Newlywed Love (#78)

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July 17-18, 1970

By the end of the week, both Nate and I were ready for a break from studies. We invited Cathy and John over for 11:00 PM ice cream sundaes and talked into the night – because they came bringing bad news.

John.John’s draft number was getting close, which wouldn’t have been a problem with his law school deferment. But he very much wanted to quit school.

Worse than that, though, was the news that John might be going blind. They’d just learned this from an eye doctor and were still reeling. John hoped the Army would give him a 1-A deferment – after which he would quit school.

The whole conversation was depressing, and since neither Cathy nor John had any spiritual underpinnings, they felt hopeless. Our best encouragement didn’t seem to help.

When Nate and I fell into bed after 2:30 AM, we held each other close and voiced our hope that these good friends would be OK and that they’d one day connect with Jesus Christ… the Giver of hope. This was our first peer-experience with a major health crisis, and it felt awful.

Mom and Dad and fondue.Saturday was much brighter, because Mom and Dad were coming – and  bringing our beloved Baron! We prepared the fondue dinner they’d requested and when they walked in, we couldn’t believe how much Baron had grown in just two weeks. Nate kissed him right on the mouth!

Mom told us that several families had asked if Baron was available for adoption. His cooperative, friendly demeanor delighted many, so Mom asked our opinion. We said absolutely not, and wisely, that’s what she’d told the others.

Allerton PkNate and I spent the night on the Murphy bed, giving Mom and Dad our room, and on Saturday morning we satisfied another parental request – a visit to Allerton Park. They’d heard us rave about it but had never been there.

 

 

 

 

Nate and DadAt one point Dad said he wanted to talk to Nate, so those two went one direction while Mom and I chased after Baron.

The 3 of them left in late afternoon, headed for yet another commitment in the Chicago area. After we waved them off, I couldn’t wait to get the details on what Dad had  talked to Nate about.

It turned out to be our poisonous Mustang.

We had continued driving it through the summer, leaving the windows down to prevent headaches. But Dad was concerned since a cooler season was coming.

“If you can sell the Mustang for a reasonable price, we can put something together without too much trouble,” he said.  “I’d like to see you in a new car for a change. But it would have to be cheaper and smaller than the cars you’ve had.”

Model A-Dad believed used cars weren’t reliable and since buying his first vehicle (a Model A Ford in the 1920’s), he’d always bought new.

By Monday morning, Nate and I had put an ad in the local paper, knowing it would be illegal not to disclose the toxic nature of our car. We priced it realistically and were flying high at the prospect of new wheels!

But our thoughts were heavy, too… because of Cathy and John.

“Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.” (Psalm 10:17)

Newlywed Love (#77)

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July 12-16, 1970

Nate and I were both very busy, me with student teaching and seminars, he with his paper route and preparing to start 5 summer school hours-worth of classes: Estate Planning and Poverty Law.

Since Nate was getting up at 3:30 AM to deliver papers, our paths didn’t cross until I returned from Danville in late afternoon. But often I’d come out of the bedroom in the morning to find a sweet note from my thoughtful husband.

One note during this week was written tongue-in-cheek:

Nate's noteDead seal time – I got the reading load for my courses and then dead seal! For Law and Poverty: 6 books, 300 pages of mimeos, plus reading necessary for a report (all in 5 weeks). Estate Planning – lots also. I can’t quit, because I know it’s good for me!

The two of us decided to start what we called a “self-improvement program.” Nate wasn’t sure when the Army would need him next and wanted to get in shape. He suggested I join him, “to do something together.”

When he asked how I felt about running, my mind went back to college PE class and the memory of sharp rib pain whenever we had to jog. “I’m not a fan,” I said.

Old running shoes“We could go at our own pace,” he said, “and you wouldn’t have to run any farther than you wanted to. Why don’t we just try it?” Unable to resist Nate’s gentle invitation, I agreed. The plan made sense, since both of us were doing lots of sitting during the day.

Rather than run around the neighborhood dodging cars and tripping up curbs, we decided to use the university armory building with its smooth indoor track.

On the first day, Nate ran one effortless loop after another, clocking 2 miles without much difficulty. I chugged and gasped to the 1 mile mark but hated every stride. “It’ll get easier,” he said, patting me on the back. “You did great for your first try!”

My feet were burning, my head was pounding, and that side pain was back full force. Wobble-walking to the car, I whispered to myself. “Give it one week. Then quit.”

Another note

Four days later, we were still running daily (at 7:00 AM when Nate came home from his paper route). But for me the highlight of our self-improvement program was when I could finally plop on the bench at the side of the track to watch Nate finish his run.

“While bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way.” (1 Timothy 4:8)

Newlywed Love (#76)

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July 10-11, 1970

As Nate got acquainted with his rural paper route, his start-to-finish time became more efficient. The weekend, however, was another story. For starters, his boss told him to plan on more time at the office to “put the Sunday papers together.”

Apparently the many extra sections had to be collated by the carrier, which took a while. That’s when Nate said, “Want to come with me? It might be fun. And you could see how everything works with my new job.”

Without even thinking, I said yes. Had I taken a moment, I would’ve remembered how quickly I get car sick from starts, stops, twists, and turns.

BundlesThe bundled papers were due to hit the deck around 1:00 AM. Nate and I decided not to go to bed at all Saturday night but to have a late dinner with Cathy and John, after which we’d go straight to the newspaper office.

Other carriers arrived shortly after we did, and we watched to see what they would do.

There were no tables on which to lay out the newspaper sections, so the guys began collating on the back seats of their cars — far from convenient.

CollatingThe weather was nice, so Nate and I spread our papers out on the hood of his VW.

When we began a photo session and some collating fun (along with shooting rubber bands), the other drivers looked askance at us – but we didn’t care. With 4 hands working instead of 2, we knew we’d be the first car out of the lot.

 

ReadingNate had his route memorized, so once we got into open country, he put some pep into his rapid zig-zagging. I admired the way he tossed the papers into each mailbox, not missing a one. But it wasn’t long before I was feeling queasy.

“Look out the window,” he said, but nighttime in the country doesn’t leave much to see.

I climbed into the back seat to lie down and close my eyes, but with his down-shifting, up-shifting, and many sharp stops, I had to fight rolling to the floor. Hanging my head out the window didn’t help either, and the route seemed to be taking forever. When I told him I might feel better if I drove, he quickly let me take the wheel.

MailboxesBut our pace slowed radically after that, with me needing verbal directions to each mailbox – all of which were hidden in inky darkness. “This isn’t working,” he said. “Are you feeling any better?”

“I’m a wreck,” I said. “You’ll just have to take me home.”

“But we’re nowhere near home,” he said, picking up speed. “From this point on, though, we’re more than half way. So think of it as heading toward home.”

By the time we finally pulled in behind our building, I was ready for a barf-bag. Nate apologized repeatedly, but all I wanted was to go prone and (with any luck) go unconscious. It was 5:00 AM.

Never again…

“Get wisdom. Develop good judgment.” (Proverbs 4:5)