Stick with me on this one because it's another farm/tractor story but with a long, convoluted twist!
Photo/postcard by Bob Jacobson, circa 1980, from AGSEM
Amy, my daughter, is dating Dennis, an only child. Dennis' parents, Judy and Dave, are also only children. The man in the hat standing on the thresher in the above photo/postcard is Judy's dad, Al. Since he died in 1984, she's guessing it was taken just shortly before then.
Al and his wife grew up on farms in adjoining towns in Nebraska before getting married in 1940. In 1941 they moved to California, where their only child, Judy (Dennis' mom), was born (in 1942) and now lives with Dave. As we speak, Amy has just arrived in Los Angeles to meet Dennis' mom and dad (Judy and Dave) for the first time, before leaving for Hawaii tomorrow with Dennis for a week. (Be envious all you want but this has been a long time coming and they both deserve it!)
Okay! That's the background.
Judy (Dennis' mom) has been what we'd call a "lurker" on my blog for several weeks now, reading back into my archives to learn as much about Amy as possible before meeting her tonight. In the process, she's been reading about all the farm references I've made since going to Ruth and Don's farm a couple weeks ago. So in her first contact with ME, the mother of Dennis' girfriend, Amy, my daughter (just want to make sure you're listening!), she sent me this picture yesterday of her dad on the farm.
We all know what ALOHA means in the Hawaiian language. Did you know that OHANA means family! So even though this is a bit ahead of the story, since Dennis and Amy aren't (yet) married, do you see the incredible irony of all these only-child people connecting to an entire shootin'-kaboodle tribe of people from whence Amy and I come!
As they say, truth is always better than fiction! And this is one helluva story thus far! Stay tuned, of course, and read whatever you'd like in-between the lines :)
Al and his wife grew up on farms in adjoining towns in Nebraska before getting married in 1940. In 1941 they moved to California, where their only child, Judy (Dennis' mom), was born (in 1942) and now lives with Dave. As we speak, Amy has just arrived in Los Angeles to meet Dennis' mom and dad (Judy and Dave) for the first time, before leaving for Hawaii tomorrow with Dennis for a week. (Be envious all you want but this has been a long time coming and they both deserve it!)
Okay! That's the background.
Judy (Dennis' mom) has been what we'd call a "lurker" on my blog for several weeks now, reading back into my archives to learn as much about Amy as possible before meeting her tonight. In the process, she's been reading about all the farm references I've made since going to Ruth and Don's farm a couple weeks ago. So in her first contact with ME, the mother of Dennis' girfriend, Amy, my daughter (just want to make sure you're listening!), she sent me this picture yesterday of her dad on the farm.
We all know what ALOHA means in the Hawaiian language. Did you know that OHANA means family! So even though this is a bit ahead of the story, since Dennis and Amy aren't (yet) married, do you see the incredible irony of all these only-child people connecting to an entire shootin'-kaboodle tribe of people from whence Amy and I come!
As they say, truth is always better than fiction! And this is one helluva story thus far! Stay tuned, of course, and read whatever you'd like in-between the lines :)
'Ohana' may sound familair as it was the title of the Cottage restructure plan I passed around many moons ago.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I started reading your blog regularly only recently, using Thunderbird, an email and RSS reader.
Hmmmmm. I'm reading (also between the lines) and making up my onw little thoughts, but I'll wait for the update ;-)
ReplyDeleteZenP: Dave, is that you, you rascal! Wow! Am I ever honored that you, too, are "lurking," and have left a comment. Now I'll have to go find YOU. Well, Hikilau is the name that has the history but I can definitely see why you were playing around with ohana! I think I'm gonna really love that word!
ReplyDeleteCS: I'm waiting, too :) It's incredible to see when 2 people have found who they're looking for after so long...and one of them happens to be my daughter. A mother ponders these things in her heart, of course! What I didn't mention is that Dave, too, lives in CA. (Amy lives in Atlanta!) But that seems to be only a minor detail these days.
Oooh, this is going to be great!I'm so happy for Amy and Dennis.
ReplyDeleteYes, it certainly is amazing when you find the person you were meant to be with!!! And then when you get to go to Hawaii, too- that's spectacular! Speaking of Ohana. Swede's children are Hawaiian. Their mother, Taira, is a Native Hawaiian, who was adopted by a family in Utah. Consequently, Taira had never even been to Hawaii, even though she is one of the few real natives. Until this summer- she finally went for her honeymoon with Darryl. Every time I see her she is sporting a Hawaiian dress- I'm so happy for her that she got to experience her heritage finally:)
ReplyDeleteGreat story..... Ginnie you are just too funny, but I'm sure you are soooo excited for them too!
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion it's excellent when the "singles" meet the "tribe". I come from a very small family, and being connected with a large family of friends in the past was like having a chill and letting a warm wave of sunlight wash over and warm you. It really did me good, and I wish the same for your two families. Best wishes to Amy and Dave. :)
ReplyDelete"Ohana means family and family means nobody gets left behind!" - Lilo, Lilo and Stitch.
ReplyDelete:)
Christina: Smiles so big we can hardly contain them! :)
ReplyDeleteRachel: There's more of an "ohana" connection than I realized. Wow! Now I just need to meet Swede's kids!
ET: VERY excited, to say the least!
Lisa: Ahhh. So you know all this from experience! Amy says my family will LOVE Dennis. In fact, all the cousins say that bringing their sweetheart to the cottage to meet the family is always "the barometer" for their relationships. So fun!
Mad: Isn't that the truth!!!
Quite a picture and quite a story! Wishing the best for this trip and their future!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Amy & Dennis both thank you, Tim!
ReplyDeleteWow! Good for Amy! When is she going to let you tell more/show pictures? This cousin wants details!! :) Maybe Garland and I need to just come up for a weekend and do a dinner with the happy couple...
ReplyDeleteYes, going to the cottage is the big "tribe test". Garland had to pass, Rodger, etc.!
Hi, Mrs. M/Shari! Did you see in my response to CS above the "little detail" that Dennis, too, is from LA, CA!!! SO, it definitely adds to the intrigue. Perhaps after HI they will let me show a pic of them on my post? If not (yet), surely I can send it to you privately :) It will be interesting to see how they work this one out--being from separate states! But knowing Dennis, when there's a will, there's a way!
ReplyDelete