In the animal world, males often perform rituals or do something flashy to attract females. It’s not much different in the human world. Apparently even the strangest of rituals, such as drinking seven glasses of water, has the power to turn a girl’s head. At least it worked for Buck because after his display she even agreed to a first date.
By their fourth date, Buck got the nerve to give a kiss to the girl from the prairie. She didn’t knock his teeth out, so he moved closer, put his arm around her, and gave her another kiss.
Buck had another date to keep – with Uncle Sam. The Army made other living arrangements for him. After several months, he was eligible for a furlough. He headed home and reunited with his prairie girl. They spent some time in the mountains with Buck’s family.
One of the highlights was the dance at Basin Creek School. When Buck and his date drove down to the school, a chaperone was on board, a wee little chaperone, Buck’s little sister. They all had a great time at the dance but soon the escort became sleepy. Buck grabbed her up and took her to the car. While she slept in the back seat, Buck stole a kiss and proposed to the prairie girl. She said yes! (I wonder if the chaperone was fired)
Buck returned to fulfill his military duty. The next few months their courtship was done by mail. One letter included a diamond ring.
Buck was discharged in March of 1946. He soon found his way to the Sherod’s where his prairie girl was staying. The two were reunited, but no wedding date had been set. That was about to change.
Buck tells this story, “One day, about the first of July, we were driving down a rutted lane. We were sitting close to each other. I handled the gas petal, and Jean handled the steering wheel. We waved at my Uncle Sid and Byron Grossfield, who were working in a hay field. We passed the bend in the road and the car slid into a rut, missed a bridge, flew off the road and ended up in the dike which carried water around the Gunderson Hill. Barbara and her date hooked a chain on us to pull us out of the water. Then we had plenty of help. For fifteen miles, there had been no traffic on the road. However, immediately, Byron and Uncle Sid came to supervise our rescue, and Uncle Barney and a van load of guests drove up the other way. Uncle Sid remarked that, if it took two people to drive the car, maybe they ought to get married!”
The wedding date was set for the last Friday in July.
Buck stands on the spot where he proposed to his prairie girl 70 years earlier