Category Archives: Outdoor world

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 (#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)

Newlywed Love (#2)

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December 2, 1969

Oak St. BeachNate’s and my honeymoon was short but very sweet. We packed lots into our 4 days at The Drake and made good use of a Super 8 movie camera Mary and Bervin had given us as a wedding gift.

We walked along the frozen beaches of Lake Michigan just outside the hotel doors, and I took footage of Nate, then he took footage of me – a bit boring for others to watch some day, but ever-meaningful to us. Of course in 1969 we didn’t get to see what we’d recorded until a couple of weeks later after the 50 feet of film had been developed at a camera store.

 

Wedding gift mugOne day into our honeymoon, we presented each other with our wedding gifts. Because of Nate’s passion for history (his college major), I bought an antique I knew he’d appreciate: a pewter mug made in 1820 that had been used by several members of a British royal family. His gift for me was a string of beautiful pearls. “After all,” he said, “Margaret means ‘pearl.’ ”

 

Lots of giftsAlthough I’d bought only the one gift for Nate, he had many gifts for me, which he distributed through- out the 4 days. The first was a jar of clear, pink bath beads, along with an invitation to share a bath in the big, deep Drake tub. Toward the end of our honey- moon I wrote in my journal, “I’ve never been so clean in my life!”

As we spent time learning to be physically together, both of us discovered a sweet surprise, one more of God’s special blessings. When we were being intimate, we experienced a closeness of hearts and emotions we hadn’t expected, feelings we hadn’t known while dating, despite lots of kissing and hugging.

This was something on a higher level, precious beyond measure. And afterwards, with our arms still around each other, we agreed that the whispered words spoken in those moments were new, relationship-nourishing moments.

Prone

The brevity of our honeymoon made us appreciate each hour, but reading daily newspapers reminded us of the chaotic world going on apart from our blissful life at The Drake. The Vietnam War was escalating, and after reading an article about rapidly increasing ground troops there, Nate sadly mentioned he knew several friends who would have to go now.

As we counted blessings on the last night of our honeymoon, snow began swirling outside the window, and we knew “regular” life was just around the corner – 1st grade teaching for me and law classes for Nate. So we went out shopping one last time to buy gifts for Mary, Bervin, Mom, Dad, and Aunt Agnes. Stopping for snacks on the way back to the hotel, we laughed to see that even our Coke straws were helping us celebrate to the very end.

Honeymoon straw

“The Lord said, ‘My presence will go with you.’ ” (Exodus 33:14)