non-ode to iowa

since this blog is about my journey in chicago, i normally try to post events/thoughts related to that.  but i just returned from a week of vacation in iowa where i learned about my roots, received so much love from friends and family and ran 16 miles on a trail i once considered (as an adolescent) to be soooooo long.

the week started with a visit to iowa city with my dear friend.  this is one attempt of many, many attempts to capture the beauty of us ;) LOL.

 sherami was a trooper in so many ways, one of them being accompanying me on a 14-mile run.  she took this photo of me outside of the "boyd's fashionable acres" that was along the highway.  i was proud to continue in their harvest of fashion as i sported my fuel belt and shorts-with-built-in-underwear.

while riding the megabus and various toyota-made vehicles, i tried to take pictures of the lush, simple, green beauty that i took for granted.  now that i reside in a (mainly) concrete jungle (though, chicago does do a great job of creating green spaces), i find myself longing for the views i once considered everyday-ordinary.

next stop was des moines where i visited more lovely friends.  below is katherine, who has budded into a compassionate gardener.  her flight is due to a discovery of rust on her flowers.

i also had two lovely visits with other friends, but no photographic documentation.  when i arrived in fort dodge, some of the highlights included:

a visit to the apple orchard (yum!)

and time spent reading a journal that my grandfather had written during his visit to chicago the year of the world's fair (1934).  it was so fascinating to read his first experiences with escalators, elevators (which made his stomach feel funny - read below) and to see that he visited many places that are now home to me.  he wasn't the best speller (as the cover shows), but i was so thankful that he recorded his activities and events of his month-long visit to the windy city.  in addition to his recordings, he also had written some of his favorite recipes.  one being "sandwich spread" - an interesting concoction calling for four gallons of green tomatoes... hm... :)

the trip ended with a 16-mile run in the beautiful snell crawford park.  i loved seeing the cardinals, goldfinches, sunrise and green, green, green!

beginning of the trail

watching the sun rise over the treetops

photo taken while running, very blurry shot... but sort of pretty in a van gogh way

through reading my grandpa's journal and talking with my dad about his family history, i realized that i come from humble, blue collar beginnings.  i realized that i grew up in a very rural sort of way and that i will always carry that simplicity deep within me.  when i was initially reentering iowa, i was surprised at how much more "rural" it was to me after living in the city.  i realize that sounds so snobbish!  but i was so thankful for being able to perceive my past with newer, more appreciative eyes that tried to soak all of its goodness in.

but now, i am back to the concrete jungle with green spaces.  refreshed.  ready.  my internship starts tomorrow and my last 32 weeks of school begins next monday.  what will be next? :)