Elma, Born in a Boxcar

Several years ago, my wife Pauline invited her cousin Wilma Birks, and Elma, a lifelong friend, to spend a week with us in Hawaii. It was during this vacation I first heard the stories of Elma’s life. We are both early risers and over coffee at 5:00 A.M. we would talk. Actually, she would talk and I would listen to the incredible stories of Nevada and her life experiences. It was then I decided that these stories had to be preserved.

Elma and I have spent hours together on the telephone and in person during the writing of this book and I have never heard her complain about anything. I know she is in pain most of the time, but when I inquire about her health, the answer is always, “I’m doing pretty good, how are you?” Her attitude is contagious. You feel uplifted when you’re with a positive person and she is positive plus. It has been a privilege to know and work with her during the writing of this book. She told the stories and I wrote them as she related them. Thank you Elma for all your patience.