The Ladies Page

It is a strange thing about hobbies, as we come to take a
sizable interest in them. One never knows just what your hobby is
going to cause you to do. I have had to slam on the brakes of our
trusty Chevrolet several times when my husband sights a steam
engine in somebody’s back yard. After hearing a recent story he
told me, perhaps I had better do more of the driving from now
on.

As he tells it there was this elderly gentleman cruising down
Highway 26, not far from here. Suddenly he sighted an engine. So
absorbed was he in his find that he headed right for the ditch,
damaging his car considerably. After regaining his composure
somewhat he muttered to himself, ‘There goes my driver’s
license for sure.’ He wasn’t young, and he was worried. I
never did hear how he came out but thought I might warn some of you
ladies to be on the watch for some reaction such as this.

Because of a hobby of mine (a mild one, I’d say) I am taking
all kinds of ribbing. I have begun collecting hornet’s nests. I
had one small one hanging from the post of our antique organ. Then
one day I went to a rummage sale in someone’s garage. I
wandered around slowly, deciding there was nothing there I wanted.
At my age we begin to throw things out or get covered up.

I was about to leave when it happened. I spied the biggest
hornet’s nest I have ever seen. It was hanging on the wall of
the garage in utter loneliness. No one was even considering its
value. In fact, it wasn’t for sale. I turned to the rummage
sale lady quizzically and asked, ‘That wouldn’t be for
sale, would it?’ Right there I got the first shocked response.
‘Why I don’t know,’ she answered in a tone of unbelief.
‘My husband brought it home from a hunting trip up north about
two years ago. It has been hanging there ever since.’ She
rubbed her cheek as she thought. ‘I’ll tell you what
I’ll do. I’ll ask my husband and let you know.’ She
still had that funny look on her face.

A week or more passed and I was pushing my cart around the
Super-Market. I felt a touch on my shoulder. Here was my lady of
the rummage sale. ‘Mrs. Baber,’ she began. ‘My husband
thinks he ought to have $1.50 for that hornet’s nest.’ Now
I rubbed my cheek in thought. But it didn’t take long.
‘O.K.’ I answered pertly. ‘I’ll take it.’ After
all, what does one get for $1.50 these days?

When my neighbor heard it she almost flipped! Finally I told her
it was my business what I wanted to buy and hang in my house. It
was all in fun, of course. She has a pet cat she buys fresh meat
for, and has to get up in the night with sometimes. My hornet’s
nest sleeps, along with me. Our youngest daughter has been trying
to get me to tell her what I paid for it for weeks. I told her that
when she told me what she paid for her wedding dress, I would tell
her what I paid for my hornet’s nest. The fact of the matter is
that she still doesn’t know. No one but you my readers know,
and she never reads my column. But the story doesn’t end here.
One summer evening we took our neighbors with us to see The
National Aeronautics Show in Oshkosh. We know Aloys Stadtmueller, a
steam man up there and his land borders the airport. We had a
ringside seat and could stay right in the car. The Goodyear Blimp
was there and floating around slowly and gracefully. Unbelievable
stunts were going on for two or more hours. I decided as I watched
them that this was surely an exciting and expensive hobby. What was
my $1.50 hornet’s nest in comparison?