NewburyportNews.com, Newburyport, MA

Opinion

Discussion

comments powered by Disqus
July 1, 2009

Taffy's brings memories of old friends

To the editor:

Now that Taffy's is open again, I began thinking of the years past, when Jack Cutter, Jim Curly and myself would be there at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday. Most of the chat was meaningless, but I would like to mention a certain few.

In later years, Jim used a metal tip cane. He would lean it against the wall. It so happened, whoever got there first (I or Jack) would give it a kick. Wham! People on Oak Hill could hear it. Back against the wall it would go. Whichever of us two came in last, wham! Down goes the cane, I can't give you the exact words, but Jim ended it "... and everything was OK until you guys showed up."

A few more years passed and things got to the point where I would pick him up at the Sullivan Building every day, but before I did, I would throw banana peels, apple cores, etc., etc. He would say to Jack, "Gee, boy, you gotta see what I have to put my feet in when I sit in his car. He has more ___ than Twomey ever could get on his swill truck."

I could fill a book with stories that the three of us had at Taffy's over the years.

I would like to mention two more, though. Upper right hand corner and shot glass.

Jim loved the University of Notre Dame. He hated the Longhorns as I hated them also. But I didn't tell Jim that. So every once in a while, "Jim, you see where Texas is No. 1 in this and that?" Jim would answer back, "Where did you see that? You look in the upper right hand corner of the U.S.A.?" The next morning Jim would say, "I looked in every upper right hand corner in all the papers Fowle's has, and I didn't see anything!"

Jim loved shot glasses, so whenever I went anywhere, I would bring one back. One a return from Germany, it broke, not crushed, just three pieces, but I threw it out anyway. Jim hadn't got to Taffy's yet, so I told Jack what had happened. He asked me if I still had the pieces, I said yeah in the trash. Jack tells me to try and glue them together. And then mentions how Jim thinks I'm tighter than the bark on a tree, make up some story, good idea. The glass stays glued but naturally, it's cracked. So I get to Taffy's with the glass, Jack's not there yet, I tell Jim I have his glass, but there is one problem, it has a slight crack. But I tell Jim a good one costs 30 marks. But they had this one for 50 cents. Just about then, in walks Jack. Jim couldn't wait and yells at Jack, "Look what this cheapskate gave me. He says he got it cheaper or something." Told Jack the same thing about the cost, Jack says, "Wow! Good deal, Herb," and then Jack says to Jim, "Just turn it around so the crack doesn't show!"

I now have that shot glass back along with Jim's desk calendar and that shot glass is sitting on the date page, with the crack showing, he passed away.

Gee boy, we miss ya, Jim.

Herb Clinton

Newburyport

Text Only | Photo Reprints

NDN Video
The NY Giants Defend Gisele Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9 Beyonce Is Sexy in Sequins Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue Model's Shocking 20-Inch Waist Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo. Better than Tebowing, it's Bradying - 2/7 Maria Menounos in Giants Bikini After Losing Bet Zip-Lining Man Slams Into Tree TLC's 'Strangest Addictions Yet'? Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water Snooki Admits She's Bisexual No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner Katharine McPhee Strips Down Raw Video: 15 Lb. Baby Born in China Ellen DeGeneres Slams One Million Moms Vending Machine Dispenses 'Morning-After' Pill Rihanna in Super Sheer Bodysuit Entire staff removed at L.A. elementary school Exclusive: Giants Players Talk About Excitement Around 2012 Super Bowl Victory Parade
Special Features