Moms and My Last Best Trip With Mom

Mom and I on the Cassville Ferry 1996

Another Mother's Day has come and gone. We weren't able to be with our kids in person again this year - and settled for a Zoom video call with all five. Darling granddaughter Nell, already 8 months old, was yawning and went down for a nap soon after we started. That baby is a good sleeper! I know many people are tired of Zoom meetings, but we're still delighted that technology can put us all as close as we can without physically being together. 

Happy 1st Mother's Day to Kara - here at a wedding with Jud and Nell

As a Mom, I love my special day - and appreciate seeing social media posts - people giving it up for their Moms. I also appreciate the acknowledgment of other non-birth mom nurturers. I can think of several wonderful women who have been influences on younger generations. 

A "file photo" of Jeanie with her husband Bruce

Our Aunt Jeanie, Dad's sis, has been a special person in my life, from when I was a kid and she'd visit her parents, my grandparents in Atlantic. We'd hang out, driving around in my grandpa Bubba's VW Beetle. 

One of my sisters still talks about the time she spent in Denver with Jeanie and her husband Bruce, during a summer when she was a teen, struggling to figure out how she fits in. High School can be brutal and it's nice to get a different perspective and to know there are people like Jeanie on your side. Additionally, some of my besties have special relationships with nieces, nephews, friends' kids, and godchildren. I tip my hat to all of you! Keep up the good work and support.   

During Mother's Day week I think of my mom more often than usual. Now that I'm closing in on the age she was when lung cancer took her I identify with her more than ever. This year I dug into my photo bank for one of Mom and me to post on Facebook. I found one taken on our last trip together, our best trip. 

Mom at Beringer

Mom loved to travel. She planned and took overseas tours with each of her daughters. Betsy went to England, Cindy to Europe, Susi to Greece. I got to go with her to Scandanavia in 1983. Our tour included stops in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. It was fabulous! 

Mom at Chandon Champagne

In the early 1990s (1992?) we flew to Betsy's house in SE Washington and traveled Highway 101 down the coast all the way to San Francisco for my cousin David Lamm's wedding. Mom said she'd always wanted to take that trip. She planned memorable stops in Oregon and California. We went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium, stayed in a motel made from 1 redwood tree, and went to wine country to visit Beringer's winery, and Chandon Champagne. 

In San Francisco, Dad and Betsy flew in and we stayed near Fisherman's Wharf. We cruised out by Alcatraz, took a tour of the area including Chinatown and Golden Gate Bridge. Then we attended Lisa and David's lovely wedding - riding with the wedding party on a cable car open-air bus. It was a gorgeous day and a great way to finish up our trip. 

Mom and I had a memorable time together on those trips, but our last trip together was our best in August of 1996. We went to an exotic location - Northeast Iowa and places nearby. Wannabe Travel Agent Pat, pre-Internet mapped out a route that started in Galena, Illinois for a night. During the day we visited General Grant's home there. Galena is a beautiful town - fun to visit as it has many shops and restaurants to go with beautiful views. 

Next, we drove North from Illinois, barely into Wisconsin. There the photo above was taken at the Cassville Car Ferry, just a tiny spot on the map. You only need to push a button to notify the ferry you want a ride and await its arrival. A group of 50ish women from Dubuque was also waiting. They'd been on a quilting trip together. Or maybe they were gambling!  

We next drove up to the tip of Iowa - Marquette, close to the most NE point in Iowa. We stayed at a hotel with a Mississippi River view. The hill it was on was home to Pinky the Elephant. Mom and I ventured into my very first Riverboat Gambling experience. Casinos were new to Iowa and there were none near Creston at that time. I wasn't that impressed. I'm still not a fan. Loud, smoky, and a money pit. It didn't take long to lose my $20 stake in the slots. 

The next day of our adventure led us to Spillville to see the Bily Clock Museum a fascinating place filled with the Bily brother's hand-carved fabulous clocks. Then we headed to Montauk Historic Site in Clermont Iowa. It's the former home of Iowa's 12th Governor William Larrabee whose family lived there until 1965. The home and grounds can really give you an idea of life "back in the day".

