August 10, 1910 – May 7, 2001
Got up regular that day
Spring morning in May, 46 degrees –
cloudy
Nothing special, got up wondering
What would be the project for the day
(there was always a project going on)
Seniors waiting for him to come
And serve them coffee
They’d come to like Mr. Curry’s coffee
They loved his servant spirit….
Walking down the street I could always
Hear them calling “Mr Curry, “Mr Curry”
Something about him commanded respect
Always Mr. Curry – never David. But to me
He was daddy…….
Got up regular that day
Had his coffee first always just ½ a cup
Didn’t want to overdo it. I wonder if he
Read his Bible as was customary ever
Since I can remember.
I’m sure he put on the news
And watered his artificial flowers – he loved
Flowers. No sense of arguing with him
At 90-years old. He delighted in watering
Those artificial flowers, convinced that
They liked it.
Got up regular that day
Decided on a bath and a shave, He loved
The water. Even taught the cat to love the water. 🙂
Spent many years
Swimming hours at a time. I was always
Worried about him in the water.
Breakfast would come later
Moving slowly those days – very deliberate
Stubbornly determined to be on his own
To do for himself
Got up regular that day
Can’t know what he thought about – can’t know
What he was planning…pushing to get
Ready, son would be home soon, didn’t
Want to be in the way.
Water warm to the
touch he let the water run hotter as he
Adjusted to the temperature.
Got up regular that day
Not knowing that this would be his last day
Water running and running, time passing,
Water still running………
And there he was found sometime later
I can still hear the horror in my brother’s
Voice even now, as he screamed into the phone
“Daddy drowned!!!” My world went blank…….
I guess he just got tired of swimming, decided
He’d take a rest
Eternity in view – no plans for the day
Daddy & Me
6 Responses
Once again you succeeded in bringing tears to my eyes.
I remember Mr Curry’s sweet smile and gentle voice. I remember his constant advice to “go to school, Carol, get a good education”. Actually I think if any young person were in his presence for more than a few minutes, they were going to get “the talk”. And I appreciate it, oh how I appreciate it. Mr Curry was a small man, but he walked really fast and covered the same ground as a much bigger guy. I remember marveling at him dodging thru moving traffic on Atlantic Ave. This man could move! Then there was the 10
speed bike ( Ms Curry called it ” my husbands cadillac). Mr Curry was getting
his bike on way before anyone ever thought of a spinning class. Yep. Even in
his later years, when he visited MD, Mr Curry was still walking, pretty darn
fast as I recall, for exercise. For me, the main thing is that he seemed to have
a spirit of peace and well being that many of us spend a life time trying to
achieve. You were blessed to have him Jeannette.
on Atlantic Ave
Thank you so much Carol. Now I’m the one in tears. You described him perfectly, from “the talk” to the dodging cars on Atlantic Ave. thank you for reminding me of all the precious moments .
Such a touching memory. Memories are great, they are sad, they are happy, they are anger, they are questions. Its such a special thing to have. This makes me think of my own Daddy and when he passed. I was just so thankful and greatful to God that I was home in Alabama at the time for I know it was only God that lead me there that weekend. Thank you for sharing
Rest in Peace Mr. Curry ♡
I miss you Granddaddy! I think about you everyday. I will never forget everything that you taught me growing up. Keep watching over us as we continue your legacy! I love you always, Happy Heavenly Birthday!!
I miss Mr. Curry’s warm and loving spirit.