of the world from where she'd come from. But before long Joe was stationed in Tehran, Iran, where two of their sons, Danny and Neil, were born. They were there for several years before returning to the US, actually in Joe's home state, this time in Rome, NY. At this point Joseph decided to leave the Air Force, and having found a job opportunity he moved his family to Houston, TX.
He immediately hated his new job in food service and signed right back up into the Air Force, which caused them to move a few more times as their children grew up. After Houston they were in Cheyenne, WY, where their youngest son David was born. Joseph was then reassigned to Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS. Zarina's parents came to live here, and it was where her father passed away. Afterward they made their final overseas stay, this time in Birminghamshire, England. Zarina had some family there, and the kids spent some time with their cousins during their time there. When they returned again to America it was to Grand Forks, ND, where Joseph decided again to retire from the Air Force, this time for good.
While he finished his final assignment, Zarina went ahead with the kids back to Houston, TX. My mom, the oldest, was in high school now, and that's where she first met my dad James. After a few years in Texas the family moved to Largo, FL. Zarina didn't like it there very much, and before long they settled down in Jacksonville, FL, where my dad joined them and my parents were married in 1990.
Jacksonville was home to Joseph and Zarina from that point on, for close to 30 years. Their children all got married and began their own families there. After so many moves over so many miles in a relatively short period of time, it was time to stay in one city for the long term. Although they were done moving around the world they instead enjoyed moving all around the Jacksonville area every few years.
Half a Century of Love
In 51 years of marriage, my grandparents lived in 11 places, raised four children, and gained 14 grandchildren, currently ranging in age from a toddler to several who are almost 30. They got to attend two of their grandchildren's weddings together, as well as my parent's 25th anniversary celebration a few years ago. On their 50th anniversary we got together to celebrate, and my uncle officiated their vow renewal.
In the last decade of her life Zarina experienced severe health problems, and on two occasions her doctors told Joseph that there was nothing they could do for her. But because of his and their family's love and prayer, as well as Joseph's fierce insistence on ensuring that anything possible would be done for her, they saw her life saved on both occasions by what can only be reasonably described as a miracles. On both occasions she was granted a few more years to spend with him and watch their family grow, to see new grandchildren and weddings.
He was a really wonderful husband to her, and he loved to go above and beyond to care for her and make her happy. And now that the time to say goodbye has really come and gone, Joseph is surrounded by the family they built together, helping him in the next phase of his life. He comes to visit us for dinner every few weeks, plays with the puppy, watches the news and Wheel of Fortune and tells us things about his interesting lifetime. He's got an incredible memory.
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