In my previous post I mentioned that my parents were married for 66 years after a five-month courtship. Since they didn’t start dating until after high school, it’s reasonable to assume that they dated other people before they became a couple.
I’m aware of several of my Dad’s female acquaintances from his high school years, but Mom never spoke to me about any previous boyfriends. Now that I have both of their autograph books from roughly ages 12 to 15, I know a bit more.
As I wrote earlier, Mom’s autograph book was definitely G-rated, but I did find one small clue about a possible earlier paramour. It came in an entry dated May 27, 1936, a few months before my Mom’s 14th birthday. The author was Alice Jean Stacy (who added “Blondie” in parentheses below her name).
Remember the dove,
Remember the night,
You fell in love (with Bob)
If you’re the Bob that Blondie referred to, or if you’re Alice Jean Stacy, please contact me. I want to know more.
Compared to Mom, Dad looks like he was a real player in junior high. Here are a couple of clues from his autograph book:
I love you and you can’t help it.
Forever yours, Dorothy Owens
My heart pants for you, 4get me not …
Yours until the sidewalk walks,
Yours until the butter flies,
Yours until the sink sinks.
Your sweetheart, Annabelle Wright
I should also point out that each of these entries was dated the same day – Oct. 1, 1935 – a few weeks before Dad’s 15th birthday. Again, I’d like to know more.
It’s all irrelevant now, of course, but it is worth noting that Mom and Dad had full, separate lives before they became Mom and Dad.
Writing prompt of the day: What do you know about your parents’ previous boyfriends and girlfriends?
Larry Lehmer is a personal historian who helps people write their family histories. To learn more, visit his web site, send him an e-mail or follow him on Twitter.
Photo: Jack & Elsie Lehmer's wedding portrait, 1942 (Walter B. Lehmer collection)
Oh, how sweet! I hope Alice or Bob (or a descendant) does contact you. One of my uncles was married briefly before he married the only wife we ever knew. Apparently a shotgun wedding. It might've stayed a secret had I not noticed an entry in my mother's autograph book. A girl's autograph followed by "Mrs. [uncle's name]" in parentheses. Alerted, I found the marriage record, and the 1930 census points to them having a son - who would be the mysterious young "friend" who'd come to family reunions and whose name happened to be my uncle's unusual middle name. My aunt liked him fine, but when I asked about the first wife, all she said was "So you know about *her*"! Aren't those autograph books a treasure?
Posted by: Joanna | June 09, 2009 at 08:30 AM