What fun!Shall I think of all the dance steps I know! Of course we won’t be able to dance them all,
probably just a variety of slow and fast dances with maybe a tango thrown in
once in awhile. This was exciting—Glenn
Miller and His Band of Renown were going to be in St. Joseph just for one
night. Yes, it was horrible—it was
winter time. And Missouri winter, at
that! St. Jo, as it was always called,
was thirty miles away. The road was Highway 71—a U.S. highway, but still it was
only two lanes wide—one lane going each way.
But my friends and I immediately started planning. Who had the best car for driving in snow-covered
roads? Finally, it was decided that we
would go in two cars. Leland, whom I had
dated for awhile had been the one to suggest how wonderful it would be to dance
to Glenn Miller’s band.
So, home I went with a somewhat queasy stomach and a racing
heart. How would be the best way to ask
Father? He loved to dance and had taught
me how to do the waltz and the polka.
What fun that was! We would waltz
around the living room dangerously missing the rocking chair and the stove and
having a great time. He would say it was
OK except maybe since it was snowy, he wouldn’t like it so much but still it
would be OK.
I waited until after dinner before I broached the
subject. Meanwhile I had made an apple
pie, his favorite, just to be on the safe side!
Well, that pie wasn’t enough! When I told Father all about Glenn Miller
being in St. Jo and that Leland and Grace and Slim would be going, he said it
sounded like we had planned well. But,
he said, the roads are not good and Mother and I would be very uneasy and would
be unable to rest until you got back home.
Despite the fact that you love to dance, I just don’t think it would be
a good idea. He said he was sure they or
one of the other big bands would be coming through for a night or two and I
could go then.
I told Leland and Grace and Slim and they said they
understood but still wanted to go. It
sounded so wonderful and such fun—I decided TO GO TOO! I would not tell my folks. I would go out just like a regular date and
come back at the usual time. And so we
did!
The music was wonderful.
Such smooth great songs. Dance
after dance—terrific. What time was
it—did we have to start back? More
dancing. More wonderful music. The dance hall was full and everyone was
enjoying themselves. Another dance. Was
it time to start for home? Yes, it was
time if we were going to make it before
it was too late. All the way back those
thirty snowy miles, I kept my fingers crossed that we wouldn’t end up in the
ditch –have a serious accident or have to be pulled out. After all, the hospital was a long ways away
and my parents would know and be worried.
Luckily, Leland was a good driver and we, indeed, did arrive
home safely. I checked my hair for white
strands that I knew must be apparent somewhere!
Just kidding. I had been so tense that I really didn’t enjoy myself that much.
I never did tell my father.
Although I knew he probably wouldn’t have said very much, he would have
been greatly disappointed that I was so untrustworthy. Later, when I thought about it, I decided
that it really wasn’t worth the anguish and I would have had a clean
conscience.
That particular episode in my life stayed with me and I
remember it vividly! Now many teen-agers
might think “Oh, well, that is just Dad pontificating! We will be OK and everything will be just
fine and he doesn’t need to know..”
Somehow the idea that my father would be disappointed in me was very
important. I am not sure just how he
came to make such a big impression in my mind—but obviously he did as I
remember it so well after all these years!
TO MY GRANDDAUGHTERS
HILLARY AND GILLIAN
These are just a few of the trials and tribulations of my
life as a teen-ager. So much different
than what you have experienced Hillary, and you are experiencing Gillian. I
hope you have enjoyed reading them.
And, Gillian, I hope your teen-age years are
super-wonderful! I know they will be.
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