Over the holiday, I came across this bit of family history. It is a brief essay written by my paternal grandfather detailing the characteristics of his “dream girl.” There is nothing particularly Mormon about this essay. It did remind me, however, of being in Young Women’s and having to compile a list of attributes of my ideal companion. Apparently itemizing idealism obtains for both sexes. Thankfully, my grandmother appears to have fit the lofty bill. He and she were married several years after this was written. Enjoy!
“A Dream Girl”Once upon a time, not so very long ago, a girl did approach a boy named Wally. And she did ask of this boy a very personal question in-so-much that he was very embarrassed. How could he describe his “dream girl” when she was only a dreamy mist? Only by giving shape to his ideals and expectations will he be able to make the dreamy mist a living reality. This boy Wally did just that–His ideals were given shape to satisfy a certain innate curiosity within. Here she is–I hope you like her!1. Try as I will I can not picture myself marrying a redhead. I might possibly be able to fall for a very charming blonde, but for the most part I think the girl that I shall marry will decidedly be a brunette. 2. She must be younger than I am. 3. She should not be any taller than my eyes. 4. Her eyes preferably will be of some clear color such as brown, blue, hazel, etc. 5. I would like them best if they were “laughing eyes.” 6. Her mouth will be appreciated most if it is of the small type. 7. Embodying all facial features must be the clear, healthy skin a person loves to re-touch. 8. She must have the power of charm. 9. To talk interestingly and be sincere in what she does say will create some of that charm. 10. She should have a lively interest in some sport preferably one which we could participate in together. 11. She must be trained to some of the higher things of life such as an interest in music, art, and literature. By this I do not mean that be a high-minded person who has a too good opinion of herself – but rather just a person of more than average good-breeding. This probably could be summed up in the request that she have class. 12. She should not be a flirt. 13. She, by all means, will not be a smoker or a hooch chaser. 14. She should not be a worry-belly–you know the kind I mean. 15. She should know the value of money and be able to appreciate the work necessary to obtain it. 15. [sic] This ideal girl will have “poise” and a presence of mind that will meet almost any situation with tact and precision. 16. She will be able to show sympathy when there is cause for it. 17. She must be natural.What I have been trying to say are my ideas of a perfect girl – perfection personified. This ideal girl should be an inspiration that would serve as a guide in all that I undertake to do. She will be a person I will want to pal around with. She will be the best friend I could ever have a desire to want. All in all my “dream girl” will be one whom I shall “want to love” just because of what she is.Walter PinboroughCopyright April 15, 1932All rights reserved
He described my wife to a “t”.
Though I do not, unfortunately, know what he means by worry-belly. Hooch-chaser I know.
Comment by Gilgamesh — December 29, 2009 @ 3:37 pm
I never made a list, but I remember once saying “I would like to marry a girl like…” and named a girl that I was friends with. A year later I got married to her, after realizing that if I wanted to marry someone like that, why not just marry her?
For the record, my wife is better at math than me, is older than me, and beats me at Wii tennis, amongst other things. She does not have a small mouth, but I shall stop short of saying she has a big mouth.
Comment by kevinf — December 29, 2009 @ 7:21 pm
Nice. Thanks for sharing.
He’s not playing around.
Comment by Edje Jeter — December 30, 2009 @ 4:58 am
I’m curious about that too, Ed. Liz, is there a story behind the copyright or was that maybe just a playful designation on his part?
Comment by Jared T — December 30, 2009 @ 4:30 pm
My husband never pictured himself marrying a redhead. He imagined his bride to be dark-haired and olive-skinned. I think I was a cosmic joke.
Comment by Margaret Blair Young — December 30, 2009 @ 4:54 pm
You know, I had visions of a dream girl myself in high school and on the mission. These can be hit-or-miss. In my case, luckily I wasn’t paying a lot of attention to those imaginings when I did get married.
Comment by Jared T — December 30, 2009 @ 5:07 pm
I’m glad you fellas found your dream girls. That’s funny, Ed and Margaret. I have no idea about the copyright, Jared. He supposedly wrote it for a school assignment of some kind, but you don’t usually copyright things like that. Perhaps he foresaw that his grandchildren would be using it someday, or, he may have been wanting to reserve his dream girl for himself, as Ed suggests. 🙂
Comment by Elizabeth — December 30, 2009 @ 6:54 pm
Haha, I hadn’t thought about it like that, ie, reserving her for himself.
Comment by Jared T — December 30, 2009 @ 7:22 pm
How grateful I am that love is blind! It tricks a man into seeing the desired characteristics in his girl until she grows to possess them.
Comment by Lindsay — January 28, 2010 @ 12:11 pm
Oh, Linds. Your humility and your willingness to grow teach me so much. Certainly it is also vice versa?
Comment by Elizabeth — January 28, 2010 @ 12:23 pm