Category Archives: Friendship

Newlywed Love (#25)

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January 26, 1970

BlizzardAfter Dad and I purchased the black Mustang, I couldn’t wait to drive it back to Champaign to show Nate our classy new wheels. Heavy snow made the 156 miles time-intensive and nerve-racking. But there was no way to contact Nate as I traveled along, so I just kept going, one mile at a time. Knowing he was waiting for me made it all worth it.

As I pulled up in front of our apartment building, Nate must have been anxiously looking out the window, because he came running down the steps and outside to greet me. He didn’t care nearly as much about the car as he did about me, worried for my welfare in the storm. It was gratifying to watch relief wash over him as he put his arms around me.

“I was so upset,” he said, “that something might have happened to you!” Covering my face and neck with kisses he whispered, “I could never live without you.”

I still didn’t understand why he loved me so much, but at that moment I didn’t need a reason. I accepted his loving care and was sure I could never feel more cherished than I did right then.

Snowy MustangOnce we stopped hugging in the middle of the street, he stood back to admire the Mustang – and was pleased. We both climbed in, and he pulled it around to the back alley where there was space to park. “You and your dad did well,” he said.

Upstairs, we made some coffee and shared the details of our weekend apart. He had some interesting tales from his first shifts at H & R Block, and I gave him the details of how Dad and I found the car. “If anything goes wrong during the first month,” I said, “we can bring it back, and they’ll fix it.”

Coffee mug.Nate made a fire, and the two of us sat on a blanket in front of it for a long time, sipping coffee and feeling thankful to be “in touch” again. We agreed there was nothing like a separation to make us appreciate being together. I told him how glad I’d been as I struggled through the snow to know it was him waiting for me at the other end. And he told me how thankful he was that he was the one I was eager to come home to.

It was a golden moment for a newlywed couple closing in on their 2nd month anniversary. All was right with the world.

“I am content just to have you safely back again…” (2 Samuel 19:30)

Newlywed Love (#19)

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January 10, 1970

Now that Mom and Dad were fully recuperated from the back-to-back stresses of our wedding and Christmas, they turned their focus to our nearly-bare apartment in Champaign. Long ago they had asked if we wanted some of the furniture they couldn’t fit into their new, smaller home. We didn’t think twice.

Mom wrote that a small moving van would arrive by the end of the week. When the truck came, we couldn’t wait to see what was inside.

FurnitureIt turned out to be a table and chairs, a dining room “breakfront” with drawers on the bottom and shelves on the top, a couple of lamps, a set of book shelves, a plant stand, a living room chair with the promise of another one coming later, a round hassock, and an end table.

Mom also sent her sewing machine, just on loan, so I could make a few things – maybe a tablecloth and napkins (I was good at straight edges) and possibly some simple, A-line skirts.

New furnitureOnce we arranged all this furniture, our apartment began to look home-y. We decided to celebrate by inviting friends John and Cathy for dinner. Though I had no confidence that I could produce a good meal, I thought of a way to avoid cooking altogether.

We would unpack a couple of our new fondue pots, and each of us could use the long forks to cook our own. I did have confidence in my veggie-chopping/meat-cutting skills, so with a little hot oil in the pot, our guests could do the rest. Even dessert could be managed fondue-style with cut-up fruit and a pot of melted chocolate.

I bought some fabric and made a gold tablecloth (i.e. hemmed the edges and put a seam right down the middle). Napkins for each of us completed the set. Thanks to our generous wedding guests, we now had plenty of silverware, plates, and glasses. So setting the table for our very first company felt just like playing house.

First dinner guestsThe evening was a success, and the 4 of us sat at the table “cooking” for several hours – fun with fondue. Cathy and John had just put their wedding invitations in the mail the week before, and when they wished out loud for a fondue pot of their own, Nate assured them they’d have one by the end of the month. We’d received 5 of them, and if their wedding gifts didn’t follow suit, they could have a couple of ours.

Well after midnight, as Nate and I did the dishes, we rated the evening A+ and talked about who to invite next. Many of his law school friends were far from home and would love a home-cooked meal – even if they had to cook it themselves.

We had our doubts, though, about Nate’s parents, who planned to spend the last weekend in January with us. Would they embrace the fondue system? Nate suggested I make a more traditional meal, something nicer, but I wasn’t sure he knew the magnitude of what he was asking.

“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (1 Peter 4:9)

Newlywed Love (#14)

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December 28, 1969

Our quick Christmas trip to each other’s families had been worthwhile and fun, but then we got to “go home” with just each other. We were both thankful for a few more days before our school schedules resumed…. and all that time apart.

Nate, who made a habit of clipping articles I might enjoy, gave me this one:

Sage advice

Those were my sentiments exactly, and we planned to make the most of our few quiet days together. Recreating some of our early dating weeks, we bundled up and took long walks in the snow.   (Below, December 1966)

Snowy walksAnd when we returned to our little “nest,” we coined a new word: snestle. It was the combination of snuggling and nestling, something we did a lot of during that carefree time.

Sitting on the floor between the light of our Christmas tree and the flickering fireplace, we made the momentous decision that when spring came, maybe we’d get…. a dog.

 

Our fireplaceBuying a little red stocking (half-off after Christmas), we hung it on our mantle between our bigger ones and admired the look of it.

One of the long talks we had during this time was about finances and our lack thereof. My small “country” salary always found us short, and we’d begun borrowing small amounts from both sets of parents, $50 here and there, to get through each month.

This made both of us uncomfortable, and though we were giving blood on a regular basis for $25 a shot, they wouldn’t let us give more than once every 6 weeks.

Also, we were still struggling along with one car after selling the Corvette, and with my long commute, Nate was the one usually left scrambling. Dad had promised we’d get back to our car search in January, and we wondered aloud how we could possibly swing that big purchase, plus licensing and insurance.

Our conclusion was that Nate would hunt for work, and though I wondered how he could hold a part-time job and still do well in school, he was confident he could make it work. He suggested slowing his studies — attending fewer classes while working a job. This would make for a later graduation, but it was one way to conquer the problem.

MacaroniWe weren’t worried. Talking quietly together in the afterglow of Christmas gave everything, even tight finances, a promising feel. Meanwhile, we increased our intake of hot dogs, baked beans, and macaroni. At least I knew how to cook them.

“The Lord protects all those who love him.” (Psalm 145:20)