Two Noras: October 7, 1914 and October 7, 2021

 Nora Bauer: Wednesday, October 7, 1914

Mr. and Mrs. Lantz and their daughter and the baby were over this evening. I fixed by box for the social tomorrow night. Robert Schork and Clara Strahle got married. 

Nora Spitznogle: Thursday, October 7, 2021

Regular work day at Second Helpings. I walked down to Half Liter to see one of my favorite musicians perform. Nice evening of music and reflection and a few tears. 

There are several mentions of Lantz folks in the newspapers of the time. I'm not sure what the Grandma Nora connection is. 

The wedding is a little more interesting. When I read the first sentence I was taken aback that a priest officiated an outside of the church wedding. The second sentence answered that question. I tried to find out what ultimately happened to them to the newlyweds - I think there moved out of town, I only found random mentions in the paper, all around the deaths of their parents. 

I walked to Half Liter this evening to hear music. I was feeling particularly melancholy and missing Dad. 

I wrote this while I was there: 

Just 497 steps from my front door. Beautiful music, waving to cool people that I’m lucky enough to know, the hip young hostess complimented my shoes, my favorite Irish whiskey, a fire, and gravel.

The things that make me miss Dad are weird.

Gravel is one of them.

When I was a teenager I read some book where the daughter rode bikes with her dad. At this point in my teen angst I was convinced that my dad didn’t like me. He wasn’t like the other dads. He worked. A lot. Tool and Die Maker grabbing any overtime offered. And farming. And now I suspect just trying to hold it all together.

I insisted the he ride bikes with me. And only me. We dashed down the busy and no berm State Road 32 to County Road 400. A gravel road. We peddled maybe a mile and back, Dad grousing all the way, me with tears brimming behind my eyes, convinced that Dad hated me.

Turns out he had appendicitis*.

And he loved me. And each of his kids. And every one of his nieces and nephews.

And you.  

I'm not sure that he had appendicitis...maybe a pulled hustle or something.