Of all the Berliner Kehler’ children, David and Johan were the closest of all the brothers, and they visited each other on a regular basis. When John & Annie went to visit David & Helen Kehlers’ farm, the children would pile into the back of the car and off they’d go.
The antics were mostly the same, when John, Annie and their clan would arrive on the David Kehler yard. David and his family would be waiting outside. John would slow the car down and would step out, while the car was still rolling to a stop. The children would gather around in anticipation, as Uncles David and John had their usual ritual dance. They would walk around in a large circle like mad roosters, all the while taunting each other with silly names in Yiddish. The circle got smaller as they progressed all the while talking until they were close together, and would lock arms and do a “ do-se do” back and forth square dance calls . Having performed their ritual, they would tease the young Kehler boys, and went inside to visit.
Meanwhile, Helen and Annie had already rushed into the house to get away from their husbands, saying “What will the neighbors think?”!
Glen Kehler, a Berliner Kehler, resides in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Thanks so much for sharing these special and very interesting stories of our dad and his brothers. The unique personalities of this family comes alive in the stories. What a special memory to have.