Growing up in America's Heartland in the 1930s and 40s

The author was born as the great depression was winding down and money and jobs were still in short supply. He relates what life was like before TV, video games and organized activities for kids. Then came World War II when he was only seven. He remembers Pearl Harbor and how the war was viewed by children of the times. His young life was deeply touched by the loss of servicemen he knew. But then came peace and all the changes it brought to the small town where he lived. A thorny gooseberry hedge formed a formidable barrier to a small boy that the author cleverly relates to life's barriers. The Gooseberry Hedge is a collection of tales that take you on a nostalgic journey from the Illinois Prairie to the rolling hills of Southern Indiana with a blend of humor, sadness and history. The bonus epilogue relates the author's experience as a scoutmaster with a group of boys on a canoe trip down a wild and scenic river in Northern Minnesota. The troop faced serious obstacles and barriers that were overcome by perseverance and faith in God.

Dan Hall was born in Paris, Illinois, graduated from Paris High School and, after a stint in the U.S. Navy, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Indiana University. After a successful career in earth science, he published a medical magazine and is presently an associate in the newspaper business. He and his wife, Twila (Formerly Twila Bridwell), live in Austin, Texas and are the parents of four grown children. They also have six grandchildren and a great granddaughter. The Gooseberry Hedge is a result of encouragement by his family to record some of his colorful memories for posterity.