Written by Ed Brill

March 24, 1928, Crawford, Nebraska, it was a great day for me, and the world, I arrived at 10 lbs 2 oz the ninth of 10 Brill kids. Wow! What a group, later in life I lived in towns with a lesser population.

Was it a lack of birth control, or was it that my staunch German parents wanted their own work force, and we did work, we grew up fast living on a farm. What an

education! At the age of 10, I could handle a team of horses, drive a tractor, and drive a 35 Chevy. No driver’s license required.

Our school in Crawford, was unique, K through 12, the largest building in town, (pop. 144) no McDonalds or Jack in the Box. Fortunately, my father moved us to Scott’s Bluff, Nebraska, where I spent most of my early life.

Could the Brill kids play sports? Oh No! Sports were a waste of time, we were born to work. Milk cows were my nemesis. Morning and night, they demanded more attention then a new baby. They didn’t teach sex in school then, didn’t need to, if you grew up on a farm. One of my favorite sayings is “it’s a learning tour”, nuf sed!

As it will, time marches on. Eight siblings grew up and prospered. I have lost 4 of them, and I miss them a lot. We were a tight knit family.

Gloria had her start in Lincoln, Nebraska, but at a very early age moved to Scott’s Bluff, where she and I were to meet and get married in 1948. I was the proud owner of a 38 Chevy Coupe, as well as my 1948 Indian Chief, and I loved those two. Rode the Chief for 4 years without a mishap, I thought it would be a good time to bail out, so did my mother. At this time I sold the 38 and bought my first 1941 Chevy Coupe. That also was a love affair. After a dozen or more Chevys and 50 years later I am again the proud owner of a 41 Chevy Coupe as well as a 54 Chevy Belair.

In 1951 (Korean War) I suddenly found myself in the US Air Force, which I also loved, it was another learning tour. After basic training I went to A & E school for 6 months. After my first two years I wiggled my way onto flying status, now that was a kickback job. While in the Force we were blessed with 2 beautiful babies, a boy and a girl.

After Air Force duty we went back home to Nebraska, and I tried to find myself to no avail. Nothing seemed to click. The die was cast, and we

moved to the land of milk and honey. I had been to California a dozen times and I knew it was where I wanted to be. We made the move in 1962, and along with that good luck, we had another pretty baby girl.

I love my 3 kids and my 8 grandkids. After the 3 birds were out of the nest we sold the ski boat, and it was back to old cars.

We joined CHVA in 1990, and we belong to 4 clubs, however, when we were introduced to CHVA we hit the Jackpot. I like the car variety, the lack of boring monthly meetings, a tour a month or more, it is a club that attracts the Cream of the Crop in membership, as well as automobiles. We attend as many tours as we possibly can, and recruiting for me is a given!

See you down the road,

Capt EB

Published in AAN April, 2004