Excerpts from Headwinds - Bell-Pearson's new experiences

Edna Bell-Pearson, author of Headwinds, has many layers. This memoir is a figurative carousel that presents her as the individual, wife, business partner, pilot and writer, among many other things. Primarily, Bell-Pearson is an observer, and she never shies away from trying new things. Check out these excerpts from Headwinds to get a taste of her unique life. 

Hunting Season (p. 48)

“Being another passion of Carl’s, we went hunting as often as we could get away--even if for only an or or two. My only previous hunting experiences had been riding along with Carl and Ted when they were stationed at Liberal, but Carl insisted I got along.

And so I learned to hunt.

First, I had to be correctly outfitted. Finding the right hunting boot was a problem. My size wasn’t available locally, so we ordered them.

After I’d been equipped with the necessary licenses and proper guns--we hunted dove, rabbits, squirrels, quail, pheasants, and ducks.

A Blue Bird in an Oak Tree (p.171-2)

“[Dan] undershot the field and landed in the top of the tallest oak tree in Marshall County.

Uninjured, he climbed down the tree, walked to the nearest house, a quarter of a mile away, and called the airport.

Listening as he related what had happened, I was incredulous.

“Are you all right?” I asked.

“I’m fine,” he replied, unperturbed. “Except I scraped my leg on the tree as I climbed down.”

Thank God! I thought, breathing a sigh of relief.” “What does the plane look like?”

“W-e-l-l--” he replied. “It’s still in the tree.”

Living Off the Land (p. 326-9)

In 1949, my husband, Carl, and I decided to move to Arkansas, take life easy, and “live off the land.” We had been operating a flying service in Marysville, Kansas, since the end of the way, and before that Carl had flown B-24s and B-29s for the Air Corps. I was a photographer.

Next we purchased 100 baby chicks to raise for fryers, and a Guernsey cow named Elsie.

Observing local custom, we planted vegetables again in July, and yet again in September.

…

Butchering the animals was our most daunting task, but we somehow managed to accomplish it, and we learned to follow instructions accurately to cure hams and bacon.

…

One thing I never learned to do was build a proper fire. Carl often came into the house at noon to find no meal on the table and me, frustrated and in tears, struggling to get a fire going.

The day The North Arkansas Electric Cooperative crews came through, clearing trees to install poles and string weir, was a memorable occasion. Within weeks we had electricity, and life became easier and much less complicated.

I had never doubted Carl’s ability to master the art of farming, but as I told a friend, “If I can do it, anyone can!”