LDKBox

Kirk had strolled down the street headed east towards Don’s Standard service station east of county road 180 that runs north and south into the small community leaving Kellen lost in his thoughts.  Knowing full well that the young boy would hot foot it towards him when he came  to his senses.  The feeling wave does take time to become familiar.  No easy task for a full grown adult.  The pressures and temptations of the feeling wave,  can.. and do,  take precedence to real time adventures.  Kellen will be finding new and great things as his life progresses.  Having the feeling wave will enhance his ability to appreciate what has been to with what has not yet happened.  All with out knowing but being better because of it.

When standing at the corner Kirk ponders the direction the he will choose.  To him each direction is to the future. All that is past is behind him.  Matters not the direction.  To the south leads to a new county.  The oil of the county road 180 changes at the stop sign on the south end of the city limits.  Connecting to a state road of concrete that travels to another city, county, and memory.  Those will be with Kellen.  The wave will do its appointed task.  ”To the south we will not go this date.” Kirk mumbled to no one in particular.

Turning to his left the road travels north past the old Lutheran parsonage.  Home of memorable preachers through out Kirk’s life.  Pastors Habel, Nyjus, and Roland to name a few.  Each with there moods and all of them with wonderful intentions.  Role models for the youthful Kirk’s upbringing.

Memories of living at the farmhouse four miles from this spot.  Nineteen years of family memories.  Great brothers, sisters, and parents.  Good food warm clothes, and clean sheets every Saturday afternoon.  Jumping into to a cold bed on the south side of the Lloyd Hage home farm place during the winter  is amemory that one should only have to experience once.  In his eyes this shivering moment is only eclipsed by the warm glow that resulted from the layers of warm blankets that his mother had carefully placed atop the crackling cold clean sheets from the afternoon session on the close line to dry.

ON one of those winters day it brings to mind a cold day during school the school year.  Supper had been served.  Consisting of fried eggs, bacon,  fresh baked bread, and enough left over boiled potatoes from the noon meal,  fried in the bacon grease that we had mounded on a serving platter, to soak up all the bacon grease as it fried.  ”Hmmm that was a good meal.” he murmured. Again, to no one in particular.

This was a typical meal for the day since Lloyd had entered into the world of chicken ranching.  Procuring hatched eggs from the Inwood Hatchery.  Taking the chicken from days old to two year olds.  After that butchering them for the house as well as for sale to the chicken packing plant.  Mom and Dad were anxiously finishing there meal with the family.  There was to be a church congregation meeting that night.  Being on time was important in the Hage household.  Dad would work outside doing the final chores.  He then would enter into the house through the porch entrance to the basement to hang his bibs above the steps that lead downstairs and place his shoes on the short two step entrance into the kitchen.  After he open the nicely finished solid oak door he would veer to his right and wash up at the sink positioned at the northwest corner wall of the new addition to the house.

Nothing was said at that evening meal.  The food was to good .  Kirk’s parents were on a mission to attend a church meeting so all the kids dug into their food and ate in silence.  Once Lloyd had completed his meal he scurried up the stairs to turn on the water for his bath.  The kids dispersed to the TV room as Leota gathered up and washed all the pots, pan and dishes after every meal.  Kirk  gave pause to the wave to appreciate jsut how much work his mother had done for him as a youth growing up.  IT embarrassed him to remember what was done for him and what he has done for his own son.  It pales in comparison.  Yet Kirk knows that he is doing what he can.  It does not seem to mitigate anything so he moves on with his memory.

About the time that Lloyd has finished his bath Leota heads up the stairs.  Seeing the coordination between the two showed a comfortableness that goes with a good marriage.  Each knew there task.  Moving from room to room and not running into each other.  No one questions what they would wear.  Leota outfitted in a nice dress.   Lloyd in his wool pants with short sleeved shirt.  Kirk marveled at how much was done in a matter of minutes.  Less than an hour precious the world was flurry of activity.  The chickens being fed.  The eggs being packed from the daily gathering.  Milking our small herd of cows.  Feeding the cattle.  Those things are now forgotten.  Lloyd and Leota are going to “church meeting.” Leaving the the two youngest boy’s Kirk and Karl home to fend for themselves the rest of the night.  Kirk remembers how Karl wanted popcorn like Mom makes.  Kirk knew then that it would never happen.  No one makes popcorn like Mom.  Kirk laughed at the thought.  The wave has taken Kirk to another place.

