Grandpa Curtis Lee

Grandpa Curtis soothing me on my blessing day, January 1974

My dear Grandpa Curtis passed away yesterday.  I've spent the hours since I found out in a flood of happy memories of him.  I've never felt more beautiful than when he told me my hair was the color of a new penny, touching it gently.  I knew he respected me for many reasons, but especially because he never threw a game of croquet with me.  One time I was a few hits away from winning and he knocked my ball into the neighbor's yard.  With a smile on his face. :)

He didn't talk a lot, maybe that's why I can still remember some of the wise things he said.  Just yesterday Brian and I were working side-by-side digging a hole and we remembered that Grandpa Curtis once said the only way to practice any activity is to do that activity (he was talking about painting).  It's true!  You can't use digging-a-hole muscles without digging. :) Every time one of his grandkids got married, he would say that marriage was not a 50-50 proposition, it's 100-100.  He truly lived that sentiment.  Grandpa was humble, meek, wise, and because of all that, powerful in body and spirit.  He did what was right, always, and very quietly.  I'm blessed to have known him and to be connected with him forever.