Blame It All On My Roots
We were driving back to Iowa for our annual trip back and naturally the kids asked “how much longer?” We happened to be about 30 minutes from my hometown and I responded with “about 30 more minutes until we are home.” My son said, “that’s not true, home is in CO!” He’s not wrong, our home is in CO and his “home” will always (more thank likely) be in CO, but my “home” will always be in small town Iowa. It’s a special place and a place I look forward to visiting every single year. The pace of life is slower, the grocery stores are just a few aisles, you can start a tab at the local General store, and there are zero strangers (seriously zero)! It’s fun for my kids to get a glimpse of my childhood each year and it’s especially fun for me to share some of my roots with them each time we go back.
The kids are able live a little differently in Iowa than they do at home. They are able to run free on the property without fear of cars zooming by. This year they went horse back riding. They are able to drive the wheeler (a side by side Wranger). They are able to swim for hours, jumping off the diving board and going down all the water slides at the community pool for the bargain price of $3/person. They to play with their cousins for hours one end and they love nothing more. This year the Hardin Co Fair was going on the week we were home, so the kids were able to partake. The highlights being, Kenny tried mutton bustin for the first time, they were able to ride all the fair rides as well as play all the games. There was even a fair parade where they gathered their weight in all the candy. We also played at “Ninja Park” (Deer Park back in the day) and had plenty of friendly “Ninja Warrior” competitions. And we never left the grocery store (or anywhere for that matter) without someone recognizing us and making sure to say hello. It’s a special way of life they are not familiar with in CO, and I love that they have the ability to live it up each Summer.
In addition to that we spent nights on the deck. I got to mix cookie dough in my Mom’s kitchen (such a treat). There were impromptu happy hours. Lots of laughs. Multiple grocery runs. Late night conversations. And so much more. I have been asked many times why I spend week or two of PTO each year to go back to Iowa and I respond with the same thing every time, “because that is where my family lives and I enjoy going home to see them!” It’s as simple as that folks - you can blame it on my roots if you want, but there will always be a piece of me that enjoys the small town life, even if for 2 weeks/year.
Long live Summer!
AFK
