This morning I had a whole host of ideas withwhich to come up with today’s blog entry. There was Chase Bank that had 36 % profits this last quarter. A major bailout recipient. Then there was the 72 year old woman that is trying to have a baby through in vitrofertilization. Actually all I could come up withwas….WHY!!????? But I am not a childless, apparently rich, female that can. Those along with a few others that may be in my mind but I am not foolish enough to let anyone in on it. LOL!
What I did settle on is my tribute to those that did when I was young and those that are doing now that Iam…err…ahem…older. As I walked the streets of my home town with my brother Karl on the way to the 125 year celebration parade I made notice of all the land marks that came to mind. Placed around Dick Schemel’s house are remnants of the days gone by. He has old railroad signs that were near the track here in Inwood. I told Karl that I have a spot in history as far as Inwood is concerned. I told him that I was a member of the second grade class led by Irene Anderson, our teacher, that rode the last passenger train out of Inwood headed west to Canton, South Dakota. I wish I could remember what Miss Anderson said to us. What ever she said I think the jest of it was this was a memorable day. Funny what railroad sign brings out in your memory banks. I also do not know this as fact but the class train trip is true. Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Dick Schemel for being good role models for me and everyone in the Inwood community.
More conversations with Karl as we walked marked a comment about the alley way that we were walking down. It was so 1950′s. It renewed my kid heart. It was in these alley’s that my friends and eye took short cuts to run away from each other. It was a view of people not seen by the everyday traveler. There were gardens of vegetables and flowers. Green lawns of Kentucky Bluegrass flourishing in the the rich and fertileIowas soil. In one back yard were pens with game birds that were/are hatched, feed, and released to help in bird management. Don Pedersen should get kudos from all the community for the many good things that he has done through the years. HE is a great guy that deserves way more kudos than he gets.
Now to the real point of this blog. The alley…I know I am mentioning it again but the alley itself and the condition of the alley is what is important at this juncture. As a kid making your way through an alley during my youth was not bereft of challenges. Parked cars, tree branches, and burn piles were the least of our problems. What I remember the most were the pot holes in the alley. I think some of the potholes had living reptiles in them. They were just waiting for the right kid to steer the Schwinn bicycle into the trap. I made mention to Karl as well of this fact. That day the alley was without a bump. The gravel trail would be the envy of every dirt head I ever worked with. All the grass in the center of the alley was vibrantly green and it appeared to be even more manicured than the owners lawn. IT is a tribute to all the home owners of the area but I would like to give kudo’s to the city maintenance that has been in the capable hands of Scott Hansen. The parks were neat and clean as well. I remember the maintenance crew of my youth. I am not going to mention any names for this (mostly because I cannot remember their names) but the maintenance department in the Inwood of my youth left a little to be desired. To be honest with everyone, I am sure that whoever they were, they did the work. My problem with their work was they cared not as to the outcome. The subjects that I have pointed out in this post are not of that ilk. I am glad to see that they take pride in their surroundings and the work that they do. It was appreciated by all the day that I visited Inwood, Iowa. Now the friends of my youth are leading the town clebration. All volunteers for a project that gets people to gather together for fun and a little moneywill be made to do it all over when the 4th of July comes again.
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