My days in Iowa are growing short. A week from today, I will pack up the remaining items I have, hook up my boat and head to Texas. If all things go right, I will be sitting in our home in Lewisville next Sunday evening, enjoying some down time with Kim, and maybe the grandkids will be around too! But before I go, there are some things that need to be said!
A few years back, Kim and I moved from Waterloo to Cedar Falls. We had a nice home, but never really liked having our neighbors so close, and as close as they were, never really got to know anyone that lived next door or across the street. After five years there, we started looking for something more........we wanted to build and we wanted some room. I spent a lot of time driving around the Iowa countryside, looking for just the right spot. After a year of looking, still nothing. It seemed the search was a bit futile. I then put a "wanted" ad in the swap sheet. We were really looking for something that was primarily south of Waterloo. We got lots of calls, but most of them were about properties that were in northern Butler and Northern Bremer counties. One of them, however, was just north of Janesville, Iowa, which was close, so, I went and took a look at it.
It wasn't perfect, but it was the right size, had easy access to Waterloo/Cedar Falls and Waverly. It was six acres, meaning, no neighbors, that was nice. The School size was a little bit of a concern, as our youngest son Blake was still in High School and I wasn't sure he would be that thrilled about attending a school with a graduating class size of 16. The property was also right on the highway, which was a little concerning to me from a noise standpoint, but it wasn't terrible. After some negotiations with the property owner, which were very slanted towards him, I decided it was going to become our property and bought it. Shortly after, I was speaking with Kevin and Connie Hansen and they told me their builder lived next door and introduced me to Rick Garcia who owns Garcia Properties in Cedar Falls. Rick began construction immediately. I spent a lot of lunch hours driving up to Janesville to look at the progress of our new home in late summer/early fall of 2006, asking questions and offering suggestions and ideas.
Blake decided it was Janesville H.S. that he wanted to attend and we began the transformation from "big city" to small town life. It had its trials and tribulations early on. First, there was the "transfer rule" involving high school athletes. Blake fell into this rule and was ineligible for varsity sports the first 90 days. He was upset, which was upsetting to Kim and I. The other thing, as we quickly learned from some of the other parents in the community.....they knew more about us than we knew about ourselves. We found that comical. No one knew us, they only knew what the tin can and string game had told them. It reminded me of telling a secret and passing it around the room. Have to love small town gossip. For what it's worth, none of it was damaging, most of it was just very inaccurate and kind of made us chuckle.
The one thing that really came from all that was some very strong friendships and very special relationships. To leave, and not acknowledge these would not be very small town friendly of me. I tried to stop and see some folks, and say my good-byes, but there wasn't any way I could get around to everyone; this is for those I saw and those I didn't.
Doug and Corrine Bettis: We've known each other for a very long time. Doug and I worked together at Warren Transport for almost 24 years. Being able to pop in and see them, talk about Janesville, work and fishing, was always very nice. Rex and Carole Tompkins were also Janesville residents that were part of the Warren family. Loved seeing Carole and was fortunate enough to buy Rex a beer last night during Janesville Days.
Mike and Serena Zwanzinger, Christine Billingsley, Tova Mather, April Mueller, Chris Coffman, Josh Hansen, Al and Robin Johnson and myself, all members of the Janesville Days Committee at one time or another (and all others past and present). No matter who or when, the committee puts in a huge effort each year to raise money, hold planning meetings and put on the event the last weekend of July known as Janesville Days. The best part of Janesville Days was the Friday fireworks show put on by Jeff Mather and J&M Displays. While you are never going to get a group of people to agree on everything, this one did a pretty darn good job of getting along and getting it done. Good job folks. I somehow got put on the Prom committee for a couple years as well. Probably would have run for some council position if I hadn't lived outside the city limits. I like this community that well.
Maurie and Cheryl Bolt, love you two and your kids. Maurie, you're lucky to be alive, you dork. Put on a safety harness next time you go on the roof and don't do it in the winter! Thanks for all your help when I needed it and thank you both for being great friends. Cheryl, I'm sure we'll see you sooner than I will Maurie cause I hear you have already been planning a trip.
Dan and Wendy Brace, love you both too. Wendy, tell the sissy he should have manned up and came with us last night. Wish I could have seen him Friday night, first time I haven't seen the fireworks with Dan in four or five years I think. He loves them as much as I do. Danny, you were always there when I called. I appreciate that. Thanks for letting me use tools, the trailer and for everything else you did. Wendy, I don't know if we ever played together at Eick's, but we played a lot as adults. Pool parties, Tap (Janesville Trap) parties, bus trips, there was always a reason to get together with a group, wasn't there? If there wasn't, we made one up.
Scott and Brenda Immerzel and Mark and Collette Hagadorn: Brenda and Collette are sisters. Brenda has a twin named Glenda. The Schares girls are from....anyone? Yep, you guessed it....Jesup! Okay, most of you said Gilbertville cause that's where all the Schares, Beckers and Weber's are from, right? Scott, thanks for all your help too. As most of you have probably surmised from this blog, I'm not that mechanically inclined and every male in Janesville is. Thank god! Scott (Squeak) and Brenda have a cabin in Lansing that they were gracious enough to allow me to use on more than one occasion for my Bass Fishing adventures. Mark and Collette, always loved seeing you up in Harpers. I know most of the time I was a party pooper cause I had to get up early to fish, but not always. Thank you for your hospitality as well. Scott and Mark, bring the girls to Lewisville and Texas Motor Speedway. Always welcome.
Tammy Bender: I will never, ever, ever look at a picture of some drummer, guitarist or lead singer on a rock and roll poster and not think of you. You groupie you. I speak for both Kim and I, you have been a wonderful friend. You have great kids. Love giving Casey a little of his own medicine. (yes, Casey, I could have out run you, no problem).
Tracy Bright: Not sure what Kim and I would have done without you. You were always there when we needed you. You and I were each others "dates" for everything from weddings to funerals and everything in between. Can't believe that little town never talked.....if they did, it never got back to me.
Each of you hold a special place in our hearts. But, you aren't alone. There are a ton of other folks in that town that are very special too. It is one of the best kept secrets of the Black Hawk/Bremer county areas. I know there are a ton of other people that live in Janesville that I have forgotten, like all the Wrage's, Monaghan's, Fishers, Kressin's, Thode's, Woodyards, Despards and Aunt Sue Stapleton who is probably wondering how she got into this blog. It takes all kinds Sue, and in the words of Larry....."my wife has seen you in your skivvies", so you deserve a spot, and recognition, I'm sure. Merle Sorenson, Shane, Leanne, Vicki......you are all wonderful people Salt of the earth. None better. You made small town life easy. You all have, and are, friends for life. Kim and I will miss all of you and we hope that you will plan to visit us in Texas.
For any of you that haven't experience small town living in this great state, and have considered it, I highly suggest it. You will find some fantastic people make up the backbone of these small communities. It will be an experience you will not soon forget! I know we won't.
No comments:
Post a Comment