Celebrating 35 Years,

This guy

Who could have known? I was such a young thing when I got married. Now here I am, nearly 60 - comfortable, spending time with this fella that worked his way into my life all those years ago. I'm the lucky one. We've woven our lives together so tightly. I can't imagine what life would be like without him.

I've always been one to bristle when people would suggest someones' husband was "their better half". How sexist, I'd think. Each woman should be her own person. Now here I am, not half a person, but interdependent with this dude I've been spending time with for the past 35 years.

These people....heart. 

We spent our anniversary weekend at LOTO (Lake of the Ozarks) with good friends McKims, Higgins, and McFees. It was Shootout Weekend - so the "Go Fast Boats" were going fast all weekend. Capn' Don motored the pontoon into prime race viewing position and we watched the races while floating on noodles. Our friends' lake homes have evolved from works-in-progress to places worthy of Chip and Joanna. Besides hanging out with our friends, my favorite part of the weekend was sitting on the deck in the morning, drinking coffee. That view!

This view

My friend Sandy (a friend from my hometown Atlantic) arranged for us to participate in the annual Meals From the Heartland event at Wells Fargo Arena on Wednesday. Our Team Name is ForTH - For The Hungry. Perfect. We worked together with another group (Waukee cheerleaders in the next pod) to package 40 boxes of meals. Woohoo. That day over 1 million meals were packaged to be shipped anywhere in the world.

This team

After two hours standing on concrete, a stop at Malo for Mexican Food and a beer was in order. It was nice to get to know our teammates a bit better. Sandy and Steve's daughter Lauren and her husband Adam are super nice. And the others are too. Fun night!

This group of Paul's co-workers - toasting a friend battling cancer

Next up - we were ready for some football! Our beloved Cyclones vs. the UNI Panthers - always a worthy first game opponent. Game time, 7 p.m. It was a perfect day - we enjoyed it immensely, especially the big W this year. Our friends Kevin and Kari are again providing a trailer/tent rig in D2 for tailgating. Perfect for our little group. We grilled brats and hoisted a couple beers. It was fun to see our tailgating "neighbors" and to walk the parking lot, visiting other groups.

This VARSITY marching band

At game time, we walked in with the band. That's living vicariously! The pregame was super. Oh, how I love the pageantry. Soon the moon was shining over the stadium and after a slow start, our team was heading to a victory.

This game day experience

Post game, we allowed the parking lot traffic jam to clear out and took town the tents. Kari and Keven have the real work today - reorganizing that jumble of a trailer. OCD Kevin will need to put it all in order! Then we had a beer by the fire pit telling, telling stories and talking football. Not much overconfidence about next week's game against in-state rivals, the Hawkeyes. But today, we're 1-0!

This hero - Jack Trice 

Ain't no friends like longtime friends

I know, longtime no write. I've got no excuses. But here I am again, laptop at the ready. I can't stay away too long!

Last weekend our college pals came to visit for a football game- an activity that has bonded us through the years. Yep, crappy ISU football. (I'm thinking of the 90's) But this team had a surprise for us!

I finally bought a scarf - now this fashion will be over

I've known these peeps nearly forty years. Crazy thinking about it that way. I met Vicki my first week of college at ISU. I was sitting in my room trying to figure out how to survive week 1 as an introverted college coed when she popped into my room. Vicki wanted to know if I wanted to walk over to the ticket office at the football stadium (then nearly brand-spanking new) to purchase season tickets to attend Cyclone games. The team was pretty darn good in 1976.

We didn't really get to know Jane until later that fall. After meals we began to plan ping pong on our dorm floor. Vic and I would go up against Sal and Jane. Soon our friendship went beyond mere pong and Sal was rooming with Jane. We were fast friends sharing everything - all through four years of school. Sal couldn't come - she's recovering from surgery at her home in Portland. Sending good thought's to our pal Sally!

I met Vic's boyfriend Fred later that year. I'm not sure she knew he was "the one" our frosh year, but the rest of us always liked him. She did okay sticking with that boy.

When Vic, Sal, Jane and I returned for our sophomore year, we signed up for intramural football. Well, not Vicki. She's more of the sit on the sidelines and yell encouragement type. Our Resident Assistant lined us up with a couple coaches from another dorm floor. That is when we met Moose and Steve - they've been coaching me ever since!

Notice Paul hasn't been mentioned yet? It's true. Of all the people I was with all weekend, Paul was one of the later ones I met. Worth waiting for! Moose's real name is Steve - but even now, when he's 58, I can't make myself call him that - unless we're in some serious situation like in front of his parents or at his wedding - stuff like that. Paul actually met Moose's wife Kay early in college - so our group is a bit intermingled. Steve married another ISU grad, but Annie is younger so we didn't know her during our school years. They were tailgating with some other friends so we didn't get to see them for long, but we did enjoy talking to them.

