As I was growing up I learned that your "golden birthday" occured when your age matched the day of the month. Since I was born or December 24th, 1949, my "golden birthday" occured when I turned 24 years old or on December 24th, 1973. Our Official Engagement picture |
Diary Excerpts December 24 & 25th, 1973Dear Diary. It's 11:55PM on my birthday. Another year of my life has whizzed by, leaving me another year older and hopefully a year wiser. This is my second birthday in Korea. I was 22 when I came and now I'm 24. Unbelievable but true. I ask the Lord's blessings upon the 24th year of my life. Stay with me, sweet Jesus. The noisy wall clock has just banged 12 times, meaning that my birthday is over and signifying the advent of Christmas. My Lord and savior was born 1,973 years ago. And He lives today. Merry Christmas.My golden birthday was a happy day. I received a present more valuable than gold. Today, Hyun Deok in her own shy way said that she loved me and that she would marry me. What more of a present could a fellow ask for? I am thanking you, Lord, for your magnificent greatness and your personal concern. You have given to me my heart's desire: the love of a woman that I love. I believe, Jesus, that you will guide us to marriage and will bless us forever. Amen.I got up this morning at 8:30. It was the coldest night of the season. My room was freezing and even a half hour of the heater didn't seem to help much. For the first time there was ice on the inside wash water. I did a sloppy job of shaving and covered my jaw with a multitude of minute cuts. I shivered through breakfast and after some hesitation in the semi-warm of my room, I ventured out into the cold morning. Even if it was only a five minute walk, I was cold when I got to the Teacher's Room. The meeting was in progress, so naturally all eyes turned to me as I entered the room I had to wait a few minutes before I was able to warm my hands by the stove. Mr. Kim said it was -17 c (what that is Fahrenheit, I don't know). I talked a while. Mr. Kim wanted a workshop. HA! No way! Miss Han, the helper, gave me some mail: the new Time magazine with Kissinger on the front and a letter from Meng and also a color photo Christmas card from Barbara (She seems happy). I passed the photo around and they all thought that Alan was a girl because of his haircut. I read the Time a while then traipsed through the cold over to the Girl's school. I only stayed there a few moments and was a bit embarrassed because as I was leaving the vice principal asked why I was leaving. I told him that I was just plain cold.So, I got back to my warm room about 12:30. I had left the heater on and the water was boiling, so my glasses fogged as soon as I opened the door. I read the Time a while and took a nap. I wanted so much for the time to pass so I could see Hyun Deok. I had a weird dream about Kissinger coming to my Whiting house to hold an international parley - and - one about he and I playing scrabble. He asked me to pick out any geography book on the shelf and he would describe the map to me. I got up momentarily to see that it was only 1:30. I forced myself back to sleep to 3:00 when the student woke me up with a gift. It was a glass enclosed set of puffed animals with a flower. A nice thought from the family, but what can I do with it? I soon arose from my slumbers. I put my still wet sweater on the hot spot in hopes it would dry soon. I reread the mail and magazine and soon began to write in this.But time ran out and I rushed to the Shin Chi Tea house at 5:15. I sat there a while before I realized it was the wrong one, so I dashed to the other one, but Hyun Deok wasn't there yet. I watched out in the cold a while not sure at what tea room I was supposed to meet her. She strolled up in a few minutes. I was happy to see her. Inside the tea room she dropped a real bomb. She said that she didn't want to see me tomorrow (Christmas) for no reason. I was puzzled and hurt. I pulled out a cigarette and sucked frustratedly. Finally I weaseled out of her that she wanted the day alone to think about us. She gave me a pen (this one) and a handkerchief for a Christmas present and a card which she wrote a week ago. It read "To Mr. Foreman. Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday. Thank you for your sincerely teaching. From your student, Miss Kim." Finally, after I told her my Christmas would not be merry ifl couldn't see her she agreed to see me. I was happy again. She also agreed to see me at eight that evening. I walked her as far as the tea room where I was to meet Mr. Kim. He was waiting for me and I was a few minutes late. I had some coffee then we left. I bought a Christmas card on the way to his house. During the cold dark walk, I said to him "Can you keep a secret? I think that Miss Kim and I will get married - maybe" Then I explained that I had to leave his house by eight. I expected some kind of positive reinforcement, but all he said was "My house is this way". He had a nice little place. I met his wife, his 6 year old piano-playing daughter and his 18 month old daughter. He said his 4 year old son was in Seoul. I looked at several picture albums first, then dinner came. For the past few weeks I haven't been able to eat much, so I only