With these frigid temperatures here in Cape May, New Jersey, I know I’m not the only one struggling to stay warm indoors.

Winter on a small flower farm is one thing.

Winter in a drafty apartment in Manhattan? Apparently… another.

Kathryn’s apartment has been really cold.

When she first mentioned it to me, I brushed it off a little.

Not intentionally. Just… context.

Our farmhouse heating system has been working overtime and still can’t quite keep up with these freezing temperatures. When you grow cold-hardy flowers overwintering in the field and monitor frost cloth during snowstorms, you develop a slightly skewed idea of what “cold” means.

So my very practical (and possibly underwhelming) response was:

“Yeah, we’re all cold. Just bundle up.”

Very nurturing of me.

Enter: Joe Goddu

Kathryn was texting back and forth with Joe Goddu (Steve’s longtime childhood friend) and casually mentioned how cold her apartment was. She asked what kind of space heater he’d recommend.

And this is where Joe shines.

Instead of sending a link.

Instead of offering advice.

Instead of saying, “Yeah, it’s cold everywhere.”

He went into action.

Joe purchased a proper space heater for her bedroom and another for the living area and had Home Depot deliver them same day.

Same. Day.

God bless Joe Goddu.

The Gentle Art of Not Being a Helicopter Parent

Now of course, I felt a little guilty.

Did I dismiss her too quickly?

Probably.

But I’m also consciously trying to step back from full-time helicopter parenting. When your kids grow up and move out, there’s this quiet shift. You want them to solve problems. To learn resilience. To manage their own thermostat (literally and figuratively).

Still…

If I were Kathryn, I wouldn’t mind having a Joe Goddu quietly covering my back.

Who wouldn’t?

Maybe he’s become the gentle Manhattan parent substitute.

Actually, scratch that.

Better than a parent substitute.

Every Flower Farm Has a “Joe”

And here’s what struck me.

Every farm has people like this too.

The ride-or-die ones.

The ones who show up.
The ones who step in.
The ones who don’t overthink it.

They notice when something’s off.

They help without fanfare.

They steady things when the weather — literal or figurative — gets rough.

Running a seasonal flower farm in Cape May means depending on community. From customers who support our local flower subscriptions, to neighbors who check in after storms, to followers who share our posts and help spread the word about our flower workshops and bouquet subscriptions.

We have a lot of Joes in our world.

Customers.
Neighbors.
Friends.
Subscribers.
Quiet supporters.

You might not realize it, but when you share a post, forward a newsletter, sign up for a bouquet subscription, or come to a workshop at the farm… you’re being a Joe.

You’re helping steady something small and local and seasonal.

And that matters.

A Small Winter Lesson

So today’s gratitude goes out to Joe Goddu.

And a quiet reminder to myself:

Listen a little closer next time.

Because sometimes “just bundle up” isn’t the answer.

Sometimes the answer is:

Show up.
Send the heater.
Be the Joe.