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Give Richard a Rope The following is a tale told to my wife, Dorothy, and me in 1981 by Dick Batman (1931-2002). Dick Batman: In 1951, I was stationed in Missouri in the U.S. Marine Corps and I met and fell in love with a young lady named Dorothy May Dyke, who lived in Lee’s Summit. Our love affair progressed nicely and I proposed in early January of 1952. We were married January 31, 1952. When I was about to be discharged from the service, my wife inquired where we would live after I left the service. I told her that we would go to live in the Blue Ridge mountains and deep into the forest there. Dorothy asked, “How will we get there?” Well I stated, “We will fly from Kansas City International airport to Richmond International airport in Virginia. From there we will go by bus to Charlottesville and from there by horse and wagon to Luray. From Luray we swing into the deep woods on the west side of the Blue Ridge by a long rope and we’re home!” My wife Dorothy said, “Every phase of our journey came to pass until we arrived at the Charlottesville bus terminal. At the main entrance, I looked across the street and there was tied a peddler’s horse and wagon. So, I knew that Dick hadn’t lied to me, but how was I to prepare myself for the rope?” |