"I dream of my own farm someday" he told her as they sat there in the moonlight. "I dream of my own farm and you." "But right now I don't dare hope to strong nor dream, not until my future gets figured out that is. My number is 17 and I have passed my physical...so I don't know, you see.
Her heart was breaking, so bad did she want to go with him, but no, he wouldn't hear of it. Would she be one of those girls who sent "sweetheart" letters to her soldier across the miles...maybe oceans? Would she be one of those girls who mentioned his name every night, hoping he keeps safe and would come home to her?
He was her "cowboy" and lived on a ranch three miles from no where, therefore he didn't get a daily paper, nor did he listen to the news much. He loved his open range, open skies, and free heart. This army uncertainty was all new to him.
"I understand that the war is drawing to an end and we were told just to wait and we would be told where to go, or what to expect." he told her.
"I work at a dental office and we get the daily paper at home, so I will keep my ears and eyes open and keep you informed." she said with a sigh.
It was with a sad heart she told him good-bye the next day. She stood there alone in the drive way, waving and waving until the hills hid his pickup from view.
There was no e-mail or smart phones in those days. Short "cowboy" letters and long "farmer daughter" letters would travel across the miles. At night she would read and reread those words meant just for her, and dream of someday walking side by side, working side by side, under the big open sky.
She loved her job there at the dental office. She loved working beside the dentist and he loved working with her. Her job would keep her mind busy as she waited. One day her employer said to her " I sure hope your man doesn't have to go to the service, but what will we do when you leave?"
She laughs and says "Oh doc, everyone can be replaced."
She had a half hour break and she had a route all marked out. She could leave the office immediately, follow this route and get home to see if there was any news, or maybe a letter, then get back just as the first afternoon patient arrived.
One of these "trips" didn't go so smoothly. She was running a bit late, so she came "flying low" into the driveway. Her moms chickens were just where they shouldn't be. Bam...bam...bam...she got three of them!! She looked around and there stood dad. He wasn't smiling one little bit!! There is no checking on news or letters that day!!
It was in early spring when the first flowers pop their heads out in the sunshine and the trees start to bud. She slowly made her way home going the "county way" her windows down, taking in the beautiful spring day.
She parked and ambled through the yard gate and in the back door. "Hi mom...I'm home" Her mom gave her one of those silly little grins she was so use to. She walked into the living room, gave her purse a fling and landed it on the couch. Then she saw it...
.
Setting right in the middle of the table was a picture frame. She walked slowly over and picked it up. There behind the glass was the most beautiful words her ever read. Her dear mom had cut it out of the paper and framed it just for her. "They have stopped sending men to Vietnam" was the only words she saw as tears rolled down her cheeks.
That night after all were asleep, she tiptoed down stairs and put in a call to her man. In his old farmhouse on the ranch he answered. "Hello"
"Hi...its me" she said "Did you hear the news?
"
"What news?" was the answer.
"They have stopped sending men to Vietnam. It was in todays paper."
There was silence on the other end. Than a soft "Thanks honey. Dad and I will check it out and get back with you."
She ran from the house. He looked so handsome jumping out of his pickup, all dressed up in blue jeans, boots and a good shirt. She ran into his arms. She felt so safe there. There was alittle break in the farm work before haying season, and he had to see her. The draft board had told him that he was put in a lower classification. He felt that he could finally look to the future...the future with her.
Time always goes to fast when they are together After saying their good-byes, she walked back in the old farmhouse. There sat dad at the kitchen table, his head bowed. He looked up and said quietly...."When is it?"
"Is what?"
"You know .... when is he coming for you?"
"OH dad it is suppose to be a secret but I'll tell you if you promise not to tell. February"
He lowered his head again and she saw a smile come on his face. "Well I'll be...just get him out of one war and he gets himself into another one." was all he said.
There were plans to make, invitations to buy, bridal showers, and what to do about the dress, picking out the pattern and material. Many an evening she would come home and see her mother setting at her little pink sewing machine, lovingly sewing her daughters wedding dress. It would be so beautiful.
He was busy putting up hay, checking windmills, fixing fence, harvesting wheat. and selling and buying cattle, but best of all he was thinking---where do we live? Shall I buy a trailer or rent a house? Well we someday have a farm of our own, or will the ranch be our home?
Summer work kept him home, but she would hop in her little blue ford car and head west on good ole highway 36. Sometimes she went it alone, sometimes her cousins would ride along. She loved her time on the ranch. There was so much to do there on the open range.
The date was set, February 9, 1973. She could not believe it. She was getting married!! She would be leaving home for the first time in her life! She would have to tell Dr Botkin. How sad that would be!! She would really, really miss him and his family!! They had been so good to her. And that little restaurant at the end of town, where she ate lunch. And all the memories that old city park had. Oh well...yes she would miss it all...but she was getting married!!!
