The Mennonite Woman's Escape Part 4- FINAL
It was fun cooking together. I learned new styles and approaches to cooking, not the bland fried foods I was used to.
Mike knew how to cook all the food that we had bought. He had to talk me through a lot of the prep work. With both of us working together to prepare, the food was quickly cooked and placed on the table.
As we started eating, it struck me that without thinking about it or saying anything, one of us had always said grace before each meal.
We ate everything that we had cooked. The flavors were so different and much richer that it took me longer to eat than usual.
This time, as I was eating, I didn't know if Mike was watching me enjoy this food or watching my new appearance.
Un-summoned, I hoped it was both. After supper, we both cleaned up and put the dishes away.
Afterward, we went to the living room, turned on the music, and both read.
`Music and TV were something Mennonites didn't have in their homes. However, we had a radio to listen to the weather and farm news, and that was all it was turned on for.
Wearing my new clothes, I was able to curl up on the couch with the book. That seemed like a simple thing, but wearing the clothes I had sewn: dresses down to my ankles. A full-length slip, full-bodied underwear, and in the house, a tea strainer cap covering my hair (in public, a bonnet). It was impossible.
The freedom of my new clothes made me smile.
At about 10:30, I started getting tired and went to bed after we agreed to meet in the kitchen at about 7:30 for breakfast, which I was going to cook.
Before I went to bed, I decided to check my e-mail. Thinking about how modern I had become. I had three e-mails from my daughter.
The first one asked me how I was doing, and she wanted to talk to me again.
She also wanted to know if she could open the booth with her cousin Sarah. One of the elders said several families asked her to do this because they needed the money that came in every week from my sales.
The second was another Elder who had talked to them and asked if you were coming back soon.
"He also asked about them buying the farm and her Dad's business because the community needed them. I hope it is okay that I told him I didn't think you would come back to run either of them.
He said he wanted to get an appraisal on the business and the farm if possible. He said that Kurt should oversee the appraisal. And that if you approved the prices, he would talk to you about purchasing them.
He also said you could take anything you wanted from the farm, but I told him I thought you would mostly want personal items, and I could get those next week.
Please answer as soon as possible.
Love Nadie."
Next e-mail
"Mom, I don't want to overload you with e-mails because I don't know how often you check them, but I have news for you.
Do you know how the Bible says everything is in balance? Well, we lose one, and we gain one.
In six and a half months, you will have your first grandchild!
Happy dance, Mennonite style!
Mommy-to-be Nadie"
I sat there stunned but smiling, rereading the third e-mail. I was going to be a grandmother in six months. Then I started an e-mail:
"Mommy-to-be Nadie,
I'm so happy for you and Kurt.
And the thought of playing with my grandchild excites me.
I will for sure be there for the birth."
"I'm sorry, but I hadn't thought about the other people depending on the booth.
Yes, you and Sarah should open the booth, but find someone else to help you when you have the baby."
"Yes, if Kurt will help I would like to sell everything. You two should take anything you want before the inspection. If you and he would clear out what you consider our possessions, that would be great with me. However, you should get all the crafts and stuff I finished to take to the booth for sale.
Take your baby clothes and the furniture I saved in the attic for your children.
Again, I'm so happy for you both.
Some evening soon I want to talk to you on the phone and tell you everything that's happened.
Love mom and grandma to-be."
When I finished, I quickly went back downstairs to where Mike was still reading. When he heard me coming down the steps, he stood up with a look of concern on his face. "Is there something wrong?" he asked.
"No! No! Everything is wonderful!
Nadi is going to have a baby," I happily said.
In sheer joy, I think, I threw my arms around, hugged him, and kissed him on the lips.
Realizing what I had done, we both stood there a moment before I backed up.
With a grin on his face, he said, "You can come down and give me news anytime.
I like the presentation. I hate to disappoint you, but you certainly don't look like an expecting grandmother. You look more like a model for the high-end clothing stores."
Blushing, I said, "Thank you."
We went to my room, and he read the e-mails.
"I think you should send Nadie an e-mail tomorrow night at about 8 o'clock for the phone call," he said after thinking about it for a minute.
Then he added, "I just had an idea: my nephew who broke his leg. He'll be out of work for at least six months, and he's worked for me often on weekends, vacations, and such.
I think I'm going to ask him to run my booth. Doing it that way, neither of us is under a time restraint. Also, he will be there to help if needed.
At the very least, you will have to go up to the border and renew your visa about the same time your grandchild was born."
Over the next few weeks, we spent many evenings visiting the area's different restaurants and small clubs.
I was exposed to many types of music and food, all of which I loved. Some of the places had dancing on different nights, which we tried.
I had only heard bits and pieces of music before; we didn't have anything but a couple of simple hymnals and mothers singing to their babies.
I found a group of women who were trying to teach sellable craft skills to a group of older girls and women. I temporarily volunteered and found I loved it.
They loved me back.
I spent two afternoons a week with them, and at the same time, they taught me Spanish every day.
One evening, Mike and I were at home reading and listening to Mexican music softly when Mike's cell rang.
After answering it, he got a strange look on his face.
After hanging up, he said, "That was Blanca from the Spa, and she needs to see us tonight. She'll be here in about 10 minutes with some stuff for you.
It scared both of us, not knowing why.
When Blanca rang the bell, she asked us to open the gate and drove a small pickup into the yard. After she got out, she hugged me and said she had a DVD for me to see.