The feeling of a long lost evening  has brought to the Hage Clan wave to Kellen.  He scurries to the east towards his Father as he waits patiently for his son to be by his side.  Kellen is aware of his fathers thoughts and asked him through the felling wave, “Father, why is this date such a wonderful memory?”

Kirk did not have to formulate an answer for Kellen. He knew why and sent a feeling wave to Kellen so he would know.  His parents were not party goers.  They worked hard , enjoyed their life, and were part of the community.  They got up at the same time and went to bed at the same time.  If they said that they were going to do something…they did it.  So it was assumed that they would return from the church meeting by ten o’clock.  Ten thirty at the very latest.  At midnite the area TV stations all shut down for the day.  Kirk was sitting in the TV room watching test patterns awaiting the arrival of his parents. ” It was not like them to be out late. he thought.  ”Who do I call?  IT is winter.  It is cold.  There could have been an accident.  The variables grow with each thought, Kellen? ”

“How old were you at the time , Father?”  Kellen willed his  feeling wave to his Father.  Rather enjoying this intimate form of communication.

“I was 14 , Kellen.  I was going to confirmation class at the time.  My first year.    I had studied my confirmation class lesson that night.  Conrad Rolland was our Pastor. WIth it being midnight I was at a loss as to whom I should call?  We did not have 911 back in those days.  A call to the county sheriff  was out of the question.  This was not an emergency.  What would you do Kellen?  he willed back to his to his son who was approaching Kirk’s position from the east.

“IT is not fair of me to answer Father.  I have the feeling wave to lend me aide.  Please tell me so I need not remember but rather feel your thoughts. ”  Kellen implored.

“As you wish, Kellen.” Kirk said as he will his Hage clan wave to it s final end of this little story.  Kellen could see the church on county road 180.  A nice A-frame church with brick walls and a natural store hallway corridor separating the church from the south sloped mono sloped roof top of the fellowship hall.  ”Do you see what has happened, Kellen.” sharing his feeling wave image as if it were 3D TV” to Kellen.

“All the people are gone, Father?”  he said as Kellen tried to peer further into the wave feeling sent to him by his father.

“Yes,  that is true.  I was not possessed with such a gift as yours.  I did not have the advantages of the feeling wave as you do at such an early age.  You are being  spoiled by the gift.  I am glad of it!  I am toying with you, son.  For the feeling is there for the taking.  It is like a picture puzzle for you at this time.  Find the right size pieces, with the proper edge then place them together until the picture comes clear.  It is an easy task that is oft over looked.  I give you the advantage of my years so your gift can be complete.  Now look into my wave and tell me what I see.  Tell me how we feel through this feeling wave memory. ”  Kirk concentrated hard focusing on the parsonage and its residents.

“I see it father!  It is wonderful!  How can waves of feeling be so beautiful?  This is to much for my young brain to take in.  I see/ feel care and love.  This is coming from the parsonage.  There aren’t any Hage clan members in this house are there?” he tentatively asked his now lot in thought father.

” There aren’t any Hage clan members in this house, Kellen.  Though the memories of love and care are. Peer closer into the feeling.  Do yo not see a woman answering the phone at 12″30 at night?”  he said with a plaintive voice.

“Yes , Father.  I see her.” he said. “She is talking to you isn’t she?

“She certainly is.” he said with more warmth than usual.

“Oh, I am beginning to understand, Father!” he exclaimed.  You are talking to her becasuse Pastor Rolland was in bed and did not have a hearing aid on to speak with you.”

“Yes that is correct, Kellen.” Kirk said as he stopped in front of the house by the sidewalk next to the county highway 180.  You see I did not know what to do?  Pastor Rolland was the most honored of all men in my life being a man of God.  Who else would be better to call for aid than someone called to serve God?”  Do you see what happened next,  Kellen?”  he said,  still gazing at the front door of the parsonage.

