Category: Iowa

Loneliest Study Abroad Ever

Posted in firsts, humor, Iowa, memoir, relationships, restaurant, roommate, Spain, Study abroad, travel, vacation, worstLeave a comment

After three months in South America and six weeks of student teaching Catholic high school girls, I headed to Burgos, Spain, with 30 students and a handful of professors from Iowa State and the University of Iowa. It would be my way of earning the final credits of my dual degree. Linda, a high school… Continue reading Loneliest Study Abroad Ever

Secret Agent Man

Posted in California, care giver, dancing, dating, dumping someone, firsts, friends, humor, Iowa, memoir, relationships, sugar mamaLeave a comment

He was a familiar face from the dancing circuit. He told me he’d been thinking about me, and that we should dance. As in, no one else could dance with me the entire night. The next night we met and danced again. The day after that we had our first date and danced again. Fifteen… Continue reading Secret Agent Man

Total Eclipse of the Date

Posted in blind date, cars, dating, firsts, gays, humor, Iowa, relationships, restaurant, worstLeave a comment

The second-to-last solar eclipse over the continental U.S. was on Monday, February 26, 1979. Claudette worked in the x-ray department at Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. She and her co-workers took some x-ray film and went outside to look at the sun through the film. They were not in the path of totality (had… Continue reading Total Eclipse of the Date

Bricks, Ricks, and Cardboard

Posted in blind date, college, Colorado, dating, firsts, humor, Iowa, Iowa State University, memoir, pick-up lines, relationships, restaurant, Rocky Mountains, singing, worstLeave a comment

The college mixer was hosted by the men in Lorch House in Friley Hall, in the heart of the Iowa State campus. My house, Tappan, the top two floors of Barton Hall, a girls’ dorm, was invited. Yes, I am old. Yes, dorm floors are co-ed now. This was in the days of the dinosaurs.… Continue reading Bricks, Ricks, and Cardboard

#Me Too

Posted in alcohol abuse, college, dancing, firsts, girl friends, girlfriends, Iowa, Iowa State University, memoir, relationships, sexual assault, worstsLeave a comment

The summons said to report at 9:00 a.m. at the courthouse in Martinez on a Friday. I fretted about parking but found a spot in the free lot. The juror waiting room was filled with prospective jurors. We were given a questionnaire, a speech about serving, and then we were sent home for the weekend.… Continue reading #Me Too

Scariest Student Ever

Posted in books, high school, Iowa, junior high school, memoir, middle school, Midwestern, relationships, teaching, worstsLeave a comment

During my ten years of teaching public school, I had many a student that caused me grief.  The 8th grader transfer student who called me a bitch in front of the whole class on his first day.  The brilliant 7th grade boy who lit matches in the hallway and dropped them on the… Continue reading Scariest Student Ever

Worst Snow Day Ever

Posted in bridges, cars, guardian angel, Iowa, memoir, Midwestern, Nebraska, storms, teaching, trucks, worstsLeave a comment

It was 7:00 a.m. and snowing hard. I was dressed for work in my tall boots and long wool skirt and sweater. The car was warming up, and I had my go-cup of coffee filled. The phone-tree person was supposed to call by 7:15 if school was cancelled for the day. I stood around drinking… Continue reading Worst Snow Day Ever

Best Music Lessons Ever

Posted in bomb shelter, grandma, grandpa, high school, humor, Iowa, memoir, Midwestern, mom, monsters, music, relationshipsLeave a comment

When I was seven, I began my musical career by writing a song about going to the drugstore for candy. My first composition was entitled, “If I had a Penny.” Now you know how old I am. There were five kids in my house, and only one parent working for wages. Money was tight. I… Continue reading Best Music Lessons Ever

You Can Take the Girl Out of Iowa . . .

Posted in college, food cravings, fruit, humor, Iowa, memoir, Midwestern, teaching, travel, VenezuelaLeave a comment

At the end of my ten-week student teaching in Venezuela, one of the teachers said that I could interview to come back to teach at Campo Alegre the following year. She said they were always looking for American teachers. “You can stay with me during the summer,” she said, “until you get your apartment.” The… Continue reading You Can Take the Girl Out of Iowa . . .