Writing Boots

On communication, professional and otherwise.

My Dad’s Watch: A Poem

05.01.2019 by David Murray // Leave a Comment

Several years ago, the self-winding 1950s Movado watch

That I inherited from my father (who was born on this day in 1923)

IMG_1972

Went through the wash.

A colorful tour of Chicago's oldest and dustiest watch-repair shops

Resulted in a compromise-conversion to battery power,

Which worked fine for a couple of years,

Until the hands fell off.

I'm serious.

An in-law in Des Moines told me about a jewelry shop there,

In a strip mall, next to a Bail Bond Pro,

That fixes stuff well, and cheap.

So I took it there.

Almost a year and a half ago.

Every three months I call the guy for a status update.

The gears are corroded, and he's cleaning them.

Three more months.

Good news: "The company that sells the part we need

said they are not positive that they don't have the part."

Three more months.

Still working on those darn gears.

I just called again, for maybe the sixth time.

I'm David Murray.

I have a Movado watch in there?

I'm from Chicago?

Do you remember me?

"Yes, I remember you."

Well, could you give me a status update on the watch?

"It just runs and stops, runs and stops."

Do you still have hope that you might fix it?

"Yep, I'm still tinkering with it."

Should I call back again in three months?

"That sounds good."

Dad's not in a hurry, I guess.

So why should I be?

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