Washing Up

Richard H. Love Washing Up, 2010 Oil on Canvas 30 x 24 Inches Signed LR and Verso

Henry was born in 1899 in a farm house near Momence, Illinois. He never moved away from the area. And as an adult he always lived alone. He cherished his kitchen table because he ate there, read the paper and "Prairie Farmer" there, fed his dog (a retriever named Fido) and tinkered with small watches. He was an avid reader of mystery novels and he enjoyed listening to the "Fibber McGee and Molly" comedy show on radio every Saturday night and the weather report on WLS, Chicago's "Barn Dance" station. Sitting in his long-johns at the kitchen table every morning by 5am, Henry let his dog out and took a few breaths of fresh air. Back inside, he made a cup of piping hot instant coffee and lit another cigarette with an Ohio Blue tip match. Having gathered up a few things such as keys, cigarettes, a gold Hamilton Railroad watch which he kept in the bib pocket of his overalls, Henry left his dog some dried food and fresh water. Then he opened the hood of his 10-plus year old 1932 Ford Roadster just to make sure the radiator water was OK and that he saw no oil leaks. On cold days he started it and let it warm up. Then he drove three and a half miles to the huge grain elevator where he worked part time. On other days he worked for local farmers as a so-called “hired hand.” Henry was engaged once in the late l920's but his fiancé went to the city to work and never came back home. Henry never again dated and never married.