In the early winter months of 1949, Nebraska and much of the West becomes paralyzed due to several piggybacking blizzards and record low temperatures. Walt and Bert and Dondi—along with Mickey and Bud and their two children Gail and Jimmy—sail directly into the middle of this rough sea, and spend four days holed-up in a farmhouse attic while Operation Haylift is in full swing on the other side of frosty windows.
On the morning of the fourth day, Walt and Bud free the Nash from a fresh snow drift, and decide the major arteries are clear enough to set out toward their Wyoming homes and waiting jobs.
They don’t make it very far before stopping again—this time they scare up a vacant tourist cabin in the center of Nebraska. With only one double bed between seven of them, the adults make due by situating a nest of blankets on the floor—but the kids? The three of them are relegated to a pile of covers in the porcelain bathtub, and it’s grand.
Brava97 says
October 24, 2008 at 10:17 amBert really knows how to pose. I’m using this stance in my next group photo.
Grandma J says
October 24, 2008 at 11:14 amBert is a stunning woman. I wish Bert and Dondi had boots on…their feet look cold.
Did I miss something? The adults slept in a nest of blankets on the floor, the kids in the tub (which is something I’ve done), so who slept in the bed?
I love this adventure, it’s like Lewis and Clark with a dash of Nash.
dgm says
October 24, 2008 at 12:31 pmBert looks fetching even under miserable conditions.
corrie says
October 25, 2008 at 8:08 amWow~ when older folks talk about the ‘good old days’ and how people were tougher then, they really meant it!
I wonder how I would have fared, as a mother on the road, not knowing the weather forecast (to the minute with color graphs of the wind directions) and just ‘head out’ b/c it looks safe again to only have to find sudden housing for my children! Where are they getting their food? Or is this why everyone in the olden days was always skinny?
Lisa says
October 25, 2008 at 2:36 pmAs god as my whitness, Ive spent the whole goddam morning with Bossys peeps in the olden days. I can say one thing for sure…it was the best of times, it was the worst of times, eh?
Lovely Famiy Tree, girlfriend..
Lisa
coastal nest
Lisa says
October 26, 2008 at 12:52 pmwhitness? is that like whitless???
WITNESS— for god sakes..then I see “famiy” that means family here at the beach, reeeally.
lisa, the bad spellerrr
coastal nest
Catherine McP says
November 1, 2008 at 2:04 pmLoved it!
natalie says
November 2, 2008 at 1:55 amthis is an amazing and beautiful story!
foolery says
January 22, 2009 at 3:35 pmI can’t get over how thinly they’re dressed. A blazer? Really? I wear more clothes than that into the shower!
This story continues to be a treasure. You’re from good stock, Miss Bossy.