The story begins, almost as a rejoinder to "Little House on the Prairie," in which Gram's inner "city mouse" turns a would-be vacation into a more urban lifestyle.

South Dakota was into the heat of summer in 1919 when a baby girl, Evelyn, came into the world. The family eventually grew to include 8 siblings plus a few close cousins. Comfrey, Cosmo, Wilmer and Lake Lillian, among other towns in Minnesota, became home to the family during most of Gram's childhood. A glance at the map reveals these places are just around the corner from Walnut Grove, the hometown of famed "Little House..." author, Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Destined for a different kind of life, Gram came to the heart of the Windy City, Chicago, almost as soon as she became an adult. What was intended as a week's visit with extended family promptly transformed into her new home. Not long after, she began a family of her own. The disruptions of war, circumstances and accidents, some tragic, still could not hold her back.

Gram's adventures took her to other parts of the Midwest at various points. She also travelled to the East Coast, West Coast and Europe before re-settling into urban life near the city for the past several years.

Imagine the history she's witnessed, the experiences she's lived, and the tales both she and her family recount. Perhaps the name of this website sums it up best -- it's Gram's expression upon discovering the unusual, ironic or uncanny -- which is still quite frequent, even after all these years...