On our last night, we had a room at a motel at Independence, Iowa. I found out that Mom spent summer weeks there as a child. She had fond memories of spending time with aunts, uncles, and cousins - the Griswolds and the Weepies. We stopped at the local library to find out to get information about the cemetery. No close family members lived in the area then. 

Then it was time to head home - me to Creston and Mom to Atlantic. Car time was special - it allowed us to really talk. Mom was a heavy smoker. She tried to stop smoking a few times through the years but could never get it done. Mom had a hoarse cough that summer that she couldn't shake. Little did I know that when she got to her beloved Florida that fall, she'd be diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. It's a deadly form of cancer and despite battling it with chemo and radiation, she was gone by the next July. 

Mom with niece Leslie and dolls she bought for several grandkids

The older I get, the more I love getting together with my sisters. We each have memories about our mother - some good, some not as good. She was a fabulous role model in many ways. I see how similar my sisters and I are - strong work ethic, caring for others, not afraid to lead. And fun! My sisters and I do laugh about some of the things she did. I only need to look in the mirror to see her legacy. Happy Mother's Day Mom. Never forgotten! 

Sisters! 

Iowa State Vs. Iowa football - memories

I was there for the first game when the ISU vs. Iowa football series kicked off again in 1977. So many students wanted tickets that you had to enter a lottery to get the privilege to attend. My college roommate Vicki and I hit the jackpot and were able to purchase tickets for something like $8 each. Woohoo! We made plans to stay with my high school buddy Mona Jones who was a frosh at Iowa.

Check out the Iowa banner behind me...

On Game day, Vic and I tailgated with Vicki's folks - they were ISU grads, but they had Iowa tickets for many years with their friends who had an RV. The game didn't go as planned - ISU was the favored team yet Iowa came out on top that day. Mona's dorm was rockin' with all the partiers later that night. Vicki and I decided about 1 a.m. that we weren't going to get any sleep. So we headed back to Ames. All the way Vicki took me through some story - where you had to make choices and those choices told you about yourself. It was cool! And kept me awake.

The girls at the game

The next year we must have all won the lottery. Or ISU received more tickets - because we all attended the game - which again was in Iowa City. Sal, Jane, Vicki, Moose and Steve. I kind of lost though - because I had to drive...after pre-gaming at Cy's Roost. We drew straws. We passed beers between cars on I-80. Crazy college days.

It was a long night for me - staying in the Chi-O house with Christie Jo Deardorff. I got a post drinking migraine - before I knew that's what I had. The game outcome was much better that year and we danced afterward with Vicki's folks and friends at the Airliner.

During the 15 year losing streak, time my parents, who were Iowa grads, invited Paul and me to attend an Iowa game as their guests. We lost something like 60-6. Butt-kicking. Thank you sir may I have another!?!

The losing streak thinned my skin. It's why I don't get into texting Hawk fans and joking about the game as much as others. They had the edge for 15 years. That took away the fun for me - not due to the good Hawk fans that cheer for their team through thick and thin. But we know those who like to jab like they're true blue and are quick to through the team and players under the buss at the first whiff of a rough season.

I'm trying to lighten up - it's been 16 more years after all. And the Cyclones are holding their own in the W/L department since that time. It's time for me to chill.

More Memories:

I was at one of the kid's soccer games when I heard that ISU was leading Iowa in 1998 - and it looked like the good guys might finally win one. The streak would finally be over. I still love watching reruns of that game. JJ Moses. Finally Jud had a reason to be happy to be a Cyclone - born into a losing streak as his birthright. Amy was happy too, but she wasn't into it like Jud.

2002 - Seneca Wallace brings the team back from several touchdowns down, giving Iowa their only loss. That guy was something to watch. I talked to him last year at one of our home games.

2005? Iowa was ranked and heavily favored. Jud and Paul went to the game. I stayed home. ISU won fairly easily. Drew Tate knocked himself out of that game after a pick.

2007 - ISU The Shaggy game - Culbertson, ISU's kicker, knick-named Shaggy, hits enough field goals to win the game. A drunk Iowa chick, smoking a cigarette shrieks at me from a car - calling me an "F'ing old Hag". And I said - "But I'm a winning F'ing old Hag". Love that story!

Iowa fan in a kilt...

