Emptiness Tour 2021: Fourth Stop: Iowa City, IA: Wedding Plans

 


Country roads through Indiana and Illinois.  Overcast most of the day.  Temperatures down to a  chilly 71 degrees.  My daughter, and soon to be son-in-law, live in Iowa city and are getting married on August 7th.  So, time to visit for a few days to make sure that all the wedding plans are on track; including, going to Costco and buying much needed booze in bulk.

Once you get west of Illinois the US changes dramatically.  Wide open plains and serenity - at least on the surface.  Iowa was my home for 20 years - working with Gateway Computer Co., the Waitt Foundation, and, most interestingly, working for Woodbury County in promoting organic agriculture.  A land of little ethnic diversity (except in towns devoted to meat packing), almost entirely dependent on the Federal Government for farm subsidies (ironically, most hate big government and strongly disapprove of other industries that get subsidies),   

Iowa, having a small population, is more stark in the differences between people.  People know who you are.  I was the "hippie California lawyer" who, dare I say, saw a future in organic agriculture.  Horror of horrors.  "I can't sell that on the Chicago Commodities Exchange!"  

But, in spite of all the heads in the sand, there are some truly wonderful people.  It is heartbreaking to see rural communities die by the hand of large corporate farming.  The aging population factors into the angst felt among those who live on the sweeping beautiful landscape.  Sinclair Lewis would feel right on Main Street here.

Enough of that: now to prepare for my daughter's wedding.  Iowa City is a beautiful place that houses the University of Iowa.  Home.

I will be leaving on Monday for points west.  

PS. 

Field of Dreams:

"I tried to like sitar music," Ray Kinsella. (Dyersville, IA).
"We just don't recognize life's most significant moments while they're happening." Archie Graham.

Bridges of Madison County:

“The old dreams were good dreams; they didn't work out but I'm glad I had them.”
“The human heart has a way of making itself large again even after it's been broken into a million pieces.”

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