Chapter 13 "Meet Me in St. Louie, Louie!"

 The summer I had returned home I was invited to stand up in my cousin's wedding which was to happen in Park Falls early July.  Jack, a few years older than me, had also lived with Aunt Emma for awhile to get out of Chicago where he witnessed a close friend killed by a rival gang. 

     While in Park Falls for the wedding I stayed upstairs in the living quarters of the Gruener Wald. In past years Aunt Emma would try to get me to come down to the tavern
area to meet some fellow named Louie.  I was never interested since I had schooling, was going to be a nun and didn't want to marry some hick from Park Falls.  However, on this occasion of the wedding day, already dressed in my bride's maid dress, I agreed to meet him.  When I first saw him I judged him to be about my age...18, or 21 since he was drinking at the bar. (Turns out he was 8 years my senior.) He was quite good looking, well muscled on a small frame and totally flirty.  We chatted for awhile but I needed to go.  He enthusiastically, asked, "How about a dance later?"  I said sure and hurried out to my ride for a day of wedding festivities. 

     In the evening my wedding "date" dropped me off at the Gruener Wald. The Saturday night polka dance was in full swing.  I did not see Louie so accepted dances from Gary, a local of Park Falls who's looks closely resembled the actor Kirk Douglas.  He was a good dancer and I was simply having a fun time.  One concerned local patron came up to me and cautioned about Gary, saying he was a known trouble maker.  I wasn't concerned since we were just dancing. 

    At some point he went to the bar for a few
drinks. Louie had also returned to the bar.  I was excited for him to ask me to dance.  Turns out he forgot about his invitation.  After reminding him we went up to the dance floor and danced several polkas.  At some point he invited me to go watch him play soft ball the next afternoon.  I quickly agreed.   Eventually Gary found his way back to the dance floor and was angered to see Louie dancing with me.  He threateningly approached us, uttering disturbing remarks declaring HE saw me first and I was HIS girl and Lou better back off.  

I sat there stunned, recalling the concerned patron's cautious remark.  Lou appeasingly responded that we were merely dancing; he had no intention of taking me away from him. He talked him into going to the bar and having a drink with him.  I  carefully made my way up to the living quarters, fearing a fight might break out.

Most of that night I worried that there had been a fight, though the thought of two guys fighting over me was a bit romantic!

Turns out that Lou took him home to his house that night, to Catholic Mass with him the next morning and then to Gary's home.  It also turns out that Lou regretted inviting me to watch him play softball.  (Though he didn't tell me till years later.)  Having a girl around would stifle his freedom to have beers with his teammates. 

I'm not a sports fanatic but I enjoyed watching Lou

play and also the woodsy environment of the field at Sugarbush tavern.

After the game we returned to the Gruener Wald.  There my date from the wedding came to get me for a post wedding party.  I said goodbye to Lou and left.  

Louie talked to Emma about his disappointment, then went home feeling utterly forsaken. On Monday Emma called him, talking him into stopping back at the tavern after his National Guard meeting in the next town that evening. We chatted and I acknowledged I had no idea I "walked out on him".  We agreed to keep communicating with each other since I was to return to Indianapolis the next day.

At some point later in the summer I made another trip to Park Falls to visit with him.  Pop was upset because I was to be the nun of the family.  The  counselor at the Catholic Charities where I worked tried nicely to caution me about making hasty decisions; to remain in Indianapolis to further my schooling.  

Swept off my feet with romance I suddenly concluded I was NOT called to be a nun but to have life "happily ever after" with this energetic, flirty, handsome young man. I returned the large amount of black cloth to the convent in Merrill, WI with an explanation that I found my dream.  One nun, the music director, appeared happy and pleased,  singing the opening of the song, "Meet me in St. Louie, Louie..."

I decided to remain in Indianapolis for the schoolyear to reacquaint with my family and enrolled at Marian College.  During those months I recall being captivated by the song, "The 12th of Never", which proclaimed how long I would love Lou, my mind and emotions swirling with romantic fantasy. The truth, not seen by me, was a coming lifetime of peculiar adventures, lots of kids and struggle with alcoholism.   Lou and I wrote each other weekly, if not daily, since phone calls were  quite expensive in those days.  

 Being ignorant of school funding, I somehow came up with money for a year of college. Perhaps my dad funded or loaned me the money.  Living at home, I soon met a great friend who lived not far away and who graciously provided transportation.  The one perk that year was I was admitted as a freshman to the performing choir reserved for sophomores and above.  Taking normal first year classes I decided I would follow a lead for biology or psychology...though after the first year was complete I regretted not being aware of and taking  a one year "practical nursing" course. 

In the fall Louie decided to drive to Indianapolis to visit me and meet family over the Thanksgiving weekend.  I was excited he was coming, but also apprehensive since our house was in poor aesthetic condition.  Some of my sisters helped me paint walls and clean up rooms.   I don't remember if my brother Gene was living at home but mom was and in her own fantasy world. I was a bit embarrassed but also excited.  

During that visit Lou asked me to marry him.  I gave a lengthy reply why I couldn't, including helping out at home with Mom and Gene as well as schooling.  I think I saw myself as a mini savior sweeping in to normalize my family.  He was disappointed but hesitantly honored my noble aspirations.

On Friday we were invited out to visit the Sperry family for a Thanksgiving meal.  While there, a phone call came into our family phone...an emergency for Louie.  Later that night when he returned the call he was told his dad had just passed away from a massive heart attack.  He was around 58.  

Lou packed up to return home.  I was tenderhearted and didn't want him to travel alone, so went with him. I also told him I would take him up on the proposal of marriage.  On the way we stopped in a small town and noticed some rings in a store window.  Since I wasn't ready for an engagement ring I agreed to him buying me a black pearl friendship ring and matching necklace.  

While in Park Falls for the funeral and having met his family I decided to move to PF at the end of the schoolyear.  

I enjoyed the remaining months of school yet had set my mind on moving to Park Falls.  I realized I could not be the family mini savior; living in the strained mental health home conditions was too difficult.  I looked forward to my big move to Wisconsin.