After their marriage on August 18, 1945, Mother and Dad moved into a small apartment in the Selby-Dale area of St. Paul, Minnesota. When the elder Bloomfields offered the chance to move into the duplex they owned at 220 North Victoria, the newlyweds were glad to have a larger place in a two-family house.

The new dwelling had its disadvantages, though. Grandma expected Dad to “report in” daily after coming home from work. Much to Mother’s dismay, he did. Then, one day, when Dad opened the door to go downstairs to “report in,” Mother intervened. She closed the door, looked at Dad and asked, “Who are you married to? Me or your mother?” Mother must have been suffering quite a bit because she only confronted Dad when the level of pain was intense. The confrontation achieved the desired result and Dad never again presented himself for a daily report.

Grandpa was a constant source of tension and Grandma warned the family over and over that “we don’t want to provoke him.” But Grandma’s behavior was not exactly a peace keeping mission. She saw herself as the “mover of the troops.” However, Mother did not always march to her music and, after their marriage, neither did Dad. I don’t think there was really open warfare at 220. But the shadow of conflict often hung over the house.

The situation also cast a shadow on the desire to have children. For four years Mother was not able to get pregnant. Dr. Roland Keefe, the family physician, suggested that Mother and Dad move out. Perhaps a less stressful living situation would increase their chances of having children. Even though they didn’t, or couldn’t, move, Mother finally got pregnant while living on Victoria. But just once! Maybe they should have moved sooner.