did a'half-decent job of devouring the rice, chicken and other Korean foods. I talked with him and played with the kid a while. I asked for some ink and he showed me how to fill this pen. This will be my diary writing pen.I excused myself about 7:50 promising to return the next day. Under the light of an alley street light, I wrote my first words with this pen on the Christmas card for Hyun Deok: "Merry Christmas and remember that I love you". So I met her at a different tea room I gave her the card and after reading the words her eyes filled with tears. I bought two tangerines from a shy little girl selling in the tea room. She was cute and shy and probably very poor too. I promised Hyun Deok a truck load of tangerines when we get to America and she said that all she wanted was my love. (Thank you, Jesus, for this woman - I love her so much) We talked a while longer. She got stuck with day duty at her school on Christmas and must stay there until six. I'll see her at 7:00 tomorrow evening. We stayed at the Tea Room until 11:30. It was open later than usual because of the holidays. She told me she was hassled at school by a teacher because she was seen with me. I walked her home saying "Good night, I love you".Got back here about 11 :00. Thumbed through the Time some more and then began to write in here. The naps have kept me perky, because now it's after 2AM Christmas morning. HYUN DEOK, I LOVE YOU; JESUS, I LOVE YOU; WORLD. I LOVE YOU.Entry, Christmas Day at 10:55 PM. All is well. The water is boiling, Beethoven is playing, the clock is ticking and I'm in love. I just think of her and I get the chills. Christmas started late this morning. I didn't get up until 10:30. I knew I wouldn't see Hyun Deok until seven so I wanted the day to pass as quickly as possible. I got up, unable to sleep any longer. Just before I fell asleep the night before at 3AM, I heard Christmas carols being sung outside my door. I think the landlady went to a midnight Christmas service and brought her friends back.It was another very cold night and the wash room was thoroughly frozen. The water pipes were unworkable and chunks ofice floated on the half full tub of water. I was energetic and decided in spite of the cold to do the whole bit. I washed my face and hands, then brushed my teeth. Shampooed my hair with soap, then the dandruff mix. I shaved too. As I scraped the frost of the mirror, I had flash backs of scraping ice from my VW car windows in Muncie. I was quite cold after that ordeal and rushed to the warmth of my heater. I ate my breakfast sandwiches and dried my hair on the heater. My JeJu sweater was pretty dry by then, so I put it on. I lounged around the room a while longer, reading the morning paper. I filled the heater with the last of the kerosene, then went to the kerosene store with the container, but the place was locked up. Dropped off the container here then went to the tea store. I received 2000 won yesterday from Mr. Kim, a Christmas bonus from the school, and with that money I bought some presents: a 1200 won can of sugar, 2 boxes of gum, lemon tea, and some candy. It was all gift wrapped.I carried the presents home and passed them out to the lady and the kids. I rested a while, then went over to Mr. Kim's. I had a little difficulty in finding the place and walked up the wrong alley, but eventually stumbled across the right house. I bought some candy along the way. I gave the candy to the cute kids and Mr. Kim and I drank some wine. He had a neighbor over and we four (his wife too) played STOP with Hwatoo cards. They were playing for 10 won a point and I soon lost 100 won, which was more than I could afford, but after several hands, I got my money back. I left about 4PM. I really wanted the time to pass quickly. I read a little, then took an hour nap. I got rolling again at 5:45 when the landlady brought in my dinner. I only ate a little of it. I cleaned the room a little and left for the tea room appointment at 6:50.I noticed a button on by winter coat was missing, but Hyun Deok was waiting for me. We talked mostly about marriage. She said that she loved me and I felt a tingle from head to toe. She does love me, but she's so afraid of talking to her parents and of married life in general. I tried to encourage her and there's a 99% chance that we'll be married, sooner or later (I pray for sooner). Some GIs were pretty rude next to us, so we left about 8:00 and walked down to the train station. After buying the ticket (550 won) I have about 600 won to my name. HA! I have to change some dollars in Seoul. We walked to another Tea Room and sat there a while. I really don't know how our plans will work out. She doesn't want to stay in Jea Cheon after we are married, but she has to wait at least a month for an American visa. But if I terminate early, I must leave the country right away. It's all very complicated. On the walk to her door, I told her that I would like to marry her in the spring and she agreed! It was slippery and I got to hold her a few times to prevent her from falling. I can't wait until I can hold her all the time. (My gift pen just ran out of ink). I bid her goodnight and walked quickly home. It's nearly midnight now and I have to pack for the trip to Seoul. Catch you later |