Grandma Jenny's Story

This is a true story that I have included in my book "Gibbon's Secrets" that I wanted to share with you today.

From the book "Gibbon's Secrets"

Bud’s favorite story from Grandma Jenny was when she told about coming out to Nebraska from Pennsylvania. Grandma Jenny always told the story with a far-away look in her eyes, and always began her

story the same way:

     “My mother had died in childbirth and I was living with my grandparents just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. My dad had moved to Nebraska, and wanted my brother and me to join him at his homestead.

Dad asked my Granddad Mills to bring us out on a train, all the way from Pennsylvania. 

     The year of our journey to Nebraska was in 1878, and I was four years old. I know I was just a little girl when we made the trip, but just think about it - Gibbon was only seven years old in 1878. We were

prepared for this long journey: each of us had our own tin cups for the water stops along the way. Grandmother Mills had also packed a big picnic basket, full of food for the long trip. 

     We arrived at Missouri Valley, Iowa; which was the end of the rail line at that time. Then we took a ferry across the Missouri River to Nebraska. When we landed on the Nebraska side, our dad and uncle met us with a wagon pulled by a team of oxen. I was kind-of scared of my uncle, because he had this big mustache and a pair of guns strapped around his middle. My dad looked like he always did, except he also had a beard and mustache.

      Buck and Berry, the oxen team, had no trouble pulling the covered wagon along the trail. We arrived at our cabin situated along a creek.  It was occupied by my aunt, uncle, dad - and now my brother and I.  One day, not long after we got there, my aunt had been baking pies. She put the pies on the window sill to cool, and the wonderful smell of fresh-baked pies attracted a pair of Indians. The two Indians very quietly came up to our cabin begging for food; they appeared harmless and carried no weapons. I could tell they were really hungry, and felt sorry for them. I encouraged my aunt to give them something to eat.

      Even though this was in the early Frontier times, we lived comfortably in our cabin, and never went hungry. Also, we never faced serious problems with the Indians.  Our homestead was not too far from Petersburg, Nebraska. I married your Grandpa Erskine, and while living in Petersburg gave birth to your mother, Addie.”

Bud could have his Grandma Jenny re-tell that same story a hundred times and never get tired of it. The two parts he always liked best were the two oxen, Buck and Berry, and the two Indians coming up to the cabin.

Three Cups of Tea

I just finished reading the book, "Three Cups of Tea" - One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.

This is a story about Greg Mortenson, the director of the Central Asia Institute, and how he dedicated his life to building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.  It's difficult for me to give you a total review of the book, but to me it is a story about a man willing to face many hardships to accomplish his goals of building schools to bring the gift of literacy to children deprived of education due to poverty, exploitation, slavery, gender discrimination, religious extremism, and corrupt governments.

It is not a totally easy read book but one that will pull you right into the story - giving you the feeling that you are right there with Greg Mortenson during his struggles to accomplish the goals to - Promote Peace...One School at a Time.

View from our 3rd floor deck

Good morning!

We are blessed with the view from our 3rd floor deck which is ever changing, giving us a fresh perspective of Lincoln both morning and night.  This morning the fog was a blanket over Holmes Lake, drifting toward downtown Lincoln finally totally obstructed the view of the capital building.  At one point the fog appeared to be covering the city with around half of the capital building boldly sticking up above it.

Most evenings we are able to see beautiful sunsets, and the interesting part is watching the sun move south along our landscape view of Lincoln.  When we moved in on the 30th of June this year the sun was setting just behind the capital building, and now just under three months the sunsets have moved quite a distance south.  On a clear day you can watch the sun quickly dip behind the horizon, and on a cloudy day you can see the sun peeking through the clouds on the same horizon.  In either case God's paint brush selection of oranges early and pinks later on have been spectacular.  It is impossible for me to capture the beauty with my little digital camera but I will insert a  picture for your enjoyment.

Gibbon's Secrets - Chapter 26 - Lt. Jack Shaunesey' Special Assignment - 1942

Jack drove to the Kearney Army Air Field soon after the new commanding officer, Major V.B. Trevellyan, arrived.

Jack was introduced to Major Trevellyan by his orderly and the Major said, "Welcome to Kearney Army Air Base, Lt. Shaunesey.  What can I do for you?"

Jack said, "I have been trained by the FBI for a special project here in mid-Nebraska, and my commander ordered me to meet with you and explain my assignment."  Major Vick Trevellyan said, "Let's go in the conference room, and I'll have my orderly bring us some coffee."

"My commander advised me to give you this letter which will explain totally the area of my training by the FBI, and my responsibility to protect key government facilities in Central Nebraska.  I will be working on the perimeter of these facilities, and with the security in place we will be protecting them from  the outside.  I would like to be introduced to your officer in charge of security.  Together we can plan and coordinate our efforts to better protect this facility for you.  It is not our intention to interfere with your security measures already in place, but to compliment them from the outside."

Author's Footnote-
This was a very good example of how local law enforcement agencies were working directly with government facilities security groups.  This combination of internal and external security was happening all across our great country to protect the government agencies from spies and terrorist attacks.   Just think about the security that is going on today for the same reasons!   

chapter 28 - World War II Time Line - 1942

September 22nd 1944

A contract was awarded to Kiewit-Condon Company; which included grading and paving taxiways, runways and aprons of the Kearney Army Air Base.

The best part of the 60th High School Reunions

The best part of the 60th High School Reunions was the reconnecting with old friends (and I do mean old).  My Dad told me that after his 50th class reunion he wasn't going to any more because everyone there was old - except him!  Well, both in Curtis and earlier in Gibbon it was true that there were a few older people in attendance - but not you or me, right?  I want everyone reading this blog to know that it definitely was worth exposing my age at the reunion - just to be able to see and talk with old friends.  I'm just going to post two pictures to show you joy in the faces of old friends meeting each other again.

What can beat the smiles on their faces?  Nothing!

Chapter 40 - "Gibbon's Secrets - World War II Time Line 1944

September 17th, 1944
Operation Market Garden


Allied paratroops land inside the Netherlands, the biggest airborne operation ever attempted.