1. It All Began: Meeting Barbara and the Lives and Enterprises That Ensued

 I first met Barbara at a "get acquainted" dance at the University of Idaho. Barb was a freshman living at Hays Hall and I was a junior living in Chrisman Hall. There was an initial attraction between us.  We were just two country kids from opposite ends of the State that found that we shared a lot of common interests.  These interests developed over the school year to the point that we were doing everything together.  As the School year closed for the summer I stayed on for summer school with an on-campus job working in one of the wood working shops.  As the Fall school session approached I was anticipating  Barbara’s arrival and I remember, to this day, the thrill I felt when I greeted her as she came walking down the hill from the main campus to the shop where I was working.       

My Senior Year was a great year.  Both Barbara and I had a great time.  We attended every dance that we could and won the best couple award at the AG Ball in the spring. It was at this Ball that I asked Barbara to marry me. This was the second time I had posed the question and this time she did me the honor of saying yes.  At this time I had a night job welding at the local manufacturer of Hillside Combines. With money in the pocket, Barbara and I bought a used car just so we would not feel too confined to the campus, and I feel guilty to this day because it was Barb’s down payment that made it possible.

Barbara and I had great discussions about all kinds of things. One of the topics that turned out to be significant was the desire to see the world and visit other cultures. Our naive idea, as was obvious, was for both of us to get a job  on a Tramp Steamer. Of course that was a dream that had no basis in our lives and it got side lined by obligations of life.       

I graduated from the U of I in the spring of 1952. Barbara and I were married June 22 of that year, and I was drafted into the army in August of the same year.  After basic training I had some leave time before I was to report to  Camp San Luis Obispo, California. Barbara found a small used trailer house that we bought, hooked it up to our Plymouth and headed to California.   We found a trailer park in San Louis Obispo Bay about 14 miles from the Base, and we settled in for the duration of training. 

I do not remember how we made the money stretch as army wages did not amount to much. There must have been an off-base living allowance of some sort, as  we met our bills and were able to enjoy  seafood delights occasionally. Abalone is one of the delights that we always sought out and was really delicious when prepared right.  Barbara tried to prepare it but it was tough as shoe leather unless prepared right. Abalone area group of Sea Snails of various sizes and as I remember they were picked off the rocks at 8 to 10 feet deep.  Barbara did all the Abalone research during the day when I was at San Luis Obispo Base.  We occasionally explored the Water Front during an evening walk when I got home early enough to make it possible. My schedule was not always 8 to 5, some late evenings and overnight training sessions were unannounced.  The boats in the harbor, during these walks, were always of interest along with fish that were for sale.

I do not remember what Barb did during the day while I was away, but in after thought, I can not imagine her being idle with nothing to do.  However the Singer Sewing Machine, that her parents had unknowingly given her as a wedding present, was always present.  We were happy to be together and enjoyed each other’s company as well as our new surroundings.

A note here about the Singer Sewing Machine. This machine was Barbara’s prize possession, I think I came in second!  She bought it in Lewiston, Idaho, with her own money while we were still in school.  She repaid herself with money her parents gave her as a wedding present. The Singer was  always with us wherever we went, sewing many garments for the entire family, and it was still in use till the last days of her life. 

Frank