Tommy Curtis

Comment

Comment by laura on February 1, 2009 at 2:43pm

Being Gloria's sister back in the early days of her and Tom getting together I use to spend a lot of time up to her house or at first the apartment on Summer St. so I got to know Tommy pretty good back then. What Candy and Gloria have already said he was a special kind of kid. After Gloria and Tommy's Dad got married our family just automaticly adopted Tommy as our nephew no questions asked. I even remember one day my mother and I were counting up the number of her grandchildern and even she without thinking twice counted Tommy in as one of her's. That was the kind of person he was. AS Tommy got older I didn't see much of him and then when I did he'd grown his hair long like in his picture here. I remember I use to kiddingly call him Thelma instead of Tommy and he would just give me a smile and say what? I remember one day I called up to Gloria's on the phone and this younger male voice answered at first I thought it was Randy but I didn't say anthing and just said this is Auntie Laura is your mom there, the voice on the other end said "this isn't Randy it's Thelma hold on I'll get her." At that point we both laughted and now when I look back at that time I realize that with him saying that it was like it was ok and kinda specail between us that I had called him that jokingly. I remember at his wake hearing his friends talking and some of them even talked to me about him. They told me that if you ever were looking for Tommy at school or some gathering all you had to do is look for the largest group and there in the middle of it you would find Tommy. That was just the kind of person he was. I saw that to be true the day of his funeral. I don't think I've ever seen a large one then the number of people young and old that showed up for that. It told me that even with his passing he still had that ora about him. I'm proud and feel special that even for a short time I was able to call him MY NEPHEW. So heres to loving memories from Aunt Laura to Tommy (Thelma) you are greatly missed and loved more then you ever knew. And Thank you for being in my life even if was for a short time.

Comment by Gloria on January 25, 2009 at 9:00am

I have many memories of Tommy as well, being his step-mom since he was 4 years old. I guess you could say we all grew up with him. One of the memories that I laugh about today was when Tommy was around 5-6. I had just been in our bathroom and Tommy had gone in right after me. As I was looking at the wall straight in front of me, I saw this dark line going all the way down in the corner, looking like the wallpaper was torn all the way down. Upon close inspection, I realized that it was a fresh magic marker line drawn all the way down. When asked why he had done it, we got the denial. A mild spanking had followed shortly thereafter; not because of the incident, but because of the untruth that had been told. I believe that I had always treated Tommy as my own son, Randy, and Tommy always loved and respected me as his second mom. I remember on one mother's day receiving a card from him, (which I still have) "To A Special Mom" That was when I realized that Tommy and I had a great relationship.

Tommy's passing changed so many lives, but I have to say, not without some good. It brought the extended families so much closer together, and for that, I am eternally grateful. Up until his death, there had been some distance between the extended parents as in most extended families; however, because of losing Tommy, it brought us all so much closer and we still are today. I know Tommy would have wanted it that way too.

I will always remember when the time came in the hospital, the decision to let him go after 8 days. His mom, Laura, was totally exhausted and probably headed for a breakdown, naturally, after having hardly any sleep and no rest,in those long 8 days, and his dad, Tom could not bear being in the room as the time came. I felt, being his second mom, that I would sit and stay until it was all over. And, although it was the hardest thing I have EVER done in my whole life, I am so glad I was able (not without difficulty) to spend that "special time" with him and be able hold his hand throughout the night and talking to him about all the things that had happen with him since he had come into my life at 4 years old. When he was at that age, he would stand in front of me, hold my hands, and walk up the front of me and flip right over!! Just like what Candy does with my Little Kaleb now.

Life does go on, and many of us have taken different roads along the way, but, I can honestly say that for me, the memory of Tommy is always there and always will be. He made such an impact on so many people in his 18 years of living that some people will never be able to do in their whole lives. He was so very special to us all and we love you Tommy and miss you dearly. Thanks for all the great memories from your special Mom. I love and miss you!!!!!!

Comment by Corey Zink on January 22, 2009 at 4:41pm

This is a great example of how great it feels to look back on the good memories- the "Leaning Moments" we have had. This is why it is so important that we create leaning moments with others as often as we can becasue we will always be able to look back and be lifted by the leaning moments we have. Thanks for sharing..... I never knew about the "coloring book thing". thats a great memory and it lifted my spirits by just reading about it.

Comment by Corey Zink on January 22, 2009 at 3:43pm

You can forever reflect on the special Leaning moments you had with him.