Captain

Well, last Friday Kimme and I took a flight to Houston Texas to see Captain, as my previous post had mentioned. We arrived around 1:30 or so, and the first thing I thought as we pulled up to Lucy's (my aunt) house was, "So, this is where my grandfather will die." Sad and somber thoughts, but nonetheless truthful. The first thing I did when I walked in the door was find him in his room. He was obviously near the end... slumped over to his left, in a medical bed, and oxygen pumping to his nose... it was that familiar picture of the end you see on TV shows or movies.

Ah! But God performed a miracle for me that day! I stepped over to him and for whatever reason, he looked up... as soon as he saw me he said, "Well look, it's David Curtis!" He couldn't have blessed me more! That alone was worth the trip. I did NOT want the last time I saw him to be @ his funeral. I wanted to say goodbye in person. It was as though he had waited for me. When he spoke my name... well... my name was the last thing he ever said that was intelligible.

I would go in and hold his hand. He still had a firm grip. His body temp was high (he had pneumonia among many other things) and so his hand was rather warm to touch. But still, I held it. I took time to notice his hands. I found it odd that I has never really taken the time to look at them so closely. When I did, I noticed how similar his hands were to mine. His fingers, mainly... strange thing to notice, but I still took notice.

Later that night, the hospice nurse came over and made sure he was ok... then, we all got together for dinner. It was strange eating a family dinner with Captain in the other room. :( Pat (Lucy's husband) cooked a fabulous dinner of new york strips. Laura (her twin sister) was also there along with my dad and Donna, his wife of one year. Finally, Kimme and I took off to get some rest.

Then, around 4:30 AM on Saturday morning, I got a call that Captain had passed about 30-60 minutes before. I got dressed and head back to the house. Crazy that Kimme and I got there within the last 14-15 hours of his life... somehow I just knew I needed to go.

So... while Kimme and I expected to only be in Houston for 3 days (well, Kimme 3 and me for 5) I still did not think he would die while I was there. Needless to say, I cancelled my flight back to Baltimore from Houston. Instead, I traveled back to Dallas with my dad while Kimme flew back as planned. Sad... even as I write this I have not seen my kids in nearly a week. I miss them so much. :( Well, dad and I got to spend some time together. That was nice. Maybe more on that later... that was sorta a mini-trip in and of itself.

Yesterday, we arrived in Russellville, Arkansas. Russellville is where Captain grew up... it's where he and my grandmother lived for many, many years... We got in late and got some rest.

Today, I said goodbye to Captain... his grave site service was @ 1 PM. The US Air Force was there for a 21 gun salute, and the US Navy was there to fold the flag... it was given to my father. Captain was a US Naval officer and served in the Atlantic during WW2. Today he was honored for his service.

The memorial service was @ 2 PM @ First United Methodist Church, Captain and Grandmother's church of many years... Captain's mother was the organist for many years... My great-grandfather Cowan's brother (Bill?) gave the church the bell that's in the bell tower. The history goes way back. The service was very nice. I gave the opening prayer and read three selections of Scripture. Psalm 8 (Captain's favorite scripture), Psalm 23, and Romans 8 (the end) through 9:1. Then, my dad gave the eulogy. He did such a great job. I was proud of him.

Afterward, I told him so.

After the service, the whole family went to the Holiday Inn, a Cowan gathering place over the years... we all ate together. It was all the folks that were in Houston when Captain died, as well as my uncle Jamey and aunt Betty (my grandmother's sister), Clay Shinn (my cousin), Sharon (my dad's cousin... this is grandmother's sister's daughter... this sister died of lupus many years ago, long before I was born), and yeah... others... wow... lots to cover. Have you read this far?

Needless to say... it has been a LONG and DRAINING week. But soon, i will be home. Back in Kimme's arms and the kids in mine. Ahh... home!