The Early Pioneers and Innovators

The spark that ignited this blog post came from two things: our trip to Nebraska to see our daughter in September (we always take the roads less traveled) and my recent novel, Love's Intuition that is set in the Montana Territory in the 1800's. 

As we drove over the Mississippi River bridge from Illinois into Iowa, I wondered how the pioneers who were heading west managed to cross the massive river with their wagons and horses. I was in awe of the mighty Mississippi and I'm sure they were as well. However, the pioneers surely had to regard it as a major setback in their journey. They were problem solvers. Brilliant minds who wouldn't be deterred in their quest for a better life. I had to know how they got across and an internet search provided the answer. They dismantled their wagons, piece by piece. Using makeshift canoes, they ferried people and wagon parts from one side of the river to the other. Can you imagine the patience it would take to go to all that trouble? As someone who's hyper, I'd probably implode. 

The early pioneers endured much. Danger. Wild animals. Insects. Diseases. Rugged terrain. Lack of food and fresh water. All kinds of weather. Thinking from a modern perspective, they handled it without the use of ibuprofen or Tylenol, chiropractors or access to other medical care. They did have whiskey, which helped a little to ease their aches and pains.

 

Compared to those who've gone before us, we have it good. We owe them a debt of gratitude for blazing the trails and providing rough innovations that years later have made life easier for us.

In Love's Intuition, Emelee and Bodie endured some of those same hardships and came out the other side, stronger and in love. 

 Amazon 

 

Thank you for popping into my blog. I appreciate your visit.

Love,

Jan