25 - SOFT SPOT

SOFT SPOT

10 x 14 inches

(1950—Wiese’s shed, Uehling, Nebraska)

The tornado completely destroyed Mr. Wiese’s farm, scattering his family’s belongings across the countryside. When a few misguided neighbors started to take his family’s belongings, Mr. Wiese instinctively grabbed his shotgun and started shooting in the air to try to scare them off. Deflated and disillusioned by the tragic events, he was never the same after that day; he seemed broken. Dispirited, he moved his family and what was left of their belongings to the edge of town. Significantly downsized, they kept only a milk cow and some chickens. This shed is where Mrs. Wiese kept milk and eggs in order to eke out a living. Every Saturday we rode with Dad in his pickup to refill our huge milk can and empty egg cartons. Dad had a soft spot for those who were down on their luck.

The storm had torn away his livelihood, but the deeper wound came from the betrayal of neighbors who, instead of offering support, attempted to rob him in his time of greatest need. This betrayal shattered his spirit more profoundly than the loss itself.

Mr. Wiese was a trusted figure, the sole person Dad permitted to fish in the lakes specially stocked for our family. He frequented them often, spending hours alone by the water’s edge. I believe he shared the same peaceful connection to the lakes that I cherished as a child—a serene refuge where the quiet of nature helped soothe and heal his soul.