Mr. Curtis
 

Mr. Curtis hunted rabbits on my farm for years: The hunt was always well done, Beagles at the fore, and we always coordinated the hunt so all dogs were covered.

Zero, less than zero issues.

We all get older. So did Mr. Curtis. So am I.

He and I have yakked and poked fun for the past few years because he has a place where my MIL lives...not assisted living but close.

He asked me last year if he could could plant a garden at my farm. I immediately said I'll talk to my wife...she loves Mr. Curtis but I have no idea what a plant or garden is.

He has a plot now and he likes to watch the plants grow, his term. I get him once or twice a week and he does his thing. Today was warm so after a few minutes, he found the exact right spot with my Dottie, who would not leave his side, excellent breeze off the Potomac.

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Great breeze, Osprey's in the air and "his girl" by his side. Hard to see Dottie on his left but she stayed within five feet the whole hour plus.

Back to the apartment.

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Mr. Curtis was born about three miles from my farm, owned his own business...he didn't want my help.

I post this because we forget, I know I do, how much the simple kindnesses really matter.

Happy Sunday

BTW, he is funny...I don't often LOL, but he got me twice today.

I already like Mr Curtis.
Thanks for being nice to him.

Reads like a poem. Thanks.

One of the few good things I learned from my ex was about treating the elderly with kindness and respect. It's a very good thing.

What’s the expression. . . “Stop and Smell the Roses.”

A lesson for all of us.

When my MIL went into care at age 92, my wife took it upon herself to have a reading group there weekly, in addition to her visits with her mom. Within a few months, I was playing there monthly. I started out with a play list heavy on the really old tunes, but when folks became comfortable with my music I started getting requests for songs like "American Pie " and "Hotel California ". That's when I realized some of the people who could no longer care for themselves were not a lot older than I.
There is a guy who lives there who used to play in a band. I think he has suffered a stroke, as he finds it difficult to communicate, but boy, can he harmonize! I take a guitar and sit down with him monthly too.
That'll be me in twenty years, perhaps.

Great pic, Seahawk. Thanks for sharing.
Best
Les

What is he growing, have you asked?

Awesome… just awesome.

Best story and pics I've seen in awhile. Well done sir; kindness and sharing abound

Mr. Curtis is very fortunate to have Mr. and Mrs. Seahawk as neighbors and advocates. But even more so to have a "Dottie".

Thank you for sharing, Paul.

I suspect there are folks all over the world who care about and help take care of....look after.....and worry about....our elderly.

These people are the unsung heroes of society.

By the way - copy that on the sense of humor. Mom is the same way. Always says something that makes me smile.....

Mr C is aces, if he is okay with Dottie

Dawgs know .... I'm just sayin'....

Nice thread and thank you for sharing your kindness Paul :)!

Some of the finest Sinsemilla you've ever had.

I had, of course, to ask: Tomatoes, wax beans (huh?), green beans and watermelons.

And Kush, goes without saying.

From the title I thought this was going to be about "The Ballad of Curtis Loew"

The pic of him in the shade with your dog and the breeze blowing was even better! :)

Kindness seems to be in short supply these days. Thanks for reminding me to look for opportunities to spread some around...

Thanks Mr Seahawk! God bless Mr Curtis & your family.

Great Story. Thanks for your kindness in making a senior citizen a little happier.

You're a good neighbor, Paul. Now that Cindy & I are admitting that we're entering the elderly realm? We've been blessed with some good neighbors. Rural areas are good for that..

Fantastic. Thanks for sharing. My father and 3 of my 4 grandparents are gone. I wish I'd spent more time with them before they passed.

This is a nice counterpoint to DavidI's "Big Evil" story.

I've recommended Paul to State Farm.

Thanks for sharing such a sweet story, Seahawk.

Good work, man!

Seahawk is indeed a good man. And it sound like Mr. Curtis is a gem. Sometimes, it is a struggle to give to someone more than we get from them.

I think that it is fantastic that you can do this for Mr. Curtis. As we age there is solace in the little things that we can still do. He wants to have a garden, and to sit and relax by the river with "his dog". Evidently, Dottie really likes him. Too often folks like Mr. Curtis are moved into senior housing and the families assume that they are great. Bingo on Monday, bridge tuesday, etc. In reality, most are lonely, bored, and just want something to do outside of the home. I commend you Seahawk for extending the time and effort to try and make an aged man happy. Someday he will be gone or no longer able to come to his happy spot. Only memories will remain of him and Dottie chillin by the river.

Good on you for giving him a place to ply his hobby, and being a friend.

It feels good to give.

He is a gardener, just like my wife...they both grew up rural here. Watching the two of them yap about plants is a thing of wonder to me...

If he were 15 - 20 years younger Mr. Curtis and I would be having a cane fight over Rebecca:)

I get him twice a week. Trust me, I get more out of the relationship than he does.

Fine man. Pups love him.

I post these pics and please, no one tell my wife...she has been in a SCIF for a month and a half and is way behind in the garden. He didn't mind a bit.

Mr. Curtis, his beans and tomatoes - and the pups:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1689803149.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1689803149.jpg

We spent a 1/2 hour under a tree on the Potomac after.

Very very well done!

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make...

Time well invested.

That's so...awesome of you, Paul.

I've spent my day fighting...all sorts of fights. Reading something so simple and so kind is so damn refreshing. Thank you.

Summer garden was a success...at least Mr. Curtis and my wife tell me.

Fall garden started a few days ago. Mr. Curtis has a particular Kale seed he loves. My wife actually asked me "what kind"?

The Kale kind.

So, today was bed prep after rototilling with the PTO thingy.

On my way to get Mr. Curtis, Bec and the dogs getting ready". Zoom in for the Big D leading the way.

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Load the ranger full of compost. Front end loader for the winski::

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He loves being here almost as much as we love having him here:

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I'm exhausted:)

Thats a garden! Lovely post.

Honestly, what was great this morning is the two of them inspecting the various compost piles on the farm while I sat on the small tractor waiting for tasking.

It was like they were discussing Rockwell C numbers.

The third pile was the charm.

Gardeners are crazy, crazy people.

Gardeners may be crazy ( just like my bride of 47 years), but they put some damned fine goods on the table!
We've been eating rhubarb, asparagus, strawberries, beets,beans,carrots, tomatoes and potatoes through the summer. I am having trouble watching the pumpkins slowly grow, thinking about when I can stew them for her home made pie.

Best
Les

Agree. I now eat stuff now that growing up in California I did not know was food.

"Gardeners are crazy, crazy people."

Yes we are!

Enjoyed the photos and updates, as always, Paul.

Beautiful place you have there. Slice of heaven. Belly rubs to Big D! :)

Parade Day in Leonardtown, old trucks and tractors.

I couldn't go but the owner of Stovebolt, my buddy, has met Mr. Curtis through me, which in retrospect may have been an error:)

So Mr. Curtis was riding with the King in his old dump truck. I may have a slander case:)

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Does Mr. Curtis know he’s a celebrity on PPOT? :D

I have the model release. Mr. Curtis is out of luck:D