Ten years ago Don Farson of 1554 North Tenth Street, received an award for saving the life of another.
Today, his eyes moisten when he tells how great he feels to be alive.
Mr. Farson returned the other day from Clarkson hospital where he had some heart valves replaced. During the hours of surgery and the days later, he was in the hands of others.
Mr. Farson's surgery is done many times at the hospital. There is a heart-valve surgery schedule, but for the Nebraska City man, there seemed to be only one patient and he was it.
Now comes recuperation. It will be eight weeks or so before he is able to return to work as electric superintendent for Nebraska City Utilities. He's looking forward to getting back on the job.
The doctor said he was not to be up for any long period. He has found that a trip down the hall in his home or standing and gazing out the door for a few moments are about all he can take for the present.
I suggested we photograph the incision and stitches and use the pictures as Christmas cards as a reminder of how Christmas 1974 was loused up.
Don doesn't agree. He's so dingly-dangly hot-bam blasted to be at home and on his feet that he nixed the whole idea. (His dad, Bryan, would probably have used a few more choice words to answer that.)
Don is hopeful of gaining his strength back rapidly. He wants to take his wife to Texas soon to see the new grandchild.
Best wishes and a speedy recovery, grandpop!
Larry Hyol, Omaha, was home for Christmas after six and a half months of walking . . . 2,000 miles.
The 24-year-old nephew of Mrs. Ethel Larkin, rural Nebraska City, said he spent four years in the Navy dreaming of the day he could take a hike. His "hike" went from Spring Mountain, Ga., to Mount Katahadin, Maine.
The trek cost him about $1,000. He stopped once to earn money as a farm hand and again to work sacking and delivering groceries. He plans to return to UNO to study biology.
He hopes to use his hiking experience to encourage creation of hiking trails.
Congratulations to Jay Cohn, 16, son of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Cohn, for donating his first pint of blood. Jay's dad donated 64 pints over the years and his son will take over the effort for the Cohn family.
The success of the Red Cross blood program depends heavily on people like the Cohns. They not only account for the "sure-thing" donors each trip, but they do a lot of recruiting.
If you've never given blood, then you've never experienced the real giving of which you're probably capable. Call Wilma McIntire at 873-3481. You'll get answers to questions and personal attention from the Red Cross.
The best joke we read over Christmas was about Santa appearing in court:
"You're charged with flying without a license, failure to file a flight plan, operating a vehicle without a state inspection sticker, 16 counts of violations of the Interstate Commerce Act, trespassing and failure to pay the national gift tax."
How's that grab you, bud?
There were 1,150 people killed on bicycles last year, according to the Bicycle Institute of America and the cause of the deaths has not been the bikes. It's the rider who runs a red light, drives his bike into the path of an oncoming truck. It's also the motorist who doesn't know or care about cyclists and drives as if they were not there.
It's also shoulderless roads, narrow streets, congested traffic conditions and a traffic environment in which the bicycle cannot hope to compete, much less to win.
Safety is the answer and the one-shot PTA-sponsored yearly bike clinics are not enough. Bike safety, the Institute says, should be taught in schools. Maryland and New York have similar programs now.
The Christmas present I liked most came from daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Mabie — a family portrait at Burns Studio.
You should haver heard the kids.
"You mean we gotta get dressed up JUST for a picture?" No. 3 daughter Jeannea asked.
"That's right kiddo, and dressed up means NO PANTS!" the king and master of the house said.
"I suppose I'll have to get a haircut," the boy with the big feet said.
"No buster, your hair is fine, but if it isn't shampooed and combed neatly, you'll be in trouble right smack dab here in River City," the wise master advised.
"D-a-d-d-y," said No. 2 daughter Clarissa. (I could tell it was something sneaky by the tone of her voice.)
"Can I have Love in the picture?" (For all you folks who don't understand a teen-aged daughter, Love is the name of something super-precious, like an eight-week-old puppy.)
"Oh, no you don't," the boy with the beginner's beard said. "I'm not getting my picture taken with any dog!"
(Does this sound like your home?)
"Now, listen kids, this will probalby be the only family picture we'll have taken and we're going to do it right," the king said. (Please notice that the Queen Bee did not interfere.)
Bob and Nathalie Burns are very patient people. They got the job done and in a short time despite the little conversations that took place at the studio.
The conversations?
"You kids smile," the master said.
"I'm not happy," was the anwer.
"You're going to be a lot sadder if you don't smile."
Flash, flash, went the Burns camera. (They'll never forget that picture job).