Georgia and her courting with Joe
From Rick Von Feldt
This is the story of how Georgia came to know her husband Joe and the 18 months or so in which they courted and eventually married. But instead of writing it in a story, it is only fitting that Georgia (or Grandma to me) tell the story herself.
Let me give you background.
On June 25, 1993, I was in one of the “in between moments” of my life. I was soon to head off to Colorado for another year in Up With People. And before I left, I decided to drive out to Claflin to spend a long weekend with Grandma. During that time, we spent time on the farm as well as driving around to her friends for long afternoons or evenings of playing cards with her friends. It was a wonderful weekend and something I will treasure for the rest of my life.
On the last day I was there, before I was to head out on a Sunday around noon, Grandma and I had finished breakfast, and we were talking at the table. For years in my past, I had used a tape recorder to tape letters to my friends around the world (long before email and the new technologies). I had toyed with the idea of asking Grandma to let me tape her – but the whole weekend was about spending time with her and her friends.
But on that last day, while sitting at that dining room table in her kitchen – probably like so many many hours also spent with her kids and generations past, Grandma started talking. I asked her if she would mind if I turned on the tape recorder. She gave me one of those “whatever for?” looks – but agreed.
The result was about 75 minutes of talking about various topics. There were moments of happiness. And moments of tears.
Over the next months, I will work at cutting those apart – and putting them into files that I can upload.
But the first tape, that is appropriate on this date – is the story of her courting with her husband, Joe. As you may or may not know, Georgia married Joe on September 21, 1933. Yes – it is the same day as her birthday.
- Her Wichita boyfriend, Bill Beard
- In this taped recording, George tells about: How she met her husband through her cousin Leo
- How her soon to be best friends Joe and Bess helped to bring Georgia and Joe together.
- About Georgia’s “$1 tea towel” test for Joe
- About Georgia’s late night watermelon “run”
- About the $150 wedding
- What Georgia ate for her wedding dinner
- Joe’s plan for a low cost chivalry
- And lastly, what was the prank Georgia’s mom played on her for the famous wedding night.
I have to admit that I had tears in my eyes tonight as I started to listen to this tape. I could not listen to it all. But this is a happy story. And it is a fitting story on Georgia’s 95th day of birth – and her wedding anniversary as well.
I will follow with more of the taped recordings in the future.
This link should take you to the recording.
You would be able to press “play” when you get there – and magically, her voice should appear.
Enjoy!
GRANDMA’S COURTING WITH JOE – CLICK HERE:
http://drop.io/geogiapatzner/asset/georgia-describes-the-courting-with-joe-2-mp3
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A few "comments" from the site above after the publishing of this message:
What a Joy! Thank you so much for making me smile on Georgia's Birthday. Tears and smiles. Happy Birthday Precious Lady.
Jeni9.21.2009 (3:27pm)
What a treat to hear Aunt Georgias voice on our birthday! I love this!9.21.2009 (5:38am)
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