Love Is In The Air. . . .Sweet, Sweet Love. . . .#1

Mom made the shorts and top I have on. I loved it and you can tell by the picture that I thought I looked good in it. George thought I did, so I was happy. The picture was taken on the bridge going out of town toward the "Y" Service Station in the Spring before I turned 17. The other picture of me was taken at the end of my Junior year in High School.

The pictures of George were taken during his Junior year in High School. He was on the Varsity Basketball Team.

I began my senior year at Lincoln County High School in September of 1948. The High School was in Panaca and accomodated students from Caliente, Pioche, Panaca, Eagle Valley and several ranches in the area.

Four boys from Pioche, John Leach, Gino Choquer, Larry Spargo, and George Wimsatt, were friends who had an arrangement where they took turns driving on their dates. I was one of three Panaca girls who were dating these boys. We were not liked very much by the Pioche girls who always accused us of stealing their boys. We didn't much care, but were rather proud of the fact. The other girls were Wanda Nielson and Florence Lee. I was steady dating John, Wanda was steady dating Gino, and Florence was steady dating Larry. George did not have a steady girl friend and always stated that he did not want one. His dates would be with various girls. My best friend at the time was Ruby Lee, another Panaca girl. She spent most of her time telling me I did not want to date John, that he was a loser and I would be better off without him. At first, I ignored her because John was cute and lots of fun. Eventually, I found myself listening to my "best friend". I mean, why would I want to date a loser? So, I told him I no longer wanted to be his steady girl, in fact I no longer wanted to date him.

The next date night came around, and to my horror Ruby had a date with John. Did I feel betrayed? You bet! Was I mad? You bet! Did I want to get even? You bet! In fact, it became an obsession with me. Then a "Knight in Shining Armor" came to my rescue and swept me off my feet! George asked me for a date! I was delighted and flattered. After all, he was good looking and popular. He was on the Student Council for his class, co-editor of the Laconic, a member of the Block "L" Club and a letterman in both varsity football and basketball.

In my naivete, I found myself wondering how long George had wanted to date me. "Perhaps", I thought, "all of those times he saw me with John he was yearning to have his chance." I progressed from wanting to show John and Ruby I didn't give a hoot, because I was dating a boy who was more popular than John, to liking George for who he really was; a very sweet, humble young man with high moral standards. He was a boy who knew how to treat a girl with respect, and yet was a normal red blooded American Boy.

It wasn't until much later when I learned that the night it was George's turn to drive, he told them he didn't have a date and didn't much want one. Panicked because they needed wheels, the boys all gave him the "Why don't you ask Ina? She doesn't have a date and Ruby is rubbing her nose in it. Poor Ina will do anything to make them think she doesn't care." I remember that when I finally did find this out, my pride suffered a jolt. But just a mild one because by then I really liked George and he really liked me.

I was proud to be escorted by George to the Christmas Formal and my Senior Ball. I was proud to cheer for him with all of the gusto and exuberance of a rabid Lincoln Lynx fan as I watched him play football and basketball. We were a steady couple until I graduated from High School. Since George started School a year later than I did, he was a year behind me. After graduation, I left Panaca to go to Salt Lake City to attend LDS Business College and have orthdontics done on my teeth. So, we were separated. I might add that George was also separated from his Letterman's sweater because he was in love enough to want me to take it and I was selfish enough to do so.

It is true as the old saying goes, "True love does not always run smoothly." For the next next two years, ours didn't. . . . but more about that later.

To Be Continued. . . .