Category Archives: Life’s disappointments

Young Love (#66)

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I continued to attend family get-togethers and church functions in Chicago as a single girl without her partner, repeatedly explaining where Nate was and why he wasn’t with me. But I took heart in knowing that soon I’d be able to stop explaining and start introducing!

vietnamAlthough there was still the possibility that Nate would have to go to Vietnam, it seemed unlikely, and we never talked about it. But with Nate in a military environment learning how to wage war, I’m sure it was on his mind.

July 18, 1969 – Dearest Meg, future Wife. Last night before I went to sleep, I thought of how secure I was in your love. I could go directly to Vietnam from here for a year and never doubt you lovingly awaiting my return. That you love me makes me the most fortunate man in the world. And I never tire of looking at your beauty and telling you of it. You are an enchanting woman.

July 18, 1969 – Dear Nate. Thank you for the wonderful letter I received today. It’s so encouraging to hear you say so many nice things about me. I love you for giving me a lot more credit than I deserve! Thank you so much.

July 19, 1969 – Dearest Fiancée. I wish I could describe in words my feelings – after a hot, dusty day in the field, coming back to a letter from you. If I could describe that, I would be a Tolstoy. I just shaved “out of my helmet” which is better done in the evening while there’s still daylight. We rise so early each morning, it’s still dark out – hard to see what I’m doing!

July 19, 1969 – Dear, DEAR Nate. My parents keep mentioning your letter and how pleased they were with it. They are already thinking of you as part of our family. I attended a church function last night, and they were there, too. Dad mentioned how glad he was about our wedding, and he’s far more enthusiastic than I’d ever hoped! Mom, too, is really excited.

July 19, 1969 – Dearest Meg, my Love. You are the best thing in my life. You come before law, the Army, and everything else. And together we will worship the Lord. I love to pray. I especially love our prayer times together, asking for guidance, power, and strength. I thank Him many times a day for you and for our love. I believe He is blessing us in this separation. He’s making us love each other more and more and more. (But I do wish you were here in this pup tent with me!)

July 19, 1969 – Dear Nate. You remember my friend Connie. Tonight she threw a big party for her folks’ 25th wedding anniversary after working very hard on it. There was dinner and then a mock wedding, and Connie was the bride, wearing her mother’s bridal gown. I sang a duet with another friend. We hammed it up on “Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life.” People laughed at all the right places. Pastor Sweeting came up afterwards and said, “You should sing for us on Sunday evening in the main auditorium. How about 8:45 pm?” Of course the auditorium is empty by 8:30. As he turned to go, he said, “I’m anxious to tie that knot!” Me too!

July 19, 1969 – Dearest Meg. I just got a letter from my brother, who said he got a leave to be at our wedding on 29 November. So he will definitely be my best man. By the way, I don’t think you should take the pill when we’re married. If there is even one chance in a trillion that it would injure you, I would never want you to use it. I love you!

friendlyJuly 19, 1969 – Dear Nate. Everybody here is anxious to meet you, all the people at the church. You’ll be going through a lot of introductions, I’m afraid. But you’re so good at a friendly hand-shake, I hope it won’t be too painful for you. I’m so proud of you and can’t wait to “show you off!” (That’s a compliment, in case it didn’t sound like one.) I’m especially glad I won’t have to say, “I wish you were here” much longer… because you will be! Yipeeeee!

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9)

Young Love (#65)

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With Nate’s Army camp graduation only a week away, we could envision the day when we wouldn’t have to “converse” in letters but could talk face-to-face. Meanwhile, I “borrowed” another old photo from Mom’s albums, since Nate seemed to enjoy them. There was much we still didn’t know about each other’s childhoods.

tom-and-margaretJuly 17, 1969 – Dear Lover. Enclosed is another “oldie,” this one of Tommy and me on a family vacation in St. Petersburg, Florida – 1950. The dress is a bit revealing, but I didn’t have much chest to hold things up in those days. Today Marti and I talked hour after hour, some of that time cooling off at the beach. I wish you could have unlimited water like that, too. Only one more week and it will be yours! You’ve done so well there – in attitude, stamina, and spiritual faithfulness. What an encouragement and strength you are to me for being those things. The Lord surely must be smiling on your every effort.

July 17, 1969 – Dearest Meg. I’m so proud when my friends here ask me about you. I know my fiancée is the finest in the universe. I am so anxious to marry you! And I have loved your descriptions of what life will be like when we are married, your stories. You have an excellent imagination and ability to write. And thank you for working so hard on wedding plans. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed. We’ll make the rest of the decisions in August. Deciding things together isn’t so difficult.

