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| The old Burlington RR depot, Red Cloud |
The folks at Red Cloud really looked after me on the last day of my Nebraska book tour. Special mention to Tracy Tucker and Jackie Lemmer for that. I don’t think they had any idea I used to be a railroad brakeman, but they put me up in this fabulous old depot – an inspired choice that truly thrilled me.
Last time I was around the place it was 1993 and 140 attendees at the Willa Cather Conference (Hastings) gathered there for an evening concert of World War I songs, the week’s central focus being ‘One of Ours’, the book based on the military exploits (and death) of Cather’s cousin. I remember being terribly moved when everyone broke into ‘Over There’, a song which I’d always construed as jingoistic but which now came across as touchingly hopeful, and therefore quite tragic. And now, here I was, 23 years later, eating my dinner at that window under the red signal. I have to say (yet again) that the Willa Cather people down there have created a world-class set-up – and there’s a lot more to come as the next phase in the development takes shape: green rooms for the theatre, apartments to rent, and all the refurbishments done in style with quality materials. The woodwork is just beautiful. (I don’t think I was supposed to have seen that, but I did – somehow.)
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| Sitting-room |
My talk at the opera house went well – a good turn-out, an appreciative audience, and a decent number of sales. I really was quite sad to take my farewell so soon after winding things up, but I had to dash back to Lincoln and get a decent night’s sleep before my flight Sunday morning.
I got home Monday morning and was in the dentist’s’ place this morning (Tuesday) with my mouth full of that gooey blue stuff they use to take impressions.
What did I achieve in twenty days? Substantial sales, a lot of good will, and a probable lecture tour in 2017, that being the year Nebraska celebrates 150 years of statehood. Made a few more friends too. So thank you, Cornhuskers.