Dust and Chickens

In the late 40’s and early 50’s dust storms (and this was before climate change, too!) roared through the plains and

I remember one in particular. I was spending some time with grandma and grandpa Sunderland in Kiowa, Kansas, where they operated a cafe near the railroad station.

While there a duster blew in and all but closed things down for several days. Sheets, towels and anything else that could be crammed into the cracks and crevices around doors and windows proved useless in keeping out the dust. I was not quite 5 years old, but the memory is still strong after all these years.

At night I...