JEAN PETERSON came to town from her home in Osceola, Neb., for a double celebration - her 88th birthday tomorrow - the auspicious 08-08-08 - and her granddaughter’s wedding, which was Sunday.

Peggy Zeilinger, daughter of the birthday gal and mother of the bride, said they tried to book the wedding on the Aug. 8 date, but were too late. So, instead, they’ll have a small separate party to mark her mother’s 88th.

“We are all very proud of her, and consider her to have been lucky in life, but also a source of good luck for those around her.”

Peterson raised six children and worked as a teacher for 40 years, in 1987 becoming a finalist for Nebraska’s Teacher of the Year. She’s been widowed since the ’70s, Zeilinger says, but remains active and in excellent health.

“She was mowing her lawn the other night when I called.”