Sunset at the end of our first day, outside of Bridgeport
Story byjoeth Zucco
Photos by Butch Ireland
Is Nebraska dull?
A question that often follied Bill
Allen, last fall’s aits & entertainment
editor. Although I’m not the first to
admit that I’m joining the Nebraska
Brain Drain as soon as I graduate, I
decided I had to find out for myself
if it was as dull as everyone claims.
I found out.
August 22, 1988
5:22 a.m. CST
In the Beginning ...
We started on our westward
journey, following a stream of red
tail lights. Our first stop came about
40 minutes outside Lincoln - the
Seward rest stop. There were cars
and trucks wearily parked. We read
all of the helpful information
boards:
Most of Nebraska was once vir
gin grassland. The first settlers often
lived in crude sod huts known as
"soddies" and many worked for
years transforming the prairie into
produc ing cropland....
We waited for the sunrise, the
black sky drained into a dark blue
as the light started taking over. The
stars soon went out and the sun
peeked over the horizon. We were
on our way again.
6:40 a.m. CST
New Asphalt,
Slippery When Wet
We stopped for breakfast in
Waco at Burns Brothers Bingo
U S A. Farmers and truckers—clad
in Co-Op baseball hats, overalls,
and cigars — took up most of the
restaurant.
Norma was our waitress. She set
the table at the edge facing herself,
poured us coffee and handed out
menus. Catchy little phrases littered
the laminated lists: “Iced Tea (All
you kin drink),” “Good Food, open
ate days a week."
The food was another story.
Truck stop servings throughout.
The plates were made for giants.
They must have been at least a one
foot by 9 inches in oval. Ibe pan
See NEBRASKA on 8