Serendipitous!

      The book was sent to L. by mistake with no indication to return it. Because L. had plenty to read it came to me. It's one I'd never have purchased but it turned into a surprisingly good read. Illuminating a bit of history that was news to me satisfices my interest in history.

    During the American Depression, under Roosevelt's New Deal, a number of strategies were employed to put people to productive work. One of those efforts was moving 200 volunteer, farm families from the Great Lakes area to the Matanuska Valley, north of Anchorage, Alaska. Each family would receive 40 acres and subsidies intended to turn the property into a productive farm.

    A Creek, a Hill, & a Forty: The early years of Alaska's Matanuska Colony, seen through a colonists letters home---Margaret Miller's story, by Ray Bonnell  tells the story of  the settlement's beginning. Colonists were chosen mostly from the relief rolls, though the Millers weren't on relief, from the 'cut over' regions of three states. Those three states were Wisconsin, from which the Miller's came, Michigan and Wisconsin.

   Two things make this an exceptionally interesting read both related to Margaret Miller. First, she wrote long, excellent letters describing the experience. Her mother, in Wisconsin, saved them all and they form 95% of the book. Second, no matter the challenge, primitive living conditions, the mud, endless toil and difficulty she maintained a constantly positive attitude. While neighbors groused, complained and bailed out Miller soldiered on with an upbeat attitude. She stands as a testimony to what can be accomplished with hard work and unfailing good cheer.

Takk for alt,

Al

PS In answer to the query about time aboard ship: If memory holds true I think we were shipboard about 2-3 months at time. Cumulative ship time for the trip to, around and back from Asia was perhaps 6 months. So, then another ship picture.

Entering or leaving port via the aircraft carrier a pilot would board the ship to steer into/out of port. The picture shows the pilot leaving the carrier after steering it out of Hong Kong Harbor.