Her heart was breaking, so bad did she want to go with him, but no, he wouldn't hear of it. Would she be one of those girls who sent "sweetheart" letters to her soldier across the miles...maybe oceans? Would she be one of those girls who mentioned his name every night, hoping he keeps safe and would come home to her?
He was her "cowboy" and lived on a ranch three miles from no where, therefore he didn't get a daily paper, nor did he listen to the news much. He loved his open range, open skies, and free heart. This army uncertainty was all new to him.
"I understand that the war is drawing to an end and we were told just to wait and we would be told where to go, or what to expect." he told her.
"I work at a dental office and we get the daily paper at home, so I will keep my ears and eyes open and keep you informed." she said with a sigh.
It was with a sad heart she told him good-bye the next day. She stood there alone in the drive way, waving and waving until the hills hid his pickup from view.
There was no e-mail or smart phones in those days. Short "cowboy" letters and long "farmer daughter" letters would travel across the miles. At night she would read and reread those words meant just for her, and dream of someday walking side by side, working side by side, under the big open sky.
She loved her job there at the dental office. She loved working beside the dentist and he loved working with her. Her job would keep her mind busy as she waited. One day her employer said to her " I sure hope your man doesn't have to go to the service, but what will we do when you leave?"
She laughs and says "Oh doc, everyone can be replaced."
She had a half hour break and she had a route all marked out. She could leave the office immediately, follow this route and get home to see if there was any news, or maybe a letter, then get back just as the first afternoon patient arrived.
One of these "trips" didn't go so smoothly. She was running a bit late, so she came "flying low" into the driveway. Her moms chickens were just where they shouldn't be. Bam...bam...bam...she got three of them!! She looked around and there stood dad. He wasn't smiling one little bit!! There is no checking on news or letters that day!!
It was in early spring when the first flowers pop their heads out in the sunshine and the trees start to bud. She slowly made her way home going the "county way" her windows down, taking in the beautiful spring day.
She parked and ambled through the yard gate and in the back door. "Hi mom...I'm home" Her mom gave her one of those silly little grins she was so use to. She walked into the living room, gave her purse a fling and landed it on the couch. Then she saw it...
.
Setting right in the middle of the table was a picture frame. She walked slowly over and picked it up. There behind the glass was the most beautiful words her ever read. Her dear mom had cut it out of the paper and framed it just for her. "They have stopped sending men to Vietnam" was the only words she saw as tears rolled down her cheeks.
That night after all were asleep, she tiptoed down stairs and put in a call to her man. In his old farmhouse on the ranch he answered. "Hello"
"Hi...its me" she said "Did you hear the news?
"
"What news?" was the answer.
"They have stopped sending men to Vietnam. It was in todays paper."
There was silence on the other end. Than a soft "Thanks honey. Dad and I will check it out and get back with you."
She ran from the house. He looked so handsome jumping out of his pickup, all dressed up in blue jeans, boots and a good shirt. She ran into his arms. She felt so safe there. There was alittle break in the farm work before haying season, and he had to see her. The draft board had told him that he was put in a lower classification. He felt that he could finally look to the future...the future with her.
Time always goes to fast when they are together After saying their good-byes, she walked back in the old farmhouse. There sat dad at the kitchen table, his head bowed. He looked up and said quietly...."When is it?"
"Is what?"
"You know .... when is he coming for you?"
"OH dad it is suppose to be a secret but I'll tell you if you promise not to tell. February"
He lowered his head again and she saw a smile come on his face. "Well I'll be...just get him out of one war and he gets himself into another one." was all he said.
There were plans to make, invitations to buy, bridal showers, and what to do about the dress, picking out the pattern and material. Many an evening she would come home and see her mother setting at her little pink sewing machine, lovingly sewing her daughters wedding dress. It would be so beautiful.
He was busy putting up hay, checking windmills, fixing fence, harvesting wheat. and selling and buying cattle, but best of all he was thinking---where do we live? Shall I buy a trailer or rent a house? Well we someday have a farm of our own, or will the ranch be our home?
Summer work kept him home, but she would hop in her little blue ford car and head west on good ole highway 36. Sometimes she went it alone, sometimes her cousins would ride along. She loved her time on the ranch. There was so much to do there on the open range.
The date was set, February 9, 1973. She could not believe it. She was getting married!! She would be leaving home for the first time in her life! She would have to tell Dr Botkin. How sad that would be!! She would really, really miss him and his family!! They had been so good to her. And that little restaurant at the end of town, where she ate lunch. And all the memories that old city park had. Oh well...yes she would miss it all...but she was getting married!!!
What a beautiful love story. I can just see you dad frowning over the chickens......but even more I can hear him tell you about Stan getting out of one war and going into another. Gotta love him!
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