THE GATHERING BEGINS, PART IV PREPARATIONS

 

 

We knew where my Dad was at that hour, because he’d had time to get home,

and that he would be up there helping Mom clean the place for the Homecoming.  We were home without any transportation, and we walked the two miles up there.    Mom had walked up there with  Bob, who was about a year and a half, and Red, two
years older.   So we set out on foot.  We reached the building;  my Dad  was already there.   They were scrubbing the floor, and water had to be carried  from across the road.  Every time Dad thought he had an opening to talk to them about it, Mom
would send us back across the road with buckets for water. 

 

Finally, there was enough water for scrubbing the floor, and Dad asked them

for permission.  Of course, my Dad showed no opposition---it was such a shock to them.  They did not even know that I knew Dad---I was having my mail sent to the  shop where I worked so they wouldn’t know about it. 

 

 

Keep in mind that all the businesses and all the offices were closed in town.   BUT.   We couldn’t get married without a marriage license, and he had to have

a blood test.   There was a prayer meeting going on that night, to finalize the plans for the Homecoming, so there was to be a church Fellowship that night. 

We were planning on getting married then, in the gathering.   My Dad was all caught up in helping Mom scrub, so we had to   walk to see the doctor and then find the probate judge---both at home.

 

Back then, we had mill tokens, (it took quite a few of them to equal one cent)

in addition to ration tickets.   A one-
mill token, a five-mill token, and since
a lot of local girls were getting married right after high school, our pastor was always kidding me about not dating, let alone getting married.   He had said to me,

“If you’ll find a guy that will marry you, I’ll marry you for a five-mill token.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only those financially able had a wedding; most people just got married by the

Justice of the Peace. So we headed into town to get the license at the Judge’s house, and a certificate from the doctor.   About a quarter of a mile from the building that was the church then, we met the pastor.   He was going up to where Mom and Dad were working, to attend the meeting.   He stopped, and I approached him and my greetings to him, before I introduced Prince Charming, I handed the pastor a five-mill token, and said, “I’ve got the GUY!”

 

We had to get our errands run, get the license and certificate, and wanted to

get back before the prayer meeting group was all together.   So he said, “Get

in, I’ll drive you.”

 

We went to Judge Pearson, and he said to

go on to Dr. Carpenter’s and get your

blood certificate while I prepare the license.   So Dad went to Dr. Carpenter’s, and I continued giving the information to Judge Pearson, to save time.   So Dad arrived at Dr. Carpenter’s home, and told him what he had to have and that we were getting married that night.   The doctor said, “Come on in!!   You’re all right---

I delivered her.”   Dr. Carpenter was just slowing down a little, would miss the railroad crossing, and call us by our parents’ names, and such, and bottom line was, he did NOT deliver me,  but he DID deliver all my brothers and my sister.

 

So Dad got his blood certificate on the basis that he was marrying a bride that

the doctor THOUGHT he had delivered.  

With those two things taken care of,

we headed back to the church with Brother Walters, who was very willing to officiate.    By this time it was getting dark.  I needed to go home and change dresses and my Dad was free from the cleaning job, so he drove us home.   As

we made a right-hand turn, my Dad said, "This is a hellava note, giving your daughter to some blank blank that you
don't know from Adam's Housecat."

 

Prior to Dad having come home in December, when shipments would come into the dress shop, if we saw something, we’d put it on lay-away.    I had seen a chiffon dress with ribbons that I wanted to wear

for Mothers’ Day; I just couldn’t wait

for Mothers’ Day, but you’d only wear something like that for Easter or Mothers’ Day.    Without even thinking of it, I remembered that dress that had been

hanging in the closet for a holiday.  

 

It was a little long on me, and I hadn’t hemmed it yet---never did---but to my thinking, no bride has ever had a more gorgeous wedding dress.  It was a

beautiful pink---the most gorgeous pink I think I’ve ever seen.   I know my mind thinks that,  so that’s all that matters.

 

So my Dad dropped Dad off at Aunt Bert’s house to brush his teeth and wash his
face; he was in uniform all this time.   I got freshened up and dressed, and we
picked up Gran and went back to the  church, where Mom was still at the meeting.   There were no plans for a wedding, but Brother Walters conducted

the service as if it was a planned wedding.  Before the vows, Mom wanted the fellowship to sing “God Will Take Care of You,” and she played the piano. 

 

That was the music for the wedding, in
its entirety.   Then we had the real vows; we did the “I Do’s” and our first kiss.

 

 

And a little Moire Non, of Happily Ever After . . .