Christmas was fun. The Whitbys hosted it in 1944. It was fun because the Whitbys had the biggest house so more people could be invited. The Whitbys and the Fermans had celebrated Christmas together since both couples had been married. But when it was the Whitby's turn more than just the two families were involved. Mae Whitby's father was still living. Although May had seven brothers and sisters, her father was the only member of her family still living in the area. Most of May's siblings had long ago moved to California. Mae's oldest sister married a local boy but he had joined the navy in 1917, was trained in logistics and was now a commander stationed in California.
He had been sent to California right after he enlisted and when he married, his wife, Rose, of course moved to California with him. Her enthusiastic ravings about the climate, the mountains and the sea pulled most of her other siblings west. Mae thought about going to California after she had trained to be a teacher but Dave Whitby was so handsome and so wonderful that both teaching and California paled in comparison to Dave.
So, those present at the Christmas celebration were: the Whitbys; the Fermans; Jack's parents; Mae's father; family friend Larry Waverly, whose parents had gone down to Detroit to be with their daughter and grandchildren; and Dorothy Milliken and her two children.
Dorothy's husband, Gene, had joined the army at age seventeen, served twenty years and retired as a captain. He bought eighty acres in Huron County hoping his retirement would be that of a bachelor gentleman farmer.
Two phenomena interfered, however. Cupid was one, and he found that army training did not prepare one for farming. A captain's pension was enough to live on until he met Dorothy Burgress. He knew he would never make a farmer and now he needed more money. He rented his land to a neighbor, a young man living across the road: Larry Waverly.
Gene was amazed at how quickly he fell in love. Dorothy was several years younger but she was beautiful, outgoing and just plain fun. They were married two months after they met. Within four years they had two children, a boy, Eugene Fredrick, and a girl, Emma Lou, neither of whom pleased Gene. He was extremely full of himself. He'd seen marriage as companionship and sex for him. Actually, his whole life had been about himself and his children were such troublesome little beings that they took attention away from HIM.
Eugene was teased at school because the name Gene was confused with Jean whom everyone in Huron thought was a girl's name. Eugene picked his own appellation. He decided that he couldn't pick Fred because Freddy Ferman was already in his class, so he picked Rick.
Gene was called back into service when the war started. He had made full colonel and had recently led his regiment into a defensive position in the Ardennes Forrest. The Germans chose that site for what was to become their last major offensive of the war, The Battle of the Bulge. Dorothy knew the battle was fierce but had no idea where Gene was. She was, however, concerned. What if Gene was there? Dorothy's concern could not be hidden from her children. Mae and Irene knew that Dorothy and her children didn't need to be alone on Christmas so the Millikens were included in the festivities.
It was a good day. The food was wonderful and the adult fellowship was complemented by the counterpoint of youthful shouts and giggles. Donny was in rare form. He even had the fearful Rick and Em giggling. The whole group joined in the caroling of older people and shut-ins in Elkton. The day ended with coffee and hot chocolate and more singing at the church. Millie and Freddy sang a duet, Oh, Holy Night. Freddy sang the high part and Millie the alto. Jack sat there beaming, probably the most emotion he would ever show but he loved his kids and was he ever proud of them. They were good. Everyone said so.