Category Archives: Friendship

Newlywed Love (#71)

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June 22-26, 1970

After returning to Champaign from Wilmette and unloading the rental van well after midnight, Monday morning came with a bang. Nate returned to the Union parking lot, hoping for a day job, and I stood in long lines registering for summer school.

Pots and pansTuesday brought another job strike-out for Nate, so he signed up for something new. Bouncing through the apartment door, he told me he was going to be a salesman! When I asked “of what?” he said, “Pots and pans – selling them door-to-door.” I had a bad feeling about this but didn’t say so, telling him we would celebrate big-time when he made his first sale.

Tuesday for me included a phone conversation confirming I would be student teaching in a 2nd grade classroom under a teacher who didn’t have as much experience as I did. But I also learned that a friend from Danville would be in my afternoon seminars, a little light in a dark situation. Heavy on my mind, though, was my inability to make any money the whole summer.

2nd gradeOn Wednesday I received the 2nd grade curriculum and my student teaching assignments. Optimism faded when I realized how time-intensive it was going to be. Meanwhile, Nate was doing his best to make his first sale of pots and pans… at $350 a set. [$2100 today] No wonder he wasn’t having any luck.

On Thursday Nate kept up his cold-calling, and I met a classroom-full of students. I also tried to make friends with my co-teacher but could tell she didn’t want me there. Even my steady attempts at humor fell flat. In my journal that night I wrote, Student teaching has me racked already, and I hate it – the seminars, too.

By Friday, Nate and I were both down in the dumps once again, wondering how we would ever live through the summer. But we tried to do for each other what my folks had done for us the weekend before – encourage and nourish. Though I knew Nate was no salesman, I cheered him on: “It’ll happen next week for sure!” He did the same for me: “Only 8 more weeks, Meg. I know you can do it!”

Fellow sufferersThat night, at the end of a hard week, we invited friends Cathy and John over for watermelon at 10:30 and felt much better afterwards. They were having some of their own struggles, and misery loves company.

But best of all was the note I found at the end of that long week: Dearest Meg. Thank you for your warm and affectionate noontime reminder to me. I’ll love you forever.

Nate's noteAnd I knew no matter how hard things got, by the end of the summer, our love for each other would still be strong.

“I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)

Newlywed Love (#68)

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June 6-14, 1970

At Nate's house.After Nate’s last exams and the end of my school year in Danville, the two of us headed off to an all-day Nyman family reunion. From there we continued on to Nate’s home to spend several days with his brother (right) and parents.

Our two little charges, Toby 2 and Baron, came along, providing non-stop entertainment.

From there we drove to Wilmette where Mom and Dad had a chance to get acquainted with their grand-doggies. The first Toby, our family dog for 15 years, had been Mom’s constant companion, and she missed him dearly. Cuddling with two lookalikes did something special for her heart, and even Dad bonded with our little buddies.

Mom loves the puppiesDad and puppy.

During the week we connected with Mary, Bervin, brother Tom, Aunt Agnes, and others, one of which was our friend Connie.

 
She had a new puppy, too, and her roommate was longing for a dog of her own. She asked if we’d ever consider parting with one of our little guys, and though we gave her a firm no, we looked at each other and then told her we’d think about it.

Connie and pup

 

At the beachToward mid-week we drove the 110 miles to our family’s summer cottage in Michigan, where the poochies had their first beach experience. They wore them- selves out dashing up and down the dunes, and though neither braved a swim, both loved scampering along the water line. Nate and I bragged to Mom and Dad about how smart they were, learning to potty outdoors and even whining to get out when they needed to go.

Puppies diggingAs the week passed, we talked about the possibility of parting with one of our puppies. The reality was that two dogs might be one too many in our small Champaign apartment.

By the time we arrived back in Wilmette, we knew what was the wise thing to do – surrender one of them to Connie’s roommate. She was thrilled when we told her and came right over to play with them and learn their personalities.