July 17, 1969 – Dear Nate. I think I found my bridal gown, the one I’m going to get! I tried different veils on, too, so beautiful. Mary, Mom, and Aunt Agnes all went with me, and we made a party out of it. It was so much fun. The only problem was that as I stood looking at myself in a 3-way mirror all ready to walk down the aisle, I wanted to marry you immediately! It’s so hard to wait.

encouragementJuly 17, 1969 – Dearest Meg. Thank you for the many greeting cards and tremendous letters you’ve sent. When I get those words from Meg on a bivouac at night after chow, my morale soars. Thank you very much. I’m sorry my letters take so long to get to Chicago. I get yours in about 2 days. And I love every one of them!

July 18, 1969 – Dear Nate. Dad and I had “the wedding talk” about money. I asked if I could have the same amount of money as Mary had, and he said something that proves how strongly he approves of our marriage. He said that whatever I spend is up to me. He just said I should use common sense and after I do, I can get whatever I really want. So I’m going to run out and buy that gown I want! He’s the greatest – and so are YOU!

July 18, 1969 – Dearest Meg. We had a hard day in the field today. After all day in the hot sun, they botched up the water supply. Each of us got only one cupful from afternoon to evening. That was a little nasty. Also, one of our flares set off a grass fire, so we had to work hard to put that out. Your letters after all that were the best morale boost in the world! Every day my love for you grows. Everything about you pleases me.

July 18, 1969 – Dear Nate. We are breaking heat records here in Chicago – 98 degrees with humidity just about as high. I feel for you in heat like this. But I pray that the Lord will continue to be a refreshing energizer to you. He’s aware of every bit of your suffering, pain, or even just discomfort, and sympathizes, because He went through all of that Himself and more… all the way to death. I know He appreciates your positive attitude through it all. And I do, too!

“Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.” (Psalm 85:10)

Young Love (#61)

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Although Nate’s letters didn’t indicate any uncertainties over the incident with my old boyfriend, surely it discouraged him. Part of the problem (for both of us) was our need to be together, which was frustrated by circumstances that wouldn’t allow it – and both of us were suffering as a result. I made an appointment with our pastor, thinking we could use his counsel, not just about the wedding ceremony but everything else, too. It was arranged in August, during family week at camp when Nate and I wouldn’t be counseling. Perfect timing.

July 17, 1969 – Dear Nate. Everything is all set to meet with Pastor Sweeting in a wedding “conference” set up for the Wednesday in August when we won’t be at camp. It will be good to talk to him. My roommate came home tonight after 2 weeks away, and I’m so glad. I’ve missed talking with her so much. Marti is a true friend. She was excited to see our ring and thinks it’s gorgeous. I get fonder and fonder of it every day, and fonder and fonder of my commitment to you every day, too! I need you with me in so many ways, but most of all because I love you soooo much!

July 17, 1969 – Dearest Meg. I think your old boyfriend knows now, completely and honestly, of our engagement, and I don’t feel further explanations can do anything – either be more considerate of his feelings or more explicit. I know you agree that any meeting with him is unfair to our relationship. I love you. Thank you for your letter. I understand your situation and think you handled him and his friend brilliantly. I’ll love you forever! And I hope you will come on Sunday.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When it didn’t work out for me to visit that Sunday, Nate grew discouraged. But just when his spirits were lagging badly, he got a jolt of encouragement from an unlikely source:

my mom.

moms-letter-to-nate

Her letter (written with red ink on pink paper) arrived at Ft. Riley full of loving words and a welcome into our family. I didn’t know she’d planned to write him but was delighted when he phoned on a pre-arranged Saturday night call and read her words to me:

Dear Nathan: Thanks for your kind letter. Congratulations on your engagement to Margaret. May you have “the peace of God which passeth all understanding” in your life together. We lovingly welcome you into our family. The ring you gave your wife-to-be is exquisite: we are overwhelmed with its size.

From birth until even today, Margaret has been a “joy and light” in our home, truly a gift from God. In all likelihood, Meg will belong to you far longer than she’s been our little girl, but in your own well-chosen words, she will forever be “Margaret who we love.” Agreed? Settled!

the-letterWe love you likewise, dear Nathan.

It was a pleasure to meet your parents. Your mother wrote a sweet note to us, offering help with the wedding and in any area needed. Rest assured the Nymans and Johnsons are counting their mutual blessings in the union of their Nathan and our Margaret.

                      Fondly, Evelyn Johnson

 

“Love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)