I do see.  I do see!  SHe is telling you that Pastor Rolland will change into some winter clothes and head out to the farm post haste.  He drives to the farm 15 minutes later.  You greet him at the door.  IT looks as if you are beside yourself with worry?  What is your concern, Father?” Kellen’s youthful face showing the age lines that will grow in the years to comeas he asked.

“Kellen, had I waited 20 minutes to make the call to Pastor Rolland this whole experience would be nothing but a normal night in the life of the Hage family.  LLoyd and Leota living life, feeding their children and attending church meeting.  Yet on this cold wintery night a youthful son becomes worried of the plight of his parents.  Not knowing what had become of them he wondered why they were way past their curfew.  The winter’s snow blowing across the the dimly lit farm yard driveway by the 250 watt bulb of the yard pole merely added to the dreary thoughts that were filling the youthful teenagers head.  Pastor Rolland arrival was the beginning of a very embarrassing moment for me.”  he said to Kellen as his eyes started to form the famous tears of the Hage clan.

” No sooner had I related all of my concerns of the entire evening to Pastor Rolland did Lloyd and Leota come driving into the farm place.  I was relieved to see them but was at a loss as to what to say to Pastor Rolland.  As I was standing in the entry way when they entered the house I shrugged and shook my head.”

Lloyd took charge as he entered the house and greeted Pastor Rolland with a friendly smile and a warm handshake. “What seems to be the problem?”  he stated with a jocular air.

Pastor Rolland was the kindest of men and immediately realized that the youthful Kirk was merely concerned for the well being of his parents.  He explained to the parents that Kirk had called concerned as to where his parents had gone after the meeting? When the hour become late he called the parsonage.  I in turn arrived 15 minutes later.  I have not been here long enough for Kirk to even complete his story when you arrived here at the farm.  All is good now that you are home.  I shall return to the parsonage happy that every one is safe. ” he said with his unusually deep and gravelly voice.

Leota was standing to the side wringing her hanky as she listened.  Kellen and Kirk could see the relief on the parents face when told of why the preacher was in there house.  Lloyd after listening to the preacher merely shook his head.  Happy that this was a dry run.  Non the worse for wear.  Leota, with hankerchief in hand went to her young son and gave him a hug.  Kellen and Kirk both enjoying the warmth of the hug from the mother/grandmother in the feeling wave.  As she finished the hug with her son and without letting go of her son completely she looked upon the preacher and asked, “Pastor Rolland, now that you are here could I offer you some apple pie or a piece of chocolate cake to go with the coffee that I will make for you if you decide to accept.  It is the least that I could do!”

“Pastor Rolland was no fool, Kellen.” Kirk said.  ”Leota had a reputation for making some of the best sour cream chocolate cake in the county.  His penchant for cake was to much to deny and he accepted on the spot.  It went from there to a more jovial time.  Kirk relived that his parent were home.  The parents relieved that nothing serious had happend.  The preacher’s time assuaged just a little  by the easy charm and grace of a wonderful farm wife and Mother in the northwest corner of Iowa who happened to be a wonderful cook as well as host.

With in minutes the coffee was warming on the stove.  Conversations led to an explanation as to where Lloyd and Leota had gone after the meeting.  Apparently Mr. and Mrs Mike Holland, who lived a one half  mile to the south on County Road 180,  had invited them for coffee after the church meeting.  Several of the neighbors had been invited .  An impromptu party was hatched right there after the meeting.  With the storm blowing and the young boy at home worrying about his parent they were safe and sound with a neighbors enjoy good times and good friends

Kellen and Kirk stood in front of the parsonage on the sidewalk near County Road 180 both of them with tears in their eyes from the love that is between them and the sharing experience of the feeling wave.  Kirk re-living the experience from the real moment and Kellen from the memory.  Both are satisfying.  They smiled and moved forward  in synchronized step to the next corner to the North that crossed County Road 180.