Since Nate and I loved them equally, we let her choose which one she wanted: it was Toby 2. The only good thing about this transition (so difficult for us) was that now, instead of being a #2, Toby 2 became a full-fledged Toby – and a definite #1 with his new owner.

Holding him closeOur drive back to Champaign after a week away was quiet and sad. I held Baron close, promising him we’d never let him go. The next day, however, brought a bit of bad news. While showing him off to several neighbors, one of them said, “Don’t you know dogs aren’t allowed in our building?”

We hadn’t considered such a possibility and had never thought to ask the landlord. But one thing was certain – hiding one dog would be easier than hiding two.
“There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.” (Matthew 10:26)

Off to Hawaii — ALOHA! (#67)

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Newlyweds Nate and Meg are half way through their first married year, but at this point their adventures must go on hold until September.

Engaged... 7.19.17Our firstborn, Nelson, will be getting married to his true love, Ann Sophie, on August 26. They live and work in Kona, Hawaii, where the wedding will occur, and tomorrow I board a plane, headed their way.

 

 

Door County, 2016.After that it’ll be a drive to Iowa to spend time with Emerald and her parents.

Before I leave, though, let’s find out how things are going in Champaign as 2 young adults and 2 very young doggies learn to live together.

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Newlywed Love (#67)

June 4-5, 1970

Our first night as parents-to-puppies didn’t go very well. Although we took Toby 2 and the Baron outside right before we went to bed, by morning there were pee-pee and poo-poo spots everywhere. Neither of us had ever personally trained a dog and were astounded at how much our little charges could “go.”

Puppies making messesWhen I left for record-keeping day at school, Nate had his work cut out for him at home. But we couldn’t be mad at our precious pooches. It had been our fault for assuming they could last 8 hours without “making.” Somehow we’d have to solve the problem of servicing them and also getting some sleep.

My school day was a breeze – no students, just lots of paper work, followed by a faculty luncheon given by the district Parent Teacher Association. It was fun to socialize with Linda, Judy, and many other teachers, lots of whom we’d never met.

Cannon School.I got to shake hands with the principal at my new school, Mr. Atkinson. The Cannon School across town where I would be teaching kindergarten was four times the size of little McKinley, but that was OK with me.

When I got home, Nate had been out to buy enough plastic to cover the area rugs in our living and dining rooms and had been getting a workout running up and down the stairs with our little darlings every 15 minutes.

Puppies nappingHe reported good progress and was confident they’d catch on soon. He had also made a decision about night times. “We’ll take them out as late as we can and then shut our bedroom door as usual. Whatever messes they make after that will just be the cost of a good night’s sleep for us. I’ll clean everything up.”

I couldn’t argue with that!

As Linda, Judy, and I made our last drive to Danville together, it was bittersweet. We’d had a happy year sharing as newlyweds, building friendships we hoped would last. And though Judy and Bill were headed for New York, Linda and I promised we’d get together during the summer.

The last morning with my 1st graders was spent partying — cupcakes, candy, and special badges I’d made for each of them, highlighting their best character qualities. It was one last chance to build them up before they slipped out of my life.

When the bell rang at noon, each one gave me a warm hug, telling me how much they would miss me – and I reciprocated. I sincerely hoped, as I waved them off, that they’d been properly prepared for 2nd grade.

EnamoredNate drove to Danville to join us for the McKinley teachers’ bar-b-q at Principal Scarce’s house, and he brought Toby 2 and the Baron with him. The whole world loves puppies, and our little guys didn’t disappoint, providing non-stop entertainment throughout the afternoon. Mr. Scarce’s two young boys were especially enamored (right).

After long goodbyes and well-wishes, Nate and I were off on a 10 day vacation with our tiny pets – first to a Nyman family reunion, followed by several days with Nate’s parents and brother in their home. After that it would be on to Wilmette to join my family.

What we didn’t know was that when we returned to Champaign, we would be short one doggie…

“Look at God; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from him.” (Psalm 34:5, The Message)