It was January 10, 1988. The temperature started to drop into the low 20’s. Kent had invited me for Sunday dinner at the ranch. There he lived with his dad, and next door to his Great Grandma and Aunt Greta. As we arrived at the ranch, it started to sleet and snow even more. So, we scurried inside as quickly as we could without slipping on the ice, as our coats and hair gathered small dots of snow and sleet. An aroma of comfort food wafted through the room as we entered. Grandma and Greta welcomed us into their warm toasty home. I admired Kent’s gentlemanly manners as he took my wool coat for me and hung it up. That day, I wore my cozy red corduroy jumper that my Grandma had made.
Although this photo wasn’t taken on the same day, this is the exact jumper dress I wore that cold January day in 1988. (Photo by my cousin, Rhonda Misslin).
After introducing us Kent beamed with enthusiasm and announced to everyone, “I want Laura to play and sing for you. She sings like an angel and plays piano beautifully”. I could see that dinner was about to be served and that there were steel pots of delicious roast and potatoes waiting for us. But then Grandma jovially said, “Well now, you’ll have to sing for your supper, we can’t eat until you play us a song!” We all laughed. I sat down at the piano and began, “Amazing Grace will always be my song of Praise”. I sensed Kent’s love and his smile beaming over me. I was completely enamored by him as he was with me.
Aunt Greta had a beautiful smile and a kindhearted laugh. Kent’s great Grandma was so sweet, and an amazing cook! She served us roast with potatoes and vegetables. It was good old fashioned home cooking! There’s nothing quite like having a hot meal together on a bitterly cold day with people you love. His family embraced me with such hospitality and warmth. The cold weather, new first love, being with Kent at his home, and meeting his family all made me feel giddy inside.
Grandma and Greta lived in the original ranch house, next to the larger home where lived with his dad, Keith. In the big house, it was just the two of them. They made me feel right at home and comfortable. His dad came across as fun, accepting and wise. And I would soon find out, he had a knack for grilling the best steak and shrimp ever!
In one of our kitchen-side conversations with Keith, I admitted that I was really happy about being with Kent. “He thinks very highly of you and I know that he is very fond of you too”. In his fatherly way, he gave me his two cents of advice. “You know, the most important thing needed in a relationship to keep it strong is real good communication.” As he said this, he pulled out a business sized card from his wallet. And there I read these words in quotations from George Eliot. “Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away.” It was the first time I had heard that quote from George Eliot. I kept the card for years. Kent’s dad was an example of a listening and accepting dad. Now, as I have come to know Kent, I appreciate that he too, has followed this example and listens attentively as he is sifting the chaff from the grain.
That afternoon, Kent and I stole into his room. It was decorated with all of the trophies and medals for his various sports like swimming and gymnastics. I was taking in all of the details and was again impressed with all of his accomplishments.
A bedroom is such a personal space. You can learn a lot about a person by being in their room for the first time. His room was very neat and tidy with moderate decor. His display of athletic trophies and academic achievements stood out to me.
(Again we don’t have any pictures of that day, but below is an actual picture of him in that same room approximately a year and a half earlier.)
There were interesting objects in his room with its simple yet meaningful decor, such as a hand made throw his grandmother had knitted. He lit up when he showed me an unusual triangular shaped stone. “Do you know what this is?” He asked. I thought it was just a polished stone of some sort. It was shiny and dark and smooth with turquoise greenish natural markings, made by water. “A polished stone?” I asked. “It’s not just any stone.” He gleamed as he said. “My dad got this from Solomon’s mine.” I smiled as I admired it. His turquoise, blue, eyes sparkled as he shared. “I want you to have it.” “Wow! Really?!” “Yes, keep it as a token from me.” It felt both ancient, and new because of its shine.
I still have it to this day!
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