When our first son Jimmy got married to Aleksondra, he was nearly shot. Aleks would spend all afternoon making a wonderful meat sauce for Jimmy's meat. And Jimmy would sit down to eat it and say, "Where's the ketchup?" He didn't know that anyone lived without ketchup. Aleks would just have a million fits over that. Jimmy then tried to never ask for it again. Aleks now doesn't allow ketchup in her house. Jimmy, being a Hultquist, tries to keep the cook happy.
Aleks is such a good cook. Jimmy used to follow her all over the kitchen as she cooked. She would wear the long tie-around skirt with the knot at the waist. Barefoot, of course. Very sexy ... no wonder Jimmy wanted to kiss her in the kitchen. Aleks doesn't allow anyone in her kitchen. I got to go in once but I knew I was makin' her nervous so I try to stay clear. One time as she was taking something hot out of the oven, Jimmy decided to tickle her. I can't believe he did that! Anyway, she screamed bloody murder and put the pan down and came after Jimmy. Boy, he didn't do that again!
Jimmy is very politically correct and educated, unlike the rest of us hillbillies in his family. He is the typical oldest son. But every now and again, Jimmy's upbringing comes out. Like about the second year of their marriage, he brought his poor unsuspecting bride home for Thanksgiving at our house. She knew the family but didn't understand us as she was raised on the East coast. We in the Midwest -- big difference! So anyway, it was a rather cold, cloudy day when they pulled into the driveway of our house. The ground was wet and it was cold. As Jimmy arrived, Dan (17 at the time) and David (19) pulled Jimmy from the car and wrestled him to the ground in the mud. Aleks was in SHOCK! I was in the house with Jim and my guests, as they came in, told me what the boys were doing. I was so busy, I didn't even go outside and Jim was very matter of fact about it. Like "What else is new?" And poor Aleks is screaming the whole time, "Jim, get up -- you are a married man." My sister-in-law comes in and tells me, "Connie, it looks dangerous and the neighbors are gathering. If you don't stop it, they will call the POLICE!" Jim says, "Aw, they're just havin' fun." Finally they stopped and they all came in for prayers and a nice Thanksgiving dinner. Jimmy came in with a big smile on his face like he had a lot of fun. The boys always thought Jimmy was too educated so they enjoyed roughin' him up. Sorta breakin' him in so he wouldn't be such a stuffed shirt. We enjoy seeing Jimmy with his hair tousled and a little mud on his shirt.
One holiday -- I can't remember, I think it was another Thanksgiving -- Papa Jim's back was out but he didn't tell anyone. John wanted to wrestle with Jim. So John came up behind Jim, put his arms around Jim's chest, and lifted him up in the air. Jim's feet were about a foot off the ground as John is tall, anyway. But I looked at Jim's face like "Oh no" and Jim had this worried look on his face. All of a sudden, this peaceful grin came over Jim. As John put him down, Jim says, "Oh, thanks, John you put my back back in place." We thought that was hilarious. Jim felt so good after that.
Another time -- well, about 3 years ago -- Dan, then in his early 20s, was pretending to be Groucho Marx? And he was standing there talking to Jim and jumped into Jim's arms. I held my breath as Dan outweighed Jim and was taller, too. Jim stands there holding Dan like all was well. I said to Dan, "Dan! Dad isn't as young as he used to be." Dan rolled his eyes and said, "Yeah, Mom, I just thought of that as he held me." My gosh! The man was about 62 at the time and 3 years from dyin'. But he loved holding Dan as he always had.
But those boys wrestle something terrible. Johnny says he can still take 'em all. But that's his story ya know. Johnny, at 31, is getting older and Dan, at 24, is getting stronger so I don't know what will happen this Thanksgiving.
