Not The Average Joe

The name Joe is not unique. In fact its synonymous with the everyday man. However, my name Joseph Korbee is somewhat special. My family is catholic, so my father gave me the name Joseph after Saint Joseph. Depending on where it was translated from the name means God will increase, give to, or favor. I also get my name from my great great grandfather Joseph Christian Korbee...According to my father there have only been two "Joseph Korbees" in the world to date. On a side note, my Dad loves to tell stories and is in many ways similar to the Dad in the movie "Big Fish"...accept not on his deathbed...One of my father's stories tells of my great great grandfather and the origin of the name Korbee. This story accounts for why whenever I make a reservation at a restaurant, or someone needs to verify my credit information people assume "Korbee" is spelled C-O-R-B-Y. Aside from the fact that Phonetically "Corby" is the most sound and easy spelling, it is also the spelling that the brother of my great great grandfather chose when he came to America. The story goes that there were three Korbee brothers who lived in Dusseldorf  Germany. Sometime in the 1800's they packed up their lives after the death of their father, and boarded a ship to America (what used to be the land of opportunity.) Somewhere along the way the three brothers found themselves at each others throat when a problem arose with their father's estate. when they finally pulled into port at Ellis Island they would not speak to one another. The issue of the estate, the close quarters, and the added emotional tension of moving had pulled them apart. So much so that they no longer thought of each other as blood. When they were showing their papers and applying for citizenship they each chose a different spelling of Korbee to disassociate themselves. One brother chose C-o-r-b-y. Another Chose K-o-r-b-e-y. My great great grandfather Joseph chose K-o-r-b-e-e. Soon after, my great great grandfather being a creative type, joined a traveling variety show. The show grew and became a circus. Being an impressive orator and entertainer, Joseph became the ringmaster. His company made a couple tours around new england and the midwest. On one night in Cincinnati after a performance at the Taft Theater, Joseph left through the stage door and fell down an open coal grate. One of the stagehands had left the grate open in the dark. Joseph broke his neck in the fall and died instantly. With the history of my name, I aspire to pursue creative ventures, grow closer with my two brothers, and be mindful of open subway grates here in chicago. I know that if I manage to turn out anything like my namesake I will never be the average Joe.