November 2012PDF 5.57 MB - South Plains Electric Cooperative
November 2012PDF 5.57 MB - South Plains Electric Cooperative
November 2012PDF 5.57 MB - South Plains Electric Cooperative
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FRANK CURRY USING FAMILY PHOTO<br />
“No, I’ll do it,” my sister volunteered.<br />
“I’ll help you.” I joined her, and we<br />
headed toward the spare room.<br />
I lifted the mattress so she could fit<br />
the sheet around the corner, but instead<br />
she reached down for something else.<br />
“Oh, my God.”<br />
“What is it?”<br />
She revealed her find.<br />
“Where did you get that?”<br />
“Under the frame.”<br />
I just stared at it. “That’s 12.”<br />
We rushed to the other room to tell<br />
mom.<br />
She smiled. “He wants me to have<br />
them back, doesn’t he?”<br />
I said, “Yeah, he does.”<br />
Concern swept over her face. “What if<br />
we don’t find another one?”<br />
“The night’s not over, Mom.”<br />
Then she gathered the 12 dimes and<br />
wrapped them in a silk handkerchief.<br />
She lifted a concealed drawer that only<br />
opened when the top of her dresser was<br />
unlatched. She was about to put the<br />
coins in it when she froze.<br />
“What’s wrong?” I asked.<br />
She suddenly retrieved a dime from<br />
the back corner of the drawer and wept.<br />
We were stunned.<br />
The 13th dime joined the other 12 in<br />
the handkerchief, and she placed them<br />
safely in the drawer, her family heirloom<br />
restored.<br />
The coins were as emblematic 49<br />
years ago as they were that day: They are<br />
given to the bride as a symbol of the<br />
unquestionable trust and confidence the<br />
groom has in her, and by accepting them,<br />
the bride pronounces her unconditional<br />
trust and confidence in her groom.<br />
Dad was telling her that he had the<br />
trust and confidence that she could move<br />
through the heartache and pain. This<br />
gave Mom the strength she needed. He<br />
also gave my sister the sign that she was<br />
so desperately seeking, and perhaps<br />
she’s at peace from the experience. As for<br />
my other sister and brother, I can’t say<br />
for sure. They are probably finding their<br />
own way to cope with Dad’s death.<br />
And me? Well, I seem to find dimes<br />
everywhere now … and not just in a cluster<br />
of change, but alone and in random places.<br />
“Hey, Pops,” I say out loud and hold<br />
back a tear. Then I drop the silver in my<br />
pocket and continue my path, knowing<br />
that Dad is never too far away.<br />
Rudy Luna is a writer in Salt Lake City. He’s<br />
still finding dimes.<br />
TexasCoopPower.com <strong>November</strong> 2012 Texas Co-op Power 23