It started out as a trip to Washington, D.C., in 1967 to plant a tree on the Capitol grounds. They called themselves the Jolly Trippers.
Since then the group has toured every state, the Bahamas, Old Mexico, Nova Scotia and Canada.
Ed Bottcher, Talmage, was a member of the county Centennial committee in 1967 when a number of friends talked about planting a tree in the nation's capital.
That first tour there were 22 people who had never been more than 100 miles from their homes.
On the subject of tourism, Mr. Bottcher says that southeast Nebraska is missing a bet. "If I was 10 years younger, I'd jump into the tourist business."
The trip this year cost $27,000. "Don't tell me that tourism is not big business."
He pointed to the places of historical interest in southeast Nebraska. "There are a lot of other 'historical' places we've visited that have been phoney as hell."
Mr. Bottcher spends considerable time helping arrange the tours for the group. The tour is planned for the Jolly Trippers to cover a lot of miles, see a lot of things and keep the costs down.
He's hopeful that someone will continue the tours after he gives up the job. "I'll be 70 pretty soon. I don't know what will happen when I quit. They're a great bunch . . . there's nothing like a tour with the Jolly Trippers."
Buffalo chips
The special at the West Dairy Inn at Unadilla said "Buffalo Chips."
Mrs. Ivan Boerner, 608 North 10th, took a look at that . . . and another look . . . they used to burn buffalo chips on the prairie.
The ice cream product at Unadilla has a strange name, but it's flavor is pure delight on a warm day.
Coffee with cream.
Mrs. Ruby Heidelk, Fairbury, suggested the other day that coffee with cream drinkers like me can stretch the life of "country" cream.
I generally pour the coffee and add a teaspoon of thick and rich cream. If the cream has become a bit stout, it curdles.
Mrs. Heidelk suggested I reverse the pouring job. I did. It works. The flavor is fine.
. . . now I'll have to wait a few more days before I can have that sour cream chocolate cake.
From the Legion magazine.
The young trial lawyer thought it would be to his advantage to get the elderly witness rattled.
"And now, madam," he said, "I must ask you a personal question. How old are you?"
"Young man," she snapped back, "it isn't more than an hour since the judge objected to hearsay evidence. I don't remember being born, so all I know of it is hearsay."
First Mama
Harold Maybee, the transplanted Nebraska Citian living at Largo, Fla., wrote a letter to Betty Ford extending an honorary membership in the International Order of Ding-A-Lings, a citizen's band club.
She accepted. She's First Mama and has card No. 15000.
The Clearwater Sun featured the letter and acceptance: "Club is 10-4 to First Mama." She gave her 10-20 as the White House.
Maybee said when he first moved to the county there were only a few CBers. "Now everybody and their cousin got one for a Christmas or birthday present last year."
Maybee said he also offered President Ford a membership. He's known as Poppa Bear and has card No. 14999.
The CBers are active. "Every year for the last six years we have put on a jamboree to raise money for charity. Some of the organizations are Drug-Par, Retarded Children, Sheriffs Boys Ranch and Girls Villia. This year will include Wheelchair Awareness, a national Parapalegic Foundation." The Jamboree will be January 22-23, 1977.
Harold is "Electric Eel." His address is 116 Lake Avenue, Largo, Fla., 33540.
Dear Sev:
Thanks for the newsy letters. Hope you realize that when you write to a newspaperman your letter is reprinted. Well, . . . not all of it . . . we took out the part of your "harrowing" experience with Korean toilet facilities.
(The FFA boys said they understood Sev and the situation . . . and were still looking for white cobs).
Sev Sorensen retired from teaching high schoolers and is working with adults in a farm program in Korea. He writes about the harvest in his latest letter.
He enjoys his work and the people, but he's getting lonesome . . . "the first thing I want to eat when I get home is apple pie with ice cream."
Sev sent along a clipping from a Korean paper about long hair. Anyone who refuses to have his hair cut will be referred to a summary court.
The long hair objected to is that which makes one unable to identify his sex, covering the lapse of his suit or his ears. Bobbed or permanent wave hair like that of women will also face the control measures, the paper said.
"Hair styles worn by the government officials will be the model for other citizens," the government announced.
It would be interesting to learn some of the other "government" plans using "government" people as models . . . wonder what Koreans do about mistresses or stenos who can't type?