About a year after my paternal grandfather died in July of 1952, my grandmother – Georgiana Frances (Schenck) Dalin – wrote this beautiful story in her journal.

July 27, 1953

“Once Upon a Time”

You have heard people say “once upon a time when I was young” or “once upon a time I was thin and tall”.

“Once upon a time” I was very much in love. He was tall – 6 ft. 1 inch tall, dark and very handsome. He had the sweetest smile. He was a motorman and conductor on a City Street Car line, never letting an older man or woman get on the street car without getting off and assisting them onto the car, always removing his hat at the same time. Somehow his work always required him wearing a cap with a hard visor. After the conductor’s cap, the bus cap – then the Coca-Cola cap which he wore for nearly 20 years.

We never really officially met, but instantly knew our love for each other and could never be separated not even for a time.

“Once Upon a Time” there was a World War I. My Cid was on a photograph of a group of soldiers who had enlisted and were leaving for the Service. I saw this photograph at Marysville before ever meeting him and picked him out as my ideal. So odd that we should meet a year later.

He always did the nicest things for me, often bringing a rose to my place of employment during working hours. Always he sent me flowers. He strived in every way to make his family happy and giving them anything they wanted or wished for. Never passed on his way but always alert to see who he could help in some way, never wanting to pass a hitch hiker on the road.

He was a wonderful Father, always doing for someone of his family, his happiness consisted in doing for others, no matter what the cost physically or otherwise.

Our love grew deeper and greater as the years passed. After 31 years, Our Blessed Lord sent for him and [we] must go on alone. Seems impossible at times, but Heaven is so beautiful and Cid’s happiness there so great. [I] find after this year of loneliness we can spare him, safe with God and His Blessed Mother, and would not wish him back. If only we could pay back in some way (other than prayers for him) what he has done for us.

One Life, One Love, One Heart – I have a very warm love to remember.

Fran