l to r: grandparents, gr. grandmother, gr. uncle Dale
Chanute Air Force Base, 1941
From "Wind in the Oak III, Autumn's Blue and Gold, 1939-1949" - a collection of stories and history about my great-grandparents, as written by my great uncle Charles.
1941
"Margaret, what's this I hear about Dick and Mary Agnes?" [my grandparents]
Hattie Ballinger asked the question almost before she was seated at the dining table where visitors usually settled down.
"I don't know. What did you hear?"
"Why, I heard they were married."
"You did? Goodness, I don't know anything about it."
"That's funny. Didn't they write or anything?"
"No..."
"Of all things!"
So it had happened. That much was no great surprise for Margaret. It might have happened before now, but for Fred's disapproval. Yet, it was something of a shock to learn about it in this way.
She understood why they might do it first and tell about it afterward. But she could hardly deny a sense of disappointment at not having been taken into their confidence, or at the very least allowed to know about it before the neighbors did. After all, this was an important event in the family. Dick was the first of the boys to marry.
She wrote to Dick that very evening, then settled down to wait for an answer. It was a long wait. Meanwhile, she wrote to ask Charles if he knew anything about it. He didn't. But Dale, who was closer to the scene, wrote to supply a few sketchy details. Yes, it was true, and the newlyweds were living in Urbana.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
There you have it: the urbana collection. A play on the word 'urban' which describes the collection soooo perfectly, and an important homage to following your heart's passion no matter what.
Stay tuned for a preview tomorrow....
