My Dearest Naomi (32 page)

I have to work this afternoon, and then tonight is the sewing at Enos Byler’s place. Mom didn’t go as she has too much work. Don and I are taking Darrell this evening. I still can’t believe you are jealous of him, but you seem to be, so I will try to behave myself. Not that I haven’t already been extra careful. We don’t do anything but talk. All he does is sit on the other side of the buggy with Don between us.

I drove to the grocery store in Worthington this morning. Mom wanted me to buy meat, which they usually have on sale on Wednesdays. When I told the manager I needed ten pounds, he leaned over the counter and whispered, “It’s not on sale today, but I’ll let you have it for ninety-nine cents a pound if you don’t tell anyone.”

I smiled and said I wouldn’t.

He then asked, “Do you want it wrapped or are you eating it here?”

That took me by surprise and I laughed. He’s older and not good looking, but a little crazy.

My wedding dress is progressing rapidly and is going well. I don’t think I’ll show it to you, and not for superstitious reasons. I just think it feels better.

I can’t wait for the wedding though. Summer still seems a very long way off, but we will have all our time together again, which will be wonderful. The ladies I babysit for weren’t very happy when I hinted about getting married, but they will get over it.

This finds me very lonely for your company. Last night Darrell drove Don and me to the sewing in his car. We were going to drive with our buggy, but none of our horses were fit at the moment for such a long trip. In case you wonder, Darrell still keeps his car at Harvey’s. We parked our feeble horse there.

The sewing was nice and boring, but Darrel was interesting. He played a singing tape for us on the way over and back, and it was very beautiful.
When we arrived at Harvey’s home around 9:30, we sat in the car and talked until 11:30. Darrell couldn’t stop talking, and neither of us objected.

Don agreed with me today that the best part was when he told us about his experiences in the Church of God he used to attend. An
Englisha
person has such a different way of looking at things. They have so many options and choices, it almost made me dizzy hearing about them.

Darrell says our lifestyle is much better though—that the world can drive a person almost insane trying to figure out what is right and wrong. I sure hope he makes it through with his plans to join.

Tomorrow night the young folk girls are invited to Richard and Joan’s place, as Joan wants us there for an evening while her sister is visiting. I’m going to pick up Mary Troyer, as she doesn’t have a ride. I think our horse should be well enough for the short trip.

On Saturday I have to take care of John Bach during the day, and then I babysit for Chris in the evening, so I’m busy.

That story of the racket you heard in your room was hilarious. Maybe, just maybe, Luella doesn’t have enough work to do. I think though, they probably do it to cheer you up.

Love you, Sweetheart.

Naomi

March 6

The weather has been very nice the last while, and this finds me in the middle of a Sunday afternoon thinking of you, wondering where you’re at, who you’re with, and how you’re feeling.

According to the calendar, we are now halfway between the time I came back for Christmas and the time I return. Hope flickers dim and the cold winds blow. I sure hope we make it through this okay. The world is a scary place and gets scarier as time goes by. I never would have thought home could feel so far away.

Darrell wrote me another letter and told me he was over to the bishop’s the other night again, and he might start baptismal classes this fall if things continue going well. Harvey and his family are offering him a long-term place to stay even though their house is already quite full. He seemed touched by their gesture and concern for his well-being.

Stan had the main sermon today. He really has a gift for public speaking, and his sermons are enjoyable. It must be an accomplishment to speak before a crowd for almost an hour with such ease.

Lydia is back from Florida, which leaves Sharon and Dena still down there. I hope they come back before too long. Dena is due back in two weeks. Sharon, I’m not sure.

It has started raining outside, which fits my mood better than the sunshine did. Tonight is the hymn singing, and Lonnie and Luella have something planned for later this afternoon. Anything that helps make the time go faster is fine with me.

Today I read the letter you sent to Saul’s girls, which was an extra bonus. The little note on the outside of my last letter was cute: “Luella, don’t hide me.”

Stay sweet now.

With all my heart,

Eugene

March 6

This is Sunday afternoon at 3:30. I’m sitting upstairs at my desk with the windows open and eating a banana. At least I don’t have a headache. I guess I should have stayed at Everetts’, where church was today. The girls wanted me to, but I came home with Mom and Dad.

Darrell rode with us this morning, as the Harvey family buggies were all full. He stayed at Everetts’ for the afternoon and was upstairs with the boys when I left. I suppose Don and I will bring him home from the hymn singing, unless Harvey’s young folks have room.

A load of visiting youth from Central Ohio were here, but there was no one along I knew.

I started reading a book yesterday at work that I’m really liking. It’s called
For Women Only
. Chris asked me if I wanted to bring the book home, so I did. It’s a Christian book about how women should treat their husbands in marriage. I’m not going to tell you what it says, but I’ll try to practice it someday.

I miss you awfully, and it would be such a beautiful day for a walk with you. Most of the snow is gone, which means no more walks in the snow this winter. I could cry.

I love you,

Naomi

March 7

I came in from a long jog down the road. I love the feeling of accomplishment, even if the great apostle Paul said that bodily exercise profits little. I wonder if he ever jogged a few miles for exercise? Perhaps when he was running away from the Romans, but I doubt if that qualifies.

I received a welcome letter from you today, with more news on Mr. Hooley. Well, I shall have to make my peace with the matter, and he is a nice person, even though I have never met him. And I am only half serious, but I think you knew that all along.

