[Terminal Cruise] - Erik came home from the war with a bonus of sixty dollars and took a job in Havilah painting houses using his remaining arm. He laid his extra money aside for a wedding. In 1920 Erik took to the Yellowstone Auto Trail in a Model T and drove halfway across the country. Maryland had no law against cousins getting hitched. Both of Clara's parents thought Erik was a great kid so they wholeheartedly gave their blessing. But Erik's own parents in Havilah were a much harder sell. Back home Erik instantly became the black sheep of the extended Zinter family for passing over a perfectly good (but horsefaced) local first cousin for an admittedly beautiful second cousin from back east. One of his aunts said, "Why, any heathen could do as much!" In the economically frothy decade that followed even Clara found work. But by 1932 what builders there still remained found new applicants with two good arms suddenly willing to paint and Erik just wasn't able to compete with that. #OI