My Dearest Naomi (22 page)

With all my heart,

Eugene

December 17

Dad and Mom are home late from a two-day trip to northern Indiana. Mom’s stepgrandmother’s funeral was today.

Guess what she brought back? My wedding dress…or rather the material for it. I still have to sew it, of course.

Mom says the groom is not to know what the material looks like, and that the bride should look fresh and new on the wedding day. She even said you shouldn’t know the color of my dress, which I said was a bunch of baloney. I don’t stand for such superstition, but then…perhaps I’d better keep it a secret? So don’t ask.

She also brought back material for the two witness’s dresses. I’ll explain how all this came about at Christmas, but seeing that wedding dress material got me all up in the air again.

Love you much,

Naomi

December 18

This is Saturday morning, an hour before we start out on a day trip to an Amish community at Fairfield. I guess I will get to see my kind again, although I don’t mind being around Mennonites. Another couple, about the same age as Lonnie and Luella, is traveling with us. At least those are the facts I have been informed of.

The school program is history as of last night. It always seemed so far away, like it would never come, and now it’s past. I never did get as scared as I expected I would. So much for fears that don’t come to fruition. I think, in fact, from the reaction of the people afterward, that it was a smash hit.

I did get a little nervous when I stood up on the stage to introduce the evening. One of the parents later said I looked calm. Well, perhaps, but that was on the outside.

I wasn’t planning to help with the singing but Dena, who was the assigned song leader and the one everyone looks up to for support, didn’t show. She sent word she was sick, but I think other reasons were involved—like sabotage. What is it with these emotional girls?

Anyway, the children went into hysterics, especially the other eighth-grade girl, Crystal. I told them to calm down because I would help them sing. I would also lead the songs. So I did, keeping my voice toned down in order to blend in with the children’s voices. I kept hoping all night it was working.

Afterward several of the parents said they were glad I helped sing, that my voice didn’t really stand out too much.

Below is the program schedule. Each spelled out word has either poems or songs attached to the letter, but you probably know that already. I gave them a taste of an Amish school program. Luella said afterward she had been telling the teachers for years to put on this type of Christmas program, but I guess no one ever would. I’m not sure what they normally do—something about plays—I suppose.

The strange thing is, we placed the Christmas tree right smack in the middle of the platform. That tree had bothered me no end—no matter where I set it in the schoolhouse, there it was. So the solution finally occurred to me. I placed what you don’t want to see where everyone sees it, and
voila!
no one sees it.

As you well know, no Amish bishop would tolerate a Christmas tree anywhere in sight, but there we were, doing a genuine Amish Christmas program with a real Mennonite Christmas tree for all to see. Talk about doing things differently.

I received a whole table full of Christmas gifts. You should have seen the pile, and they made me open them all after the program. I feel richer than the three kings, with others having come bearing the gifts. I’m planning on bringing everything home next week so you can see for yourself.

First Theme—The Coming of Christ

Poem—Star of Hope

Song—Star of the East

Prophecies read from Genesis…

Prophecies read from the book of Psalms…

Song—Zion’s Glad Morning Prophecies read from Isaiah…

Song—To Us a Child of Hope Is Born

Prophecies read from Jeremiah, Joel, Amos, Micah, Zechariah, and Malachi…

Song—He Comes

Second Theme—The Birth of Christ

J - E - S - U - S

B - I - R -T - H

Song—Joy to the World

Poem—Greatest Miracle

Poem—Think of Jesus

Poem—There It Lies

Chorus of How Great Thou Art

Poem—When Christ Was Born

Poem—Bethlehem

Poem—What Shall We Children Bring?

Poem—Sweet Story of Old

Poem—How Great Thou Art

Song—Zion’s Glad Morning

Poem—Out from Glory

Poem—The Christmas Story

Poem—God So Loved

Song—Hark, What Mean Those Holy Voices?

Third Theme—The Crucifixion

Poem—Guard of the Grave

Poem—On the Emmaus Road

C - H - R - I - S -T - M - A - S

Song—Faith of our Fathers

Audience will sing Silent Night

Bishop Joe Miller to lead us in closing prayer

December 19

Greetings of love.

This finds me in the middle of a Sunday afternoon, and I’m starting to get excited about seeing you this week. I should be home by Wednesday evening. Our first plans had been to leave on Thursday, but the school board member who is bringing me out pushed the plans up a day. I wasn’t going to tell you, keeping the news a surprise, but perhaps that wouldn’t be wise. So…you have been told.

I should also mention this, even though it won’t affect our time together during my stay at home. Mom wrote yesterday saying they have an appointment for me with that doctor in Missouri. One of their friends knows him. You know—Amish/Mennonite connections. He’s supposed to be good for whatever ails you. I’m skeptical of course, but we shall see. I’ll have my arguments with them when I get home.

