Thursday, January 22, 2004
MY DAD (PART FOUR)
By the time they got back in the car and all minds were clear, Dad asked what everyone would like to do. Dorothy had not dated before so remained quiet but Mary spoke up and said, “How about going to the movie? “ Mary was the more outgoing one and had always led the way for Dorothy’s decisions. Dad and Jack thought that was a good idea so dad backed away from the curb and started up the street towards the theater. They were able to get in for the beginning of the movie so all settled down and Dorothy was introduced to silent film. She loved the excitement the organist created as the film continued to flick on the screen. She couldn’t believe her eyes as the hero and heroine moved through the story……she was captivated with the make-believe world.
Dad wasn’t paying much attention to the movie. To be in the company of the ‘candy girl’ made the movie seem less interesting. He was pleased that she seemed to be enjoying it so much. It made him feel good to sit next to her. He knew he wanted to see her again as soon as he could……he never wanted the night to end. When the lights came on the four of them stood up and exited the theater along with the crowd.
The car made it’s way up the hill to the Stricklett home. Dad was at a loss as to proper manners so stayed in the car while Dorothy and Mary exited. Jack got in the front seat with dad as the girls disappeared through the door of the house. Reluctantly, dad backed out of the driveway and eased the car down the hill. By the time he dropped Jack at his home it was time to head back to the farm. His mind, captive to thoughts of Dorothy, kept him entertained as he made his way along the dirt roads towards home. He sensed his life was no longer his own. A tiny, fragile young woman named Dorothy now held the key to his heart.
Summer and Fall passed, winter claimed the land. Dad and Dorothy, sometimes Mary and Jack would climb in the car and go on picnics, to the Fair, to the river………whatever. They just had such great times together. Dad’s car was no longer a strange sight at the Stricklett home. He met Dorothy’s mother and father and respected, even admired them both. They were good people, well mannered and friendly. Dad went from feeling nervous and ill-at-ease to being comfortable and accepted. Dad took Dorothy on drives all around the country to see places of interest. More times than not they would get stuck in the muddy roads, or stuck in snow that drifted across the roads or chocked with dust. Dad still hadn’t given up the urge to race a brother or friend if they happened on the road with him. Dorothy’s life was now far different from the life she had known. If dad thought he was smitten with Dorothy she felt the same. More and more she wanted to be with him all the time. She had gone to the farm and met Dad’s mother and father. Grandma Andersen liked Dorothy because she peeled potatoes very thin. Grandma was very thrifty and noticed this right away. Her conversation with dad later was conditional, however. “I don’t think she is strong enough to do the work on a farm. Why don’t you marry a good strong Dane girl?” Dad countered with, “I don’t want to marry a mule to work, I want a wife, she’s the only one for me.” By Valentines Day dad had asked Dorothy to marry him and of course, she said yes.
Dad’s older brother, Ted, thought he was crazy. “What do you want to get married for? Girls are a dime a dozen…….don’t tie yourself down to some nagging woman.” His younger brother Robert, and older brother Sophus who still lived with grandma and grandpa really liked Dorothy and thought it was a good idea. They were happy for him.
And so…….it was time to set a date for the wedding. They planned to go to Omaha and marry and stay one night at the Fontenelle Hotel. It was in that day, a place of extravagance and luxury. The very thought of staying there even for one night would be grandiose to them both. The date was set for March 16, 1925. For a farmer, marrying in the Spring before planting time was necessary. The hard work on the farm would begin soon and they needed to be settled by then.
Tomorrow we revisit their wedding day. I promise it will be a story in itself.
Until then,
Essentially Esther
Dad wasn’t paying much attention to the movie. To be in the company of the ‘candy girl’ made the movie seem less interesting. He was pleased that she seemed to be enjoying it so much. It made him feel good to sit next to her. He knew he wanted to see her again as soon as he could……he never wanted the night to end. When the lights came on the four of them stood up and exited the theater along with the crowd.
The car made it’s way up the hill to the Stricklett home. Dad was at a loss as to proper manners so stayed in the car while Dorothy and Mary exited. Jack got in the front seat with dad as the girls disappeared through the door of the house. Reluctantly, dad backed out of the driveway and eased the car down the hill. By the time he dropped Jack at his home it was time to head back to the farm. His mind, captive to thoughts of Dorothy, kept him entertained as he made his way along the dirt roads towards home. He sensed his life was no longer his own. A tiny, fragile young woman named Dorothy now held the key to his heart.
Summer and Fall passed, winter claimed the land. Dad and Dorothy, sometimes Mary and Jack would climb in the car and go on picnics, to the Fair, to the river………whatever. They just had such great times together. Dad’s car was no longer a strange sight at the Stricklett home. He met Dorothy’s mother and father and respected, even admired them both. They were good people, well mannered and friendly. Dad went from feeling nervous and ill-at-ease to being comfortable and accepted. Dad took Dorothy on drives all around the country to see places of interest. More times than not they would get stuck in the muddy roads, or stuck in snow that drifted across the roads or chocked with dust. Dad still hadn’t given up the urge to race a brother or friend if they happened on the road with him. Dorothy’s life was now far different from the life she had known. If dad thought he was smitten with Dorothy she felt the same. More and more she wanted to be with him all the time. She had gone to the farm and met Dad’s mother and father. Grandma Andersen liked Dorothy because she peeled potatoes very thin. Grandma was very thrifty and noticed this right away. Her conversation with dad later was conditional, however. “I don’t think she is strong enough to do the work on a farm. Why don’t you marry a good strong Dane girl?” Dad countered with, “I don’t want to marry a mule to work, I want a wife, she’s the only one for me.” By Valentines Day dad had asked Dorothy to marry him and of course, she said yes.
Dad’s older brother, Ted, thought he was crazy. “What do you want to get married for? Girls are a dime a dozen…….don’t tie yourself down to some nagging woman.” His younger brother Robert, and older brother Sophus who still lived with grandma and grandpa really liked Dorothy and thought it was a good idea. They were happy for him.
And so…….it was time to set a date for the wedding. They planned to go to Omaha and marry and stay one night at the Fontenelle Hotel. It was in that day, a place of extravagance and luxury. The very thought of staying there even for one night would be grandiose to them both. The date was set for March 16, 1925. For a farmer, marrying in the Spring before planting time was necessary. The hard work on the farm would begin soon and they needed to be settled by then.
Tomorrow we revisit their wedding day. I promise it will be a story in itself.
Until then,
Essentially Esther