Remember I told you that I read the letter you wrote to Saul’s girls? Well, now they want to read one of yours written to me. It’s only fair, they said, and wouldn’t back off the point. I gave them one yesterday—and yes, it’s one you wouldn’t object to. It’s appropriate, shall we say. Now we’ll have to see what feedback they give me. I’m sure it will be good, as your letters are wonderful.

I started checking Lydia’s back schoolwork tonight, and I am hoping to be done by the end of this week. She brought in great armloads of schoolwork she completed while in Florida. Most of the papers are well done, I must say. The grades on what I’ve checked are on par with the work she does here, so I’m happy.

Lydia had sent me a card while she was in Florida. The front of the postcard pictures one of the long bridges from Key West, and she had written on the back, “From the Sunny South. We will be back toward the end of February sometime. Mom is not sure yet, but I’m getting along okay with my studies. I hope I’m on the same page you guys are. See you, and I’d better go, Lydia.”

She’s the only student who bothered writing me from sunny Florida. Sniff, sniff.

You are likely having a good time at the youth gathering tonight, and I’m sitting at home with two old people—
nice
old people, if they aren’t up to tricks. I think the winter weather has worn them out, as there have been no new tricks lately.

Stay sweet and dear for me.

Here I am again, with the weather turning colder. Lonnie said tonight
it’s supposed to go even lower. Mentioning tricks yesterday must have made me suspicious because I discreetly studied their faces at the supper table, hoping to see any signs of budding stunts and perhaps nip them in the bud. They both looked sad though, which was troubling. I think these church problems are wearing them down. I don’t think they agree with Stan’s preaching.

Last night I entertained myself with a romance book from the school library. I suppose either Crystal or Dena must have chosen it because I can’t imagine any of the others reading such things. Unless Velma did, which is possible.

Anyway, the romance book didn’t do much for me except bring back memories of you. I doggedly kept on reading. There was a tender scene where the girl finds the boy she loves crushed under a piece of farm machinery. She holds his head while she thinks he’s dying. (He doesn’t, of course.) I think I was supposed to cry at that spot, but I didn’t. I haven’t cried in what seems like ages. Probably because I know it will make me feel worse afterward. I end up feeling all numb and frozen inside. I think I need you to thaw me out again. No other girl can do that like you can.

I’m also enclosing a copy of a letter from my sister, who must be having the winter doldrums and decided to write me. I thought you would find the letter interesting.

With much love,

Eugene

March 1

Dear brother Eugene,

Good morning. It sure is a beautiful day outside, and I will quickly scribble a few lines to let you know how we’re faring. I had written you a letter once before, but Mom made me destroy it because I had written a couple of spooky stories we heard. She was afraid if you read them you might hear more queer noises in the walls. That story was really funny, and we sure got a kick out of it.

We have the flu bug around here, with two of the boys flat on their backs with sniffles and gasping for air. The whole community has what some are calling the “Pleasant Flu,”
and apparently once you get it, you have the hardest time shaking it off.

Joe had it last week and got tired of lying around on his backside, so he armed himself with a bright idea. Out he went and took the syringe he uses for his dogs and gave himself a penicillin shot from the stock Dad keeps for the pigs. He was a little sore the next day, but it sure pepped him up. Harvey got the greatest kick out of that story, and Joe hasn’t heard the end of it yet.

Oh, you might catch the germ if you read this letter, so you’d better hold it pretty far away from your face while reading, and it probably would be wise to disinfect your hands before touching your face. I guess I should have mentioned this at the start, but I figured you probably wouldn’t count this letter precious enough to hold close and tight to your face. Not like you would if it came from someone else. Hah…

Dad is having problems with another kidney stone. He always tries to flush it out by drinking a lot of cider. He is in the bedroom right now, lying down. I guess he really has a lot of pain.

Did you hear about James Yoder? Millie has now joined him, and things have gone from bad to worse. He claims he will buy a van this week, but we don’t know if that’s true or not.

The big news around here is that Susie and Mom are on a diet again. Oh, please don’t mention that I told you because if you ask them, they are not on a diet. But they told me this was the last time they would ever be on one. You can suit yourself about which version to believe. What it really boils down to is that Susie wants to be a toothpick for her friend Rosemary’s wedding this summer.

Harvey and his family and the young folks around here were invited over to your beloved’s place the other evening for supper. They brought along the young man, Darrell Hooley, who is staying at Harvey’s place. This is the boy who is seriously considering joining the Amish. I’m sure
Naomi has told you about him. He’s a riot and had us all rolling on the floor. Not really, but you know what I mean.

Well, I had better get some work done around here or Mom will be tight on my tail.

As always,

Mary

March 8

Oddle dee doodle dee…I’m in a tense, hurrying mood. Do you ever get in moods like that? I especially do if my day has been spent sewing. I’m still working on my dress, and my shoulders are knotted from the tension.

Yesterday Mom, Rosanna, and I were over at your place working on the quilt your mom is making for us. I like it very much. The other women acted like it was just the usual thing, but I kept thinking, “This is
our
quilt, this is
our
quilt,” and I had shivers going up and down my back.

Your sisters gave me an invitation to stay for the night, and I said, “Why not? Just for the anyhow!” I enjoyed it immensely. Your family has been very nice to me, and hope it’s not because you lectured them. I didn’t pick up anything like that from them, so everything should be okay.

Dad wanted extra silage tonight, and I threw down fifty forks full, plus gave the cows hay. So I feel like superwoman tonight, but I needed some kind of good feeling after getting stuck earlier out in the barnyard mud trying to get one of the cows inside. By slowly pulling on one foot at a time, I got out.
Blech
. Thankfully there was no one around to laugh at me.