I hope I haven’t been away so long that you’ve forgotten me.

Love you,

Eugene

E
ugene and Naomi sat on the couch at her parents’ place watching the logs burn in the fireplace. Darkness had fallen outside, the last rays of the sun swept from the sky. Snow pelted the windowpanes. Out in the kitchen, the dishes rattled as Naomi’s sisters finished washing up after supper.

Naomi reached for Eugene’s hand and nestled against his shoulder. “You don’t really have to leave again, do you?”

Eugene laughed. “I wish. You know I have to.”

“But will this ever end?” A tear crept down Naomi’s cheek.

“You know it will,” Eugene whispered. “All things come to an end. Lonnie claims we young people have no patience.”

“Then I wish I were old so this would be over with.”

“I agree,” Eugene said. “And we’ll be old someday. After we have spent many Christmases together just like this. Warm and cozy inside with our children and someday our grandchildren about us.”

Rosanna stuck her head out of the kitchen. “We could use some help, you know. You guys did help eat all day.”

Eugene shook his head. “You can have her all winter. I only have her for a few more days.”

“Spoiled children!” Rosanna muttered, disappearing.

“I think we’d better go help,” Naomi said, getting to her feet. “I do need to live in this house after you leave. And maybe it’ll take our minds off the fact that you have to leave.”

January 3

It’s after the Christmas holidays, but I don’t have to tell you. I also don’t have to tell you how great and wonderful it was to be with you over the holidays.

And my, how plans have changed in the past few days! Instead of returning with the school board member’s family as planned, I will soon be on my way to Missouri by Greyhound bus. Who would have thought I would consent to visit a nutrition doctor?

Mom and Dad had everything arranged when I arrived home, and I didn’t spend much time arguing. As you know, since you helped out—on their side. So I guess I figure why not? I don’t suppose it can do any harm.

Dad and I are waiting in the Greyhound depot for the bus to St. Louis. Once there, we have to take another bus to the small town where these friends live.

Servicemen in uniform are all over the place. One serviceman is waiting for the same bus we are. I struck up a conversation with him, and he told me he is headed back to his base after the holidays at home.

We are now on the bus, and you will see the difference in my writing. It’s running all over the place from the bouncing. Fifteen minutes ago we boarded. I was sitting on the bench writing when the announcement came over the intercom, and I made a wild scramble for it. Dad took his merry old time. Turns out this was an early bus, with another one following behind. The driver is very aggressive, swerving around cars, and laying it on.

I think I’ll try to get some sleep…if I can.

The time is somewhere between midnight and dawn, and I’m wide awake. How I dislike buses! They whine and carry on, stopping at every little hovel and shack along the road.

I am sitting beside a girl who is presently asleep. She boarded a couple of stops back, escorted to the bus by her boyfriend. They spent a considerable amount of time kissing goodbye before the girl got on.

She picked my row to sit in, as I was one of the few with available seats. After she sat down, she apologized for taking my seat. Perhaps she remembered my feet sticking into the aisle, which I had quickly jerked in when she approached. Anyway, I told her I only paid for one seat, so it was okay.

I asked her if she was married, and she said no but was going to be.

“I know how that feels,” I said.

She asked me if I’m engaged, and I said yes.

“When?” she asked.

“Not for a while yet,” I said. “And you?”

“June the fourth,” she said, all chirpy.

“That’s our month too,” I said.

She smiled.

I was rubbing my eyes right then, and she probably thought I was crying, which I have plenty of reason to, but I wasn’t.

I love you,

Eugene

January 4

It was so good to have you here over the holidays, and almost good enough to make up for the pain of parting afterward.

I heard that you arrived safely in Missouri. I sure hope the doctor will be able to help. I know you think some of your lows are normal, and you never talk about it much, but it would be great if you could find help. I don’t think such things are totally normal, if you want my opinion on the matter.

I should have gotten a letter out yesterday, but there was the hymn singing on Sunday evening and lots of other things to do here on the farm. I guess it’s good to stay busy, so I don’t feel so lost.

Mom had a dentist appointment for me this morning, and I drove in myself. I used our younger horse so I could go faster. He’s still nothing like your horse. My, it was so great to ride with you again while you were home. It made the buggy today feel awfully lonesome and empty. Anyway, there was nothing wrong with my teeth, so they only cleaned them.

Ada and Mom went on a quick trip into Bloomington this afternoon. Elena Marshall stopped by and said she was going and wondered if we wanted to go along. I would have gone with them, but I already had arrangements to babysit this afternoon.

Thank you so much for giving me the nice book for Christmas, and for all the other gifts. I know I already thanked you, but seeing them around the room makes me say it again.

I’m wondering what you’re doing right now. It’s about 11:00 our time, and your appointment is tomorrow, I think. I so hope it goes well.