Childhood
Gayle's favorite gift as a child
A piano, when Gayle was in 4th grade, and living in Sioux Falls, SD. Initially she had to play the piano in the garage, but when winter came, Harold and Vi rented a crane and had it lowered into the basement, where it still sits today!
How many different public school districts did Gayle attend through high school
5, in two states (SD and MN). They moved around a lot due to Harold's job as a salesman for US Gypsum, and later for Jordan Millwork and Bach Millwork.
Where and when did Gayle first meet David
During their last trimester of their senior year at Northwestern. They met over spring break while both stayed in one of the only dorms available for students still on campus. David invited Gayle out at that time, but she declined citing the need to make oboe reeds. Later, they stumbled into each other in the library (where Gayle was reading a book on science which interested David), which led to their first date.
Which job did Gayle not have: 1) Door to door market research for General Mills; 2) Owner of landscape design company; 3) Rental car company at airport; 4) Bait shop attendant; 5) Hostess at restaurant
Working at a bait shop. Other jobs included grading papers for other teachers, teaching vocal music at a Jr. High School, and of course her work as a 3rd grade teacher and reading specialist in the Littleton Public Schools.
Why did Gayle walk to her work as a 3rd grade teacher at Centennial Elementary?
She had given up using a car for Lent in 2000. Once Lent was over, she enjoyed that walk so much that she kept doing it!
Animal that Gayle tried to hunt as a child
A gopher. In Watertown SD, Gayle would put a loop of string around a hole and wait with her brother Tom for the gopher to pop up. She never did catch one.
This behavior once sent Gayle to the principal's office
Talking in class to her friends
First date with David
David recalls that the first date was what turned out to be a very competitive ping pong match on campus. Their first date off campus was at Second City, a famous comedy club in Chicago.
Which job did Gayle get fired from, and why?
At Northwestern, Gayle worked in a cafeteria to get free board, and was fired for insubordination. She had periods of inactivity during that job, and had the nerve to use that time productively to study. Her boss didn't like her studying while she was on the clock, which in Gayle's view was a pretty dumb perspective. She shared this perspective with him and was promptly fired!
Why did Gayle have to give up her job as a special reading instructor and transition to a 3rd grade teaching role?
After working as a reading specialist for a number of years, Littleton faced a budget crisis and eliminated that role. Gayle moved into a role as a 3rd grade core teacher, co-teaching with a STEM certified teacher (June Daniels). Several years later, Littleton was able to get funds back for the reading specialist position, and Gayle reverted to that role.
What caused Gayle to exit a house in Moorhead, MN from a second story window
A huge snowstorm which had pinned all the doors shut on the main floor.
Which instruments did Gayle win awards on?
1) Piano - won city-wide competition in eighth grade in Sioux Falls
2) Oboe - won high school competition and got to play oboe with the Minnesota Symphony
3) Saxophone - high school marching band was selected to play in the Rose Bowl as one of America's top marching bands
How and when did David propose to Gayle?
David proposed in December 1962, about 9 months after their first date. As a side note, this wasn't Gayle's first marriage proposal (thankfully she declined her other proposal!) The proposal came in David's car overlooking Lake Michigan on a very cold day.
One reason for becoming a 3rd grade teacher and reading specialist while Kate was still in Kindergarten
To allow David to be considered for judicial appointments. Gayle knew David was interested in becoming a judge, but might worry about the reduction in pay that an appointment would require.
What is one of Gayle's early memories?
She was 3 or 4 years old, and had just read about Jesus and the miracles he performed. She wanted to meet Jesus, so she bandaged up her leg faking an injury, and wandered around waiting for Jesus to find her and cure her leg!
Most interesting thing that Gayle used to "sled" down a hill.
A rocking chair. Gayle had promised Vi that she wouldn't go "sledding" after a high school party, and thought using a rocking chair was a way to avoid technically breaking her word. At the bottom of the hill, she crashed into a barbed wire fence and got a cut that bears a scar to this day!
Which musical instrument helped pay for Gayle's college
She received a full scholarship to Northwestern for her skills on the Oboe, where she graduated with a degree in music and was in the honor society equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa.
Where did Gayle and David spend their Honeymoon?
There was no immediate honeymoon, as Gayle started her Masters program at U of M and David had work as a research assistant for a law professor at U of M on the Monday after their wedding. Several years later, they had what they called a camping honeymoon (with their friends Ken and Ann Janecek) at Niagara Falls.
What did Gayle learn not to do as a teacher of vocal music in a Jr. High School in Garden City Michigan, where she worked during David's first year of law school.
She learned not to turn off the lights in the classroom. She did that once to show a movie, and found that it caused the classroom to erupt into bedlam.
What was funny about the engagement ring that David first gave to Gayle?
It was a huge fake plastic diamond on an adjustable plastic ring. Gayle first exclaimed "It is so big - how could you have afforded that!" before realizing it was a costume fake, and given as a joke. It was promptly replaced with the real engagement ring (with a real diamond)!
Impromptu sporting venue used by Gayle in the winters in MN
A skating rink, made by building dirt dams and flooding a field.
Why did Gayle have to abandon a Masters Degree program in Music and Arts Education at the University of Michigan?
She became pregnant with Beth, and they wouldn't let pregnant women practice teach which was a requirement for the program
Which of their children was a surprise?
Everyone except for Ted. Ted helped in the grieving process from their loss of their daughter Megan. While Beth, Mark and Kate weren't planned, they were joyful surprises.
Why did Gayle play an audio recording of students saying the word "Yellow" over and over to the amusement of her children?
This was part of a linguistics class she took for her Masters program in Reading and Writing at the University of Colorado at Denver.
How did Gayle's parents (Harold and Vi) afford their first house?
Vi worked as a nurse at Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis, and took care of a crotchedy lawyer/investor named Charles Drew. Nobody else wanted to look after him, but Vi did such a good job that he became a close friend, godfather to Jim, and loaned them money for their first house!