Books and Tailgating

My book club assignment this month is "The Library Book", by Susan Orlean. It's not my fave book ever, but I did find some parts I enjoyed and learned from. So - a win.  I like it when I'm forced to read outside my genre. I don't make myself do it otherwise. I'm a suspense reader - mindless relaxation.

"The Library Book" is by a New Yorker reporter. She investigates the devastating 1986 fire that burned the  Los Angeles Public Library fire - all while weaving in the story of her love affair with books and libraries. The style is hard for me to get into, but I pulled out some gems that I loved.

Like this. All through time bad people have been trying to squelch information and books by burning them. Think of the Nazis. They hurt the Jewish people to the core by burning their beloved sacred books in public bonfires. Also - several months ago a religious activist burned LGBTQ books at the Orange City, Iowa library. He paid a fine.

As you can tell, written words are important to me. That's why I have such a love/hate relationship with social media where anyone can write anything. Anonymously or not. Like this blog. For now, I'll continue. Tomorrow I'll attend book club - so I'd better finish that book! I enjoy meeting with this group.

Football pageantry fan

It's not all about the game. My first tailgating memory is from Iowa City. That's irony for ya! Okay, I was raised a little Hawk fan - all those 60-3 drubbings we attended with the Pellets and other Atlantic fans in the 1960s and early 1970s. We cheered on our hometown hero Ed Podolak.

When I chose Iowa State for college, we didn't tailgate. We simply lugged our booze right into the stadium. Our cars - parked all week in the football field parking lot, overflow for our RCA (Maple Hall) dormitory and later our apartment parking. Come game day, we had to remove cars from stadium parking by Friday night. My roomie Jane found out the hard way (twice) what happens when you forget. Lucky the towed car lot was near our apartment.

So my first tailgating experience was in Iowa City at an ISU vs. Iowa game. We partied with my roomie Vicki's folks and their Hawkeye fan friends. They had an RV and lots of food and liquor! This is the life I thought to myself!

Post-college we met our friends for football games in Ames annually until our own children's' activities tied up weekends. Back then we could pay $15 and get a spot where we park now. Now those same spots require a hefty donation and season ticket purchase. Times change!

We have so many great memories of tailgating during Amy and Jud's college years. Creston friends, Don and Diana McKim upped the game by becoming the owners of a '92 Pace Arrow RV - a fab tailgating unit.

When Amy and Jud were at ISU, our friends' kids were there too. In 2008, Amy (and Kristina McFee and Ryan McKim's) senior year, Don parked the RV in the student section. Jud was a frosh. So many Creston kids and adults stopped by that day and some watched the game on the RV TV. It was "off the hook" (Guy Fieri quote there)

2012

2019

Last weekend our college friends were back - being empty nesters has benefits. They came to our place Friday night - Moose and Kay even brought blow up beds for overflow sleeping! So fun to see everyone. Walking tacos were on the menu - thanks to McKims and Ehreckes for their hospitality (and walking tacos). The weather cleared up and ISU clobbered TCU. What a day! College gave me so much more than an education.

Passin' thru

Robyn (aka Robbie Dob) wasn't slogging down a martini when she broke her leg at pre-school.
Top left - Robyn, Amy and I do Rob's patented "no lips, no handicap" look.

Life is ever-changing - which makes it interesting, you know? All through our lives, people are passing through. It begins when we're quite young. Early babysitters, daycare providers, and teachers are a few examples.

When I was a tot, I attended Mrs. Lewin's Nursery School on the edge of Atlantic. I'm not sure how old I was - 3 or 4 I suppose. Mrs. Lewin would pick us up in her station wagon. We sat in the back with the seat down, no seat belts needed back then - our heads must have been harder then these pansy kids today! I remember we'd sing "Way Down Yonder in the Paw Paw Patch" and she'd call out my name when we got to my house, singing "where oh where is my friend Leslie?"