Iowa won the next three - until 2011 when, in Ames in a back and forth game, I won the game for us in triple overtime by standing in a lucky spot on the stairs below the concourse. The excitement was heart stopping - over and over as each overtime went by. I high fived strangers. My phone blew up as friends around the country texted after the game. It was awesome and so very fun. My most fun time at an Iowa game.

2012 - watching on TV as Iowa State linebacker Jake Knott saved the game in the closing minutes by tipping and intercepting a pass. The radio feed notes Iowa's color man Ed Podoak stating "this should be a touchdown". Not. Phew! Relief!


There is some talk of ending the series. Logically it may make sense for both teams. ISU could use a cupcake. Why can't we schedule one or three? The Big 10 now has 14 teams in the conference - and scheduling issues. I don't care. This state loves this game. It's good for commerce, workplaces, media and people. I hope it never ends. I'll continue to work on my attitude.

Dave Bullfrog Iowa Ambassador

Photo of Dad from a Jaycees function (thx to Ted Simpson for sharing) Isn't he a hunk!?! Dad not the porker
 

My father traveled the state of Iowa for something like 38 years. He was in ladie's underwear. That's what he told people - it always got a laugh. Dad was a sales representative for Lorraine Lingerie and later Cuddl Duds as well. He'd leave town on Monday with his samples, slips and robes hanging on hangers in the back seat of his car on a rod. The undies and half slips were in big bags in the trunk.


I probably had these "panties" as Dad called them. We got all the samples once he was done with them. I never bought a pair of panties until I was out of college. What a lucky girl!

We had a list of towns Dad was traveling to posted by the rotary dial (later push button) phone in the kitchen, with the hotel. He had a route - back then all the little mom and pop stores bought his wares, and they were his friends. He went everywhere - I think he hit all the towns - from Ackley to Zwingle. He got to know where the good food was too - he had a "pie" route. Anywhere we went, he knew someone - Dad was Iowa's ambassador spreading the love of who knows whom all around the state.

Now that I've reached the ripe old age of 55, I've lived in a few places in this great but smallish state - Atlantic, Osage, Creston and now West Des Moines. I'm turning into my father! My life's work the past fifteen years as trash diva has taken me to all corners of the state. I know a few people. Iowa really is a small world, after all.

Whiskey River - There is a beaver on the shelf...

Paul and I came to realize this before last night's Iowa State Men's basektball game. We headed to Ames early to meet some of his co-workers at Whiskey River a pub downtown we had never been to before. I know - hard to believe! One of the guys, Dana and his wife Mary (I know - hard to believe again, I remembered names of people I was just introduced to - and NO I didn't cheat and ask Paul) are from Marshalltown. Dana has the same position Paul had in Creston.

I started played the "do you know" game - I know Marshalltown peeps. First I chose Jay, the investment guy - friends with Dwight & Marilyn Conover. They supplied his last name - Merryman. Yes! That's him. We've met Jay and his wife (what's hername) several times as they're good Cyclone fans. Next I threw out Casee and Ben Veren (she's a Marshalltown cop and he's a sheriff, Casee is the daughter of Creston's Jeanne Piel and Sheriff Rick's daughter) - Dana and Mary knew who the Verens were. Finally went with my pal Pam Blake - recycling coordinator. Mary had heard of her because of publicity Pam does.

Of course we talked about other stuff too. I didn't monopolize the who conversation with the "game". But then out of no where, another connection appeared. We were discussing football tailgating locations - it's sad that tailgating season is 7+ months away. Dana mentioned that they tailgate in Tent #3. Who is the tent sponsor? Phoenix Recycling - owned by the Colosimo Brothers, Tony and Bobby.

 Bobby Colosimo is married to Dana's sister. I have known the Colosimo brothers since the early 80's, when they worked for their dad (and had a fondness for blow combs and TransAms) at C&C Produce in the East Village, and I worked for a grocery wholesaler traveling out of Osage. In my current life, I run across them in various trashy committees. Hmmm small world again. Bobby's wife and daughter joined us later - the daughter knows Paul's nephew Karl who teaches at Valley High School, where she's a senior.

Kevin Bacon anyone? Or should I say Dave Bullock...