REGARDING GERTRUDE...

           

             The former "Miss Gertrude Burson"

It's funny. Just when you think you know everything about someone you've "looked at" for years, you get a little God smacked. Now I didn't start out today looking to know more "about Gertrude." However I recalled that tomorrow, February 29 is her "one hundred and thirty sixth birthday."  Seeing as she's the only leap year baby in the family tree, (that I know of) well, I thought I'd take another look.

What I found feels serendipitous. You see, my great grandmother Gertrude Burson Record was an aspiring newspaper columnist. 

From a span of about four years, (1901-1905) "Miss Gertrude Burson" was a "correspondent" for The Iola Democrat. Now I realize that reporting the daily comings and goings of various family members and locals isn't high stakes journalism, but it's sweetly consistent. It belies an interest and perhaps even a desire for a career - maybe something she dreamed about other than "Kansas motherhood."

Anyway, I thought you might enjoy knowing this about Gertrude. I know that in a few short years from now, there won't be a lot of people who will remember her at all or know who she was anymore. Let me just say though, that if you're reading this tale you (like me) owe her a lot. You see without Gertrude, none of us reading this would be here.

So let's wish old Gertrude a happy 136th. It's good to remember she was once just a young girl with dreams. 

R.I.P. dear one(S). 

You are not forgotten. 

Gertrude's mother below:

Gertrude's grandmother below: