Omaha, here we come…
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and children of all ages…
It appears we have a winner – Omaha, Nebraska for the next Family Reunion.
It’s been an interesting ride, I must say! To actually have gotten 44 votes for ANY reunion site was nothing short of a miracle to me. I really want to thank each and every one of you for voicing your opinions and ideas. It was a real group effort and I’m really happy that so many participated.
I specifically want to thank Tom and Barb for offering to take the lead on an Omaha reunion and a special thanks to Marcy and Rita for their overnight research of Estes Park, Colorado. I definitely think Estes Park holds promise for a future reunion!
I also know that for some, this wasn’t their first (or maybe even second or third) choice for a reunion site. But before you become a naysayer or reject anything out of hand, let’s all give this an honest shot.
For folks looking to show their kids/grandkids the history of Fort Robinson, I can definitely recommend driving Highway 20 from Oregon all the way… It goes through Yellowstone, right in front of Fort Robinson (you can do an overnight there or spend a few hours) and also head up to Mt Rushmore. The best steak I’ve ever had was at the Valentine Cafe in Valentine, Nebraska when I did my Highway 20 trip in 1993. The sand hills are beautiful and not at all like I-80. And air fares from SFO and OAK run from $116 web fares to $188.
Omaha has a lot to offer and here are a few things borrowed from ehow.com:
- Go around the world in but a few hours at the Henry Doorly Zoo on South 10th Street, where flawlessly re-created habitats—indoors and out—will make you feel like you’ve somehow wandered into a lush rainforest, bat cave or gator-infested swamp, among many other ecosystems.
- For a moving and memorable outing, go to Boys Town on the city’s west side to see the sprawling campus village hosting hundreds of at-risk youth. The center was founded by the late Father Flanagan and famously depicted in the classic 1938 film starring Spencer Tracy.
- To savor a taste of Europe in the heart of Nebraska, dine out at The French Café on Howard Street, a local favorite since its 1969 debut. The enticing menu departs from standard French fare to offer such creative creations as a tempura-fried lobster tail; and the ambience of casual elegance is perfect for a romantic evening.
- An entertaining excursion that will enlighten you greatly on local history can be found on South 10th Street—where you’ll find the Durham Western Heritage Museum. Calling the renovated old Union Station home, the museum showcases pristinely maintained slices of the city’s past, from wonderful old train cars to a soda fountain right out of a Norman Rockwell painting.
- Spend an afternoon in the historic Old Market neighborhood downtown, where people-watching, window-shopping, bar-hopping and fine dining are the top activities. The Upstream Brewing Company, at 11th and Jackson, is a fine stop for recharging on some of the best pub food you’ll ever encounter—or unwinding with a beer after a long day of sightseeing.
- For a dramatic evening out, see what’s slated on the two stages at the Omaha Community Playhouse, on Cass Street. Not many playhouses can offer the rich history of the OCP—where the first play starred Marlon Brando’s mother, a 20-year-old Henry Fonda made his dramatic debut, and Grant Wood once designed scenery for a play.
- Shop to your heart’s content at Village Pointe at 168th Street and West Dodge Road. The handsomely designed shopping center has a Frank Lloyd Wrightian feel to it, and an impressive selection of retailers run the gamut from Ann Taylor to Z Gallerie.
Fun stuff.
I honestly and truly believe we can pull this off, folks!
Tom and his child-bride, Barb, will be heading the planning committee. I’ll work in an ancillary position wherever needed, but this is going to take place in Omaha, so it needs an Omahan (or twelve) to get it going.
I would hope to see family t-shirts, a new family cookbook (heaven knows I don’t have enough recipes on my recipe website!) a family questionnaire letting everyone know what you and your family has been up to… Everything we have done in the past – and more!
Start thinking of where you would like to help – what committee you would like to be on or help lead. Get in contact with Tom and Barb directly at: tbdin@cox.net.
I can create specific web pages as committees are formed to gather information and have it sent off to specific individuals.
Tom and Barb will also have access to the web site to post information, updates, whatever. I’ll be in contact with them to pass the baton and get the ball rolling.
There has been a ton of enthusiasm about a reunion and I really want to keep the enthusiasm level high.
This is about family. It’s about making some time to head back to our roots – to see where our parents and grandparents and great-grandparents lived and worked and played. Family.
So ‘com, folks! Let’s rally ’round and get this started!
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