Memories of past family Thanksgivings

Let’s start down memory lane with a request for your memories. Robert (Bob) and Susan Ihrig, both SW Nebraska natives, are compiling a book about area bands and musicians. They are asking for any band or musician recollections or connections you might have so that they don’t miss one of our many talented artists. You can reach them on Facebook or contact me at sdoak@swnebr.net and I will pass your contact info along.

Thanksgiving always brings my time spent at my maternal grandmother’s home back to the forefront. It was when the foundation of my love for my cousins was laid even though some of them were actually old enough to be my parents and others were just young enough to be a pain….or so it seemed back then.

I never could quite grasp how my grandmother and grandfather actually fell in love and got married since they were about as opposite as the day was long. Grandma didn’t believe in “spirits” and they were banned from her house; she loved to travel and did so often actually getting to dance with Lawrence Welk during a filming of his show in California; she was active with her church and quite the social person. Grandpa didn’t mind the “spirits” rule as long as it didn’t apply to the barn or garage; he quietly smoked his cigarette in the one place allowed in the house, next to the back door with the radio close by on a desk; he didn’t travel but within about 200 miles of Dalton after a certain age, content to be home. The answer might lay in the fact that my grandfather was a musician and played his fiddle at the area dances in the late 1890’s. Perhaps that quiet, blue eyed band member caught my grandma’s eye and grandpa’s life was never the same again! No matter because before grandma Flora died, unexpectedly, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary together with all the family. After grandma was gone, grandpa Jim was even more quiet and though life went on for all of us, it was never the same.

Prairie life has always seemed to suit this family. Many have lived other places, some still do, but they come back to the open plains just to reload their senses with the peace and tranquility of the prairie. We’ve had some of those visitors the last few weeks; we’ll have more over the winter and spring. It’s always interesting how after a couple of nights they are exclaiming how well they slept; how calm they feel; that their stomach isn’t hurting all the time. We just nod our heads and smile at each other. The prairie, if you’re not trying to make a living off of it, does that for you.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving sharing memories with loved ones. Remember when it is icy, or snow is falling our library is not open. Check the Facebook page to insure we are there before coming to 110 West C, Suite M-3 between 1 and 4 PM on Tuesday and Thursday.