It had been several years since the gang came to a game. Everyone arrived about the same time - around 2:30 pm Saturday for a 6 pm game. It was fairly nice out after a rainy morning. We got together at the usual spot - our friends Kari and Kevin's trailer. It's been a nifty rig all season - just a little trailer with a tent and generator. Tables, chair and other gear are neatly stored in there (thanks to Kevin's photo showing how it all fits - stapled right to the door - he's an engineer, he can't help himself). Don and Diana were there with lil sandwiches. Kari and I made soup. Beer was cold!

Hugging and catching up are priceless. These people are like family - we know each others' stuff. I wanted to bottle the moment. Tailgating again with our friends. I thought of all the times we'd done this in the past. As young adults, with young kids - tailgating very near where we were that day - parking was $5. Wilts brought their daughter Jaime and bf Mike both Minnesota grads. It was fun hanging out with Jaime all growed up. Jane's sister Susan and husband Denny came over to see everyone too - we've know that girl since she was in high school.

Who was Paul texting?

We all sat together in Section L - watching a classic Cyclone victory, a shutout over Texas. When the win became evident, Paul Goldsmith offered to buy season tickets for our friends because they are obviously good luck! (just kidding) we can't afford that...
We did share a few wineskin drinks, and a pint of Fireball - but they were mostly happy drinks instead of sorrowful, which was unusual for a Cyclone fan. WooHoo!

It was a late night for this old girl by the time we got back to our place, Odie greeted everyone and gave the nickel tour of our house. Jane came over the next day for brunch and we drove over to her new house in Waukee that morning. All too soon it was time for Behrs and Wilts to take off. I missed having the kids with us! Shout out to Kelli, Amy, Jud, Lauren and Alyssa. (we did see Jaime) Love you guys.

Jane, Vicki, me, Kay

Paul, Moose (Steve), Fred

 

Port-O-Potty Surprise

The Iowa State football team is less than stellar this year, disappointing fans fresh off another good basketball season. Cyclone fans are a loyal bunch sticking with teams through thick and thin. It's been mostly thin for football lately. Still, we do love to tailgate.

Last Saturday was a lovely day. Iowans have been blessed with great fall weather after a rainy summer. We arrived in Ames after noon for a 6 p.m. game with #3 Texas Christian University. The hits just keep on coming for our team. Couldn't we play Kansas again?

Our tailgating pals the Ereckes had set up the rig in the RV section the night before. Slick! Walking tacos were on the menu. McKims couldn't make the game - a little family thing. Don's folks were celebrating 60 years of marriage. Yep, I'd opt for that over a football game any day. Congrats to Margaret and Fred! Loved the photos of them dancing while at Don and Diana's lake place.

Margaret and Fred - great role models for us youngsters

Since Paul and I had arrived early, we had time to wander around a bit and visit on of our fave guys - Cy. He smiles season after season. Guess it's because he's set in bronze.

The tailgating rig was perched next to one of Kevin Erecke's workmate's group. They are a fun young group to watch and they seem to love sharing with us - yummy ribs that weekend. Our friends stopped by to see us. Always love hanging out with Dwight and Marilyn Conover who discovered Kevin's college friend occupies Dwight's old bank office near Marshalltown. Iowa Nice! A group of Paul's work friends stopped by and it was fun to chat with them too. Tailgating is just like a lil neighborhood. 

I especially enjoy spending time with my friend Kari who is having some health issues right now - she needs your healing thoughts and prayers ya'll. Kevin and Kari are great people and we sure have enjoyed getting to know them - via McKims and this tailgating community.

After a couple hours of tailgating and a couple beers, that time came - I needed to use the port-o-potty. Ugh. There was a group of three not far from our setup, so I headed that way. I don't know about you - but inside one of those things I tend to avoid looking anywhere. I remember thinking that I'd round up a wet wipe for my hands once I went back.

I opened up the door to...the ISU Varsity Marching Band! A group of about 12 wandering minstrels and a director were awaiting my exciting from the vile little box. I wish I had a photo of the look on my face when I spied them! They broke into the ISU Fight Song. I did what you'd expect. Took a selfie and sang along.

Despite the eventual outcome of the game (we hung with the Horned Frogs for a half but the dam broke and were our usual inept selves in the second half), I chuckled about the band the rest of the weekend. And basked in the joy of another wonderful tailgating experience. I can't wait for the next game when my college buddies visit! I hope Mother Nature provides another great day. If not...we'll have fun anyway - we are Cyclone Nation!

On Sunday my wonderful friend Deb came up for the Mary Chapin Carpenter concert at Hoyt Sherman Place in DSM. We went out to eat first - and were so busy catching up that we were nearly late to the show. Our friend Mary Faber introduced both of us to this wonderful singer back in the '90s and we've loved her ever since. She sang several of our faves like "This Old Shirt" -which took me back to my days as a young mother at our first home in Creston. Ahh, good memories.