Flashback

This morning, a gray sloppy December with puddles, salt and grit, I saw a gentleman drive by in a spotless burgundy colored car.  And memory returned of travel in Tanzania with lots of red soil, muddy rutted roads and yet the cars we traveled in were spotless. 

Drivers in the Southern Diocese were trained at a driving school in Dar es Salaam.  They were always well groomed and kept the cars spotless.  Upon arrival the driver and car would almost disappear with  mud spattered filthy  wheels.  When the Land Rover reappeared the car was clean and even the tires were spotless!  I soon learned Martin, Jacob or Jairos, Antwon, or Gadi  had a bucket and rags and had found water to clean the car before the return trip…and likewise the interior was swept out.

Alas my little red car is sorely in need of December dirt removal!

Class reunion

I think it was the summer before my senior year in high school that the Alta Advertiser, our local paper, carried an article and picture of an Alta High School class of those attending their 10 year reunion.  My notion was something like “they are really old!”  And now I’m back from celebrating the 50^th reunion for the AHS class of 1964.  Am I really this old?

Our class of 45 is now 41. We lost four members to childbirth and cancer and all too young.  We had 30 classmates in attendance, an amazing 73% attendance.  I still smile when thinking about Ruth’s sheer joy when ISU beat UI (the football game) at the start of the dinner. Classmates drove in from Louisiana, Texas, and Kansas.  Others flew from California and Oregon.  Duane created an online dynamic scrapbook with history and updates of our lives.  Versa and I published a Scarlet & Black newsletter.  Clay and his wife “mapped” by zip code where we are all living.  Colene hosted a blog and also created a PowerPoint.  Sharon made and canned apple butter to reconnect with the girl classmates. Rita took pictures of everyone.

Mommy Zinger

Sept 3, 2014

When we first moved to Storm Lake all four of the heir apparents were adults and out of the house.  That Easter I got four shoeboxes and filled them with Easter Basket goodies – including toothbrushes and socks.  I mailed them off.  Several weeks went by and I heard nothing.  Consequently I sent an email that went something like this:

I mailed you each an Easter Basket.  In Jesus' parable of the 10 lepers at least one returned to say thanks.

I had replies of thanks and one named my email the Mommy Zinger.  Now if one of my emails is edgy I’m asked if that is a Mommy Zinger!

From Our Deck

 

December, 2013

 

January

February



March


April


 

April

May




June

 

June



June - and we had rain!

Language

Kids are amazing with language development.  Several years ago I had noticed a bilingual 5 year old named Daniel.  I observed him navigate between languages with his name….around English speakers he was Daniel and around Spanish speakers he said his name was Daniel’ (pronounced DanYELL’).  His Mom also bilingual said it wasn’t taught, it was acquired.

One set of our grandchildren, Noah and Christian, call us Babu and Bibi, Swahili for grandma and grandpa.  Marinus calls me Halmoni (Korean for grandma).  This has led to my split personality!  Mike is Babu to all three.

One time in Fort Dodge when the neighbor boy came over….Seven year old Noah  said we were his Grandma and Grandpa (not using Babu & Bibi).  When I asked him why…he looked at me perplexed and said “well he wouldn’t know!”  And in Bloomington, six year old Marinus took a Norweigian sweater to school for show and tell.  I asked her if she told them her Mor Mor and Papa (names for the other grandparents) had given it to her.  She said, "No…the other kids wouldn’t understand that – I said Grandma and Grandpa!"

Spring?

Spring has arrived in Mason City.  Although those that were here last year keep reminding us that they had 9 ½ inches on May 2 & 3, 2013.  My signs of spring are a week-old single daffodil, day-old grape hyacinth and a very dedicated mother goose.  So far I’ve never seen her leave her nest.   (the arrow is not naturally occurring)

 

 

 

Mason City

We’ve lived here almost nine months and this is what I’ve learned about Mason City.

The tallest building in Mason City is the Brick and Tile building.  Clear Lake (the town) is about 9 miles from downtown Mason City.  If I stood on top of the eight story Brick and Tile Building I would be at the bottom of Clear Lake (the lake)!

 

Mason City grew around and in between Cheslea Creek, Willow Creek and Lime Creek.  Cheslea and Willow empty into Lime Creek.  It seems with the fame of Mason City’s Meredith Willson’s The Music Man and its River City the locals campaigned to have Lime Creek promoted to a river…hence the Winnebago River renamed in 1961.

 

John Long arrived from the eastern United States to the home of Sioux and Hocak (Ho-chunk)/Winnebago Nation.  He named the heavily wooded area near Lime Creek Masonic Grove in honor of the Order of Free Masons and hoping to bring more settlers because of that connection.

 

The Park Inn Hotel (now the Historic Park Inn) in Mason City is the only remaining Frank Lloyd Wright designed hotel remaining in the world.  Mason City has the largest collection of prairie style homes in a natural setting in the world.  The area is Rock Crest and Rock Glen on Willow Creek.

Snowshoeing

With this winter of polar vortexing and jet streamings and snow falling what is there to do but embrace it?  Before winter was upon us I had asked for snowshoes for Christmas and I received them. They came with trekking poles and modest directions.  After watching a video twice I sized the snowshoes to my boots and started out. 

Behind our house we have a creek that provides a wonderful path.  Someone on skis also uses it along with deer and other four legged critters. 

Quickly I’ve learned that it pays to know the wind direction and sweating is a part of the experience….even when my face is freezing.  The wind has quickly covered paths along with fresh snow.  Many days I’m first to make new trails. 

 

Sneakers was eager to accompany me the first two times but after that he’s opted not to hike along since he’s always sinking to his belly.

 

 

Sneakers