Speaking of "they almost didn't meet"...

Category: gardening among the rocks | Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 4:34 am

OK, so after reading another gal's blog about the romantic way her grandparents almost didn't meet, I thought I'd record my grandparent's tale.
My grandmother grew up in a tiny logging community here in Washington, with very few prospects for a young woman to seek a career. A hospital in Tacoma was offering young women room, a small stipend, and an education if they would commit to becoming nurses, and Grandma took them up on it. Her diaries of that era record how frugally she lived, and carefully, and of how very proud she was when she finally earned her nurses cap.
Shortly therafter she started working in California. And she recorded hiking in the rural hills outside San Francisco (anyone who'se been there will get a laugh from that, but this was in the early 20's!). She would travel north in her old rattly Ford until the road ended, then take her nurse's bag and sandwich in a small, sturdy boat and paddle out to the reservation of the Hoopah Indian tribe (she loved saying that name even in her 80's!) to tend to the sick.
Well it seems one very rainy day, her old ford broke down. She slogged through the mud to a shack where the fellows from the roads department worked. There she met a very handsome young highway engineer, who later became my grandfather. Though they married a bit later in life, they both lived well into their 80's; he passed away when I was in high school, she went just 9 months before my son was born. Since my husband and I also have an intensely romantic how-we-met story, I'd lay odds that my boy can look forward to that for himself!

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Droopy wrote on Fri Nov 16, 2007 8:47 am:

Wonderful story that brought tears to my eyes... I am so glad her car broke down, otherwise you wouldn't be you.

I'd like to read some of her recordings if you have the time and inclination to share it with us sometime.

eileen wrote on Fri Nov 16, 2007 9:29 am:

Mary you can't tell us a wonderful story like that and then leave us hanging with: "Since my husband and I also have an intensely romantic how-we-met story...!!!" You've just GOT to tell us all about your romantic meeting too.

Biita wrote on Fri Nov 16, 2007 11:54 am:

That was a very very romantic story that I am glad happened. Very nice!

And yes please tell us your tale also, I think my hubby an I also have a romantic way of meeting, I love to hear how others met so romantically also.

CritterPainter wrote on Sat Nov 17, 2007 12:16 am:

I don't have her diaries right now, another family member has them. OK, when I get a long moment I'll post DH and my meeting- think "young girl far from home on an island" and go from there.
Thanks for your comments- I should add that when Grandma was in her 70's I was staying at the old family homestead with her while Grandpa was in California visiting cousins. She was working out in the garden so when the phone rang, I got it. When I called out that it was Grandpa, Grandma, riddled with arthritis as she was, jumped up and fairly ran to the house to talk to him. *sigh*.. so romantic...