<Begin Segment 9>

TI: Okay, and for you, after you graduated from high school, what did you do?

BI: Well, I think the first year after I graduated, I went to work as a housemaid in Seattle.

TI: So describe that. Housemaid for who and what was that like?

BI: I worked for a family, Nat Drucksman, he was a boxing promoter of Seattle at that time. And he lived on Montlake Avenue. Right across the canal was the University of Washington, and I used to enjoy watching the... what do you call those, those long boats?

TI: Oh, the crew, the crew racing?

BI: Yeah, crew racing, I used to watch them. And they had four sons, and they were all very, very good to me. And I enjoyed the work, but when the summer came, I had to go back on the farm to help. (Narr. note: Mr. Drucksman wanted to adopt me, and Mrs. Drucksman went to our farm in Bellevue to buy strawberries.)

TI: So when you're in Seattle, did you spend more time with the Japanese Seattle community while you were here, to get to know them, like go to more dances, things like that?

BI: When I was working in Seattle?

TI: Yeah, working in Seattle.

BI: No, I think that's when I met Ken.

TI: So when you were working as a housemaid at the Drucksmans', that's when you, you met Ken.

BI: Uh-huh.

TI: So let's talk about that. So tell me, who was Ken, when you say, "Ken"?

BI: My (...) husband.

TI: So how did you meet, how did you meet Ken?

BI: Well, I think it was at a ballroom dance, and a friend of mine introduced me to him. And started from there, he asked me for a date and called me to see if I still wanted to go out with him. [Laughs]

TI: So when you first met Ken, what was he doing? What was... was he working, was he a student?

BI: You know, I knew he was a lawyer, but at that time he was making speeches, public speaking. And I remember he came out to Bellevue and gave a talk.

TI: So when you say public speaking, what topics would he talk about, and what would he, yeah, what would he talk about?

BI: Usually it was about the war between Japan and China, war in Manchuria, I guess it was at that time.

TI: And do you recall if, who sponsored these, these talks, when he would do that?

BI: Yes, they were by the Lion's Club, Chamber of Commerce, some of the service clubs.

TI: And how would you describe him as a speaker? What kind of speaker was he, a public speaker?

BI: Well, I thought he was good. [Laughs]

TI: And so did you, so you kind of knew who he was before you started dating him, because he would speak at these functions?

BI: Just vaguely I remember, uh-huh.

TI: So what was it about Ken that sort of made you say "yes" to go on a date with him?

BI: I think it was because he reminded me of my brother-in-laws, my older sisters' husbands. 'Cause they were, I was very young at the time, and they married my sisters, I think at the time they were both going to the university, and they treated me like a little queen. [Laughs] And so I, I think it was the age. I had been dating other boys in my community, but I always felt like they were like a brother to me. But I always felt Ken was like my brother-in-law.

TI: So Ken was already a lawyer, so he was older than you.

BI: Yes, uh-huh, yes.

TI: About how much older was he than you?

BI: I think about nine years older.

TI: Okay, so Ken was already a lawyer, about nine years older, and so tell me about how the dating went. I mean, when you first started dating, after you graduated from high school you were a housemaid, so did you guys, what would be a typical date for the two of you?

BI: Usually it was going out to eat and to a show. We saw a lot of shows, and then dances, we'd go to dances.

TI: And then how long did this go on?

BI: I think we dated for about two years before we got married.

TI: So two years, you got married, so what year did you get married?

BI: I think it was, (it was December 1939).

TI: Can you, can you describe to me what the wedding was like?

BI: Well, I didn't want a fancy wedding. Everybody was having big weddings, you know, with a lot of attendants in gowns and whatnots, but I didn't want that kind of wedding. And so I got married at home with just relatives and one bridesmaid. And then we had a reception in Seattle and invited friends, I think probably about 150, 200 people.

TI: And do you remember where you had your reception?

BI: I think it was Kinka Low, I'm not sure. Chinese restaurant.

TI: And what would a wedding reception be like with 150 friends? What would you, is it like everyone sits down and eats?

BI: Yes, uh-huh.

TI: And then dancing afterwards?

BI: No, no, there was no dancing, just reception.

TI: Now, was there a program, were there little speeches or anything like that?

BI: You know, I don't even remember that. I don't even remember that. I must have been awfully nervous. [Laughs]

TI: [Laughs] That's exciting.

<End Segment 9> - Copyright © 2006 Densho. All Rights Reserved.