Gene Olson's mother was a Norwegian and his father a Swede. He was born in Seattle. Both Jolanta Olson's parents were Polish from Lublin, a town in southeast Poland. She was born in Poland. Olson's newest memoir, My Mom's from Lublin; My Dad's from Seattle, documents his parents' vastly different childhoods. "In Communist Poland, chocolate was very scarce. You would be lucky to get a little piece at Christmastime. One day, playing outside as a little girl, my mother saw a small pebble. She had been thinking about chocolate all morning, so she put the stone in her mouth, hoping it was a piece of chocolate. Of course it wasn't. My father, on the other hand, could have a Hersey Bar anytime he wanted. His hands and face would be covered with so much chocolate, he'd have to take a bath." This nostalgic and loving tribute is filled with photos and childhood memories. Jolanta Olson writes, "I'm glad my mom and dad found each other, because without them I'd be nothing. My mom's from Poland, my dad's from Seattle, and that makes me half Polish and half Seattle-ish!
Gene Olson was born in a small town in Pacific Northwest. He was raised in a large family with two brothers and two sisters plus many stepsiblings as his parents ran a home for boys. They were quiet and happy years. He dropped out of college to allow his two sisters to complete education and was drafted into military service in the middle of the Vietnam war. The unforgettable and horrifying experience of war, and many of his friends dying, left a huge impression on him. After returning home he was unsettled and restless having difficulties sticking to a daily routine. Diagnosed as bipolar and trying different medication to heal his tormented brain, he suddenly he met his angel and his life made sense to him again. It’s a story of torment and survival, a struggle to find sense in his illness and obtain happiness.
Fifty years have passed since Gene Olson spent many a lonely night on fire and security watch at the Guam Naval Transient Barracks. With long hours, no books or magazines, and only a lizard as company, he picked up a pen and paper and began writing poetry. Though once dead, these pages have been resurrected in his new book. Bipolar Poems: Before and After Lithium is a fascinating poetry collection that spans half a century. Some of the poems were written during Olson’s time in the military, before he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and treated with lithium, offering an interesting contrast with his work of later years. These poems are raw, courageous, compelling, and entertaining—shedding some much-needed light on the shadows of mental illness. I was trying to catch my ship The USS Tioga County (LST-1158), last seen somewhere in Vietnam waters. No one knew her exact whereabouts. In Guam I was assigned at the Naval Transient Barracks as an all night Fire and Security Watch. Once an hour I would walk through the barracks and then call a report to the OD, Officer of the Day. I would also collect orders from late sailors and assigned sleeping quarters etc. All through the night I had only one companion. A lizard was hiding behind a large oval clock. When a fly came near, he would slowly crawl out. His tongue was swift, the fly had no chance! With many hours, no book, no magazines, I picked up a pen and paper and started writing poetry. It was poetry only for myself. I never showed it to anyone. I never dreamed someday it would be published. Fifty years have passed since my poetry attempts started on the Guam Naval Transient Barracks. BIPOLAR POEMS BEFORE AND AFTER LITHIUM, was partly gathered over this time period. Though once dead, the pages have been resurrected. I sometimes wonder if these poems are worthy of print at all. Or if I’m just being a “Proud Peacock.” Time will tell.
Tucked among the hills on the banks of the Missouri River, Chamberlain has long been a stopping-off point for travelers. The Sioux found rich hunting, and Lewis and Clark discovered a comfortable place to rest on American Island. Chamberlain became a landing for steamboats, which carried cargo and provided transportation to the new western lands. The railroad reached the town in 1880, and by 1890 the settlement offered 200 businesses. The Chamberlain area evolved from the rough and wooly days of cowboy cattle drives across the pontoon bridge to the leisurely ferry excursions to American Island for picnics and ball games. Even today, as travelers from the east come over the rise and descend toward the Missouri River on Interstate 90, they must be thinking the same as travelers of long ago--this is where the West begins.
At the end of the last book Gus and Angle found themselves Lost in time and in History. The Farm-boy Gus came up with the answer. They go back to break out her father from a Highrise jail in 2500. Then surprises her dad later in the day by resurrection his departed wife from the grave. Next week looking for answers on how to house 2,000 refugees from the future. followed with a mass exodus from 2500 to 2015 without getting caught. to do this She got into a confect with American teamster in Alabama. She won. Weeks later she needed help from the Smithsonian without telling them who they were. Another great adventure. Within a week they go to meet Buddha via a trip to China and India then gets a new inertia dapping device installed on her ship. they came back with a little wisdom for Buddha himself. Advice from Gautama Buddha, The mind is everything. What you think you will become. Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present. Three things cannot be long hidden: the moon, and the truth. You only lose what you cling to. No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path. We are what we think. All that we are arise with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world. Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without. All that we are is the results of what we have thought. Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship. You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.
Noah had a surprise when the flood was over. He thought no one listened to him when he talked about repenting and changing lives. But one person did listen and that was the little camel boy. Noah and the little camel boy had an exciting beginning and an exciting ending.
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