A Million Little Pieces Of My Mind

One of the hesitations we had about moving to Omaha was that we'd be so much farther from Mary's and my parents. But I was also making enough money to buy people airplane tickets! And so I sent for Agnes, my mother-in-law and the kids' gramma, to visit us for a week.

Of course, that week started with our attending Mass for the first time since we'd moved to Omaha—I had to look the church up in the phone book.

All the kids loved their gramma, but Dottie and Karen especially appreciated her. They called her the "one gramma" to distinguish her from the "two grammas" (my mom and grandmother, who lived together).

Of course when people come to visit from out of town, we have to take them to all the interesting things in our town. I didn't know of many Omaha attractions, but you can't go wrong with the zoo, right?

In 1981, the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska stood as a proud testament to decades of growth and innovation in zoological care and education. Originally founded in 1894 as Riverview Park Zoo, it had undergone a dramatic transformation since being renamed in 1963 to honor Henry Doorly, a prominent local publisher whose wife contributed significantly to its development. (Yes, named after the husband of the actual contributor!)

By the early '80s, the zoo had already begun to distinguish itself nationally, with the construction of the Lied Jungle underway—a bold vision to create the largest indoor rainforest in the world. Visitors in 1981 could marvel at the Desert Dome's predecessor, the Desert Pavilion, and enjoy exhibits that reflected a growing commitment to habitat simulation and species conservation.

The zoo's leadership, under director Lee Simmons, was steering it toward becoming not just a regional attraction, but a pioneering force in immersive, educational animal exhibits.

The petting zoo at the Henry Doorly Zoo offered a charming, hands-on experience that delighted children and families alike. Nestled near the main entrance, it featured a friendly assortment of domestic animals: goats, sheep, rabbits, and occasionally a docile pony—all eager for gentle pats and handfuls of feed from wide-eyed visitors.

While we couldn't go sightseeing every day of Agnes' visit (I had to work, after all), we did have a pleasant visit that went a long way towards reassuring gramma and kids alike that, although we had moved to another state, we would still maintain contact with our family back home.