EJ and ET's Blog

LIVING OUR PHILOSOPHIES

Gene has enjoyed collecting “Words of Wisdom” beginning with his grandmother’s clippings from the Busy Bee column in the Chicago Daily Drovers Journal and added to by both of our Mothers, Ray Cunningham and friends who learned of our interest in collecting “Thoughts for the Day”. (Authors are included when known).

With a partner, develop meaningful routines; a good morning kiss and again at night saying “I LOVE YOU”; daily bible reading, praying together; do not argue, instead have educational discussions.
BE A FRIEND I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you. I love you not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you help me to make of myself. I love you for the part of me that you bring out. I love you for laying a firm hold on the possibilities of the good within me. I love you for adding to the music in me by worshipful listening. I love you because you are helping me to make of the timber of my life a temple. I love you because you have done more than any creed could have done to make me happy. You have done it without a touch, without a word, without a sign. You have done it first of all by being yourself. After all, this is what being a true friend means.
MYSELF I have to live with myself and so I want to be fit for myself to know, I want to be able as days go by to always look myself in the eye, I don’t want to stand with the setting sun and hate myself for the things I’ve done. I want to go out with my head erect; I want to deserve all men’s respect. But here in the struggle for fame and self, I want to be able to like myself. I don’t want to look at myself and know that I’m bluster and bluff and empty show. I can never hide myself from me; I can see what others may never see; I know what others may never know, I can never fool myself and so, whatever happens I want to be self respecting and conscience free.

THE LAST CHAPTER OF OUR 60TH YEAR CELEBRATION

Currently our immediate family of Scott Ahlsmith and Pam Miller are both in Luxury Travel businesses in Glen Ellyn, IL, Seattle, Dallas and Boston; Scott’s son Taylor Ruecking produces video and film projects in Santa Barbara and Sacramento, CA.
Sana’s daughter Deanne married Patrick O’Hollearn October 28, 2006; they live in Johnston. Pat works with Allied Insurance and Deanne is accountant at Orchard Place, a home and school for children with special needs in Des Moines. Duane continues the role of single parent since Sana’s death September 11, 1991 and works with the Principal Group in Des Moines. We celebrate birthdays and special occasions with them at a variety of area restaurants.

Next May 16-18th we will repeat the reunion described in the May 21st Blog at the Marriott Residence Inn Des Moines West at Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines. About a dozen Bruene, Koster, Smith, Van Metre cousins have been invited to join this reunion to meet and get acquainted.

EJ and ET's EARLY RELATIONSHIPS 1947-1956

Graduation date was set for August 17th and beginning employment was August 20th with one week off after our wedding September 20th. This was the middle of seed corn harvest time and Ray Hagie held out until the last minute approving my week away at that busy time of the year.
Eleanor worked until September 13th before returning to Iowa. We arranged a mid-week meeting using borrowed cars, half way between Clemons & Gladbrook (our eighth meeting) to review the final plans that had all been arranged via mail.
Uncle Wilbur Van Metre drove down from Ripon, WS where he owned a Chevrolet dealership in a bright red two door convertible. “Umpa Da” as I used to call him when he stayed with my folks on the farm was my first ideal & mentor. He was the first one of that family to attend a 4 year college and seek employment away from the farm. The car was my chariot to run the last minute shuttle work like, picking up Sarah at the Tama R.R. Station and delivering her to the Koster farm the morning of our wedding day. Sister Ethel made certain that I did not see the bride to be, because of that bringing bad luck.

EJ & ET EARLY RELATIONSHIPS - 1945-1947

How does one transpose a sixty-plus year old, strong heartfelt feeling into words on a computer screen? Answer, you begin! Beginnings are tremendous events and this one was the most important in my life in 1945 and every year since. We met face to face in the kitchen doorway of Lynn Fuhrer Lodge located northwest of Iowa state College golf course, Ames, Iowa.
The occasion was a joint YMCA-YWCA reception for graduating seniors, held on a Wednesday nite at the lodge. The list of invitees had been prepared by myself, current president of the ISU-YMCA and the YWCA president.
The meeting was awkward at first; then I said,"I feel like I've known you from the past, as one of the blond Koster sisters from Gladbrook, IA showing black angus cattle at the Marshall County Fair." She responded, "Yes, I am one of them and I know you are president of the YMCA and responsible for this reception, I've enjoyed the evening, thank you." We both opened the doorway for others to pass and each went home our own way. On the way back to Alumni Hall Residence Hall I told a friend, Fred Blythe that I had met a girl that I would ask for a date if she wasn't graduating the next week. Since I had not dated anyone since 1942, that was quite a bold statement.
A lesson learned; never speak your thoughts to a good friend, unless you mean them.
That Saturday about 6pm, I returned to the "Y", tired and dirty from a long day working in the Agricultural Engineering experimental laboratory. Fred Blythe sat in my room with phone in hand, waiting for me to arrive and call that girl I had met at the YM-YW reception to go out on a steak fry. He had purchased all the ingredenets necessary for a picnic and his date was going to be ready at 6:30.
None of my feeble excuses were accepted so after several rings, with my heart racing between hopefulness and excitement a feeble feminine voice answered, "Welch Hall". Is Eleanor Koster there, I asked?" "This is she speaking", was the reply. Gulp,"This is Gene Smith; we met briefly after the YM-YW reception this week." "Yes, I remember." Well, please excuse the short notice but I just arrived home from working all day and Fred Blythe has arranged for a picnic steak fry and insists that I invite you to attend." A long pause followed, "Well, I've had a busy day too, but I suppose I could be ready in half an hour." "Thank You, I'll pick you up"!

ANCESTRY OF OUR FAMILIES - IRISH-ENGLISH-DUTCH

All of Gene’s great-grandparents moved to Iowa and lived within a radius of less than ten miles during their remaining lives. Hayden H. Smith came from Ohio in 1855, coming by team and wagon to Marshall County, IA where he homesteaded 160 acres of prairie land in Liberty Twp from the government for $1.25 per acre. He married Margaret Elizabeth Maple in 1856, who was born near Wheeling, VA. The family later moved to Decatur County IN where they became acquainted with the Smith family. His family originally came to the American Colonies from England about 1745 as soldiers in the King’s Colonial Army. After their service they remained in America, settling in Culpeper County, Virginia before moving to Decatur County, OH. Hayden, in addition to a lifetime of farming also operated a brick kiln with his brother. They made brick for several of the better early homes built in the surrounding area until the supply of clay was exhausted. The picture above is of his brick home finished in native hardwood lumber and a black walnut stairway.