no not yet

In the winter of 78′ we lived in a  cabin overlooking the Missouri.  I taught at a pretty little college that could easily be used for Hollywood movie. The cabin was 10 miles away and navigable when the snow plow came through. Enrollment was down again. I was extremely fortunate to start work at Kirkwood College, the summer session of the same year.

As I looked at the map of our state, near Kirkwood there stood Lake MacBride. After we settled in I was quick to search the lake as well as all the back roads entering into the city. At Lake-McBride/ Coralville, I felt like I was a kid again who worked summers at a resort in Park Rapids, Minnesota in the 50’s. What a gift and the kids really liked the trails. I could give you so many memories, but one of them is that every year at the beginning of school. There was place that I would place my  folding chair and look out at the lake. It was another year. It was a time to  start  the semester.

In 2008, my wife and I spent part of anniversary watching the water topping the dam. Within minutes, the Park Rangers ask all of us to return to our cars.  The flood was here. We headed to an Iowa city restaurant and spent the rest of the day far from the war with water.

With my help, the kids  walked to  the earthen dam and headed to a small hill with passages almost to the top and the view  of the surrounding area. This was an adventure and only 20 miles from home. They climbed a mountain!

Over two decades ago, in the late 80’s I showed my father my favorite spot. I was in jeans, boots and hoodie.  He wore  a sport coat and fedora ( a business man’s hat). After looking around, he was caught up in the surroundings. He looked at me, shook my hand and  told me something about generations and how they die and yet carry on. He passed the next year.

Recently, my son who works and lives in the west, went with me to the same spot now decades later. Not a lot had changed, but it still had that beautiful tranquility. We were on the MacBride side.

This  time I thought that I would tell  him something similar about what happened with my father at this spot.. However, he had heard my story before long ago. I was about to speak, I choked. He stopped me, and said “no, not yet Dad. “