learnt later) and said that it had come to his attention that his sister in law, Mrs
James Ewing Johnson of Thebes, née Carole Yvonne Pelletier of New Orleans, had
living parents; therefore his nephew Nelson Johnson might be eligible for Howard
Foundation benefits, stipulating that he married an eligible.
Page 89
Heinlein, Robert A – To Sail Beyond the Sunset.txt
It took them awhile, as they check health and other things, and, in Nelson’s case,
that his father had actually died by mischance (drowning) and not through other
cause.
Nelson was in Kansas City because Thebes and its environs had no Howard-listed young
females. So he was given a list for Kansas City – both Kansas Cities, Missouri and
Kansas.
And that’s how we met Betty Lou – Miss Elizabeth Louise Barstow Nelson did his final
courting – got her pregnant, I mean – under our roof, while Maureen played shut-eye
chaperone, a role I would fill repeatedly for my own girls in future years.
This protected me from my own folly – and I felt rather grumpy about it. Nelson had
been my personal property before Betty Lou ever set eyes on him. But Betty Lou is a
darling; I couldn’t stay grumpy. Eventually I had no need to feel grumpy.
Betty Lou was from Massachusetts. She had been attending KU, God knows why –
Massachusetts has some adequate schools. But it worked out that we stood in for her
parents as they could not come out for her wedding; they were taking care of their
parents. Theoretically Nelson and Betty Lou should have gone back to Boston to be
married. But they did not want to spend the money. The Gold Panic was getting
underway, and, while that would make a boom in Brian’s business, as yet it just
meant that money was tight.
Her wedding took place in our parlour on 14 February, a blustery cold day. Our new
pastor, Dr Draper, tied the knot, I presided over the reception, with too much help
from Random Numbers, who was convinced that the party was in his honour.
Then, when Dr and Mrs Draper had left, I went slowly upstairs, with Brian and Dr
Rumsey helping me… the first time and almost the last time that I waited long
enough for my doctor to arrive.
George Edward weighed seven pounds three ounces.
Chapter 10 – Random Numbers
Pixel went away, wherever it is that he goes, with my first attempt to call for
help. Now I can only keep my fingers crossed.
I once heard my beloved friend and shared husband Dr Jubal Harshaw define happiness.
`Happiness,’ Jubal stated, `lies in being privileged to work hard for long hours in
doing whatever you think is worth doing.
`One man may find happiness in supporting a wife and children. Another may find it
in robbing banks. Still another may labour mightily for years in pursuing pure
research with no discernible result.
`Note the individual and subjective nature of each case. No two are alike and there
is no reason to expect them to be. Each man or woman must find for himself that
occupation in which hard work and long hours make him happy. Contrariwise, if you
are looking for shorter hours and longer vacations and early retirement, you are in
the wrong job. Perhaps you need to take up bank robbing. Or geeking in a sideshow.
Or even politics.’
For the decade 1907-1917 I was privileged to enjoy perfect happiness by Jubal’s
definition. By 1916 I had borne eight children. During those years I worked harder
and for longer hours than I ever have before or since, and I was bubbling with
happiness the whole time save for the fact that my husband was away oftener than I
liked. Even that had its compensations, as it made our marriage a series of
honeymoons. We prospered, and the fact that Briney was oftenest away when business
was best resulted in our never experiencing what the Bard called so aptly: `- the
tired marriage sheets.’
Page 90
Heinlein, Robert A – To Sail Beyond the Sunset.txt
Briney always tried to telephone to let me know exactly when he would be home… and