Mrs. Lewin's house was like a dream come true for any little kid. In my memory, it was like Disneyland all in a basement and backyard! She had a table that was recessed on top and filled with water or perhaps sand. There was a big wooden block collection - one time Tommy Sandhorst (or someone similar whose name I don't remember) nailed Kyla Huett in the head with a block and made her bleed.

Mrs. Lewin always served a nutritious snack consisting of koolaid and graham crackers with - I kid you not - sugar cubes! They were yum yummy dipped in the koolaid.

Out back, along with the arm and leg breaking playground equipment, there was a little train we could sit on. I remember it going around on a track. But that vision could also be my imagination, or wishful thinking.

I've mentioned before how I broke my arm there, jumping off the top of the huge (to a 4 year-old) slide during a wild game of boys chase girls. I was also on board when Robbie Dob broke her leg (if she was Odie it would be widdo weg) - getting it wedged under the pedal of the glider. Can you imagine the uproar and lawsuits if any of that happened today?

I attended school with some kids (like Robyn) from preschool all the way through to high school graduation. (our paths split then as she went to the University of Iowa and I, to the highly superior Iowa State University) During our school years, some kids moved away and I lost track of them. Others moved in - which seemed very exotic to those of us who had only lived in Atlantic. Friends, just passing through.

Remember, when we were kids, how easy it sometimes was to just start playing with a kid who seemed fun? At the Country Club pool we ended up playing games like Shark, Nibbles and Freeze Tag with other pool rats like us. BFFFH (Best Friends For a Few Hours) Or somebody would bring there cousin along and we would be fast friends for that week and then never see them again! (or if they came back at an awkward age, we'd struggle to make conversation)

College was the same way. We hang out a bit with someone on our dorm floor just because they were there. But when we moved to an apartment (the Big 4, of which I was a part) lived on Campus Avenue. We flirted harmlessly with the guys who lived above us the first year. Now I don't even remember their names - except for the one we called 3B, which stood for Bad Breath Brad. Guess nobody we hung with married that guy!

I've had a lot of jobs through the past 35 years or so, and made a lot of temp friends. I try to stay in touch, but with some people it's really just the job you have in common so eventually you let most of them go. I still get together with some ladies I worked with at Gits Manufacturing from 1995-1997, even though only one of us even works there now!

My book club (reading discussion group) is a cool bunch of ladies I met through my love for books. Well, I guess I did already know Deb before (afore mentioned workout stud and excellent BFF), but the rest of this group I met through the club. Mary has been a nice recent addition - and now she's moving on.

Good thing she joined Facebook so I can keep track of her!

Old friends

I got together with an old friend today - someone I knew from college. Her name is Jane (in kayak above) and she's always been a very independent, intelligent, musical and artsy person. We haven't seen each other in a few years, but it seemed like we picked up right where we left off, except with a few more wrinkles and a lot of life experience.

Jane grew up in the town next to Earlville where Paul grew up - they went to the same Catholic High School, and Jane was friends with Paul's cousin. I know - it's way too incestuous, but everyone in that area is Paul's cousin. Double cousin even.

I met Jane in college through another friend and we ended up going on ski trips together a few times. A good time was had by all.

Back when I was college age, I viewed people my age - 50ish as old. Now in my elderly wisdom, I know just how damn interesting people my age can be. We're salty, and we've got experience! I enjoyed our lunch Chef Joe's.

Then I got to head home to Creston, where my heart is!

Next weekend, weather permitting, we plan to head north to Northfield, MN to visit some other college friends. Wilts (live near Chicago) are taking their daughter up to check out U of M for college next year. Behrs live in Northfield, MN and hope to also see Hausers who live just north in Eagan. Haven't seen these guys in over a year, so I'm really looking forward to it. Here's a photo of me with Vicki Behr and Kay Wilt - taken a few years ago at Behrs house. When we get together, it's like old home week. After all I've known them all some 30+ years!