To Iowa and back

Went to Iowa and back on Friday and Saturday. 1100 miles, a visitation, a funeral for a great man, a gathering of relatives, and little sleep.

So glad to be back home.

Some random thoughts from the road:

• I am glad that I spend a good part of my childhood (and trace much of my heritage) in Iowa.
• I wish that my mom would have lived long enough to know The Beautiful Bride and Suzie, Kenzo, and Mabel. She would love them all.
• And they would love her.
• I am thankful that I have had to make a couple of quick trips back to Iowa recently because I have learned so much more about my mom who died when I was 14.
• I think that the cemetery at Center Chapel near Keosauqua Iowa is the most peaceful place on earth.
• Seems to me that there are a lot of small towns in Iowa (and Illinois, and Missouri...) that are one generation from drying up and blowing away.
• A pork tenderloin sandwich is a yummy thing.
• Every time I drive thought it I think that St. Louis Missouri is a bigger city than I think it is.
• The carhops at Sonics in Tennessee seem much nicer than the ones in Illinois.
• It is fun to drive on gravel roads.
• I am amazed at how much back story every person has to their life. Heartache, intrigue, success, disaster...
• McFlurries from McDonald's are not nearly a good as Blasts from Sonic.
• For some reason related to ethanol, mid-grade gas is cheaper than low-grade gas in Iowa.