All in the Name of Fun

While I was growing up, if I would have asked anyone to make a list of 10 adjectives to describe me...I'm guessing that "competitive" would have made the list. Maybe it's because I'm an overachiever, maybe it's because I'm short, or maybe it's because I'm a middle child. Regardless of the reason, I'm amazed at how non-competitive I've become! Sometimes I wonder if I just got burnt out on competition. Between showing cattle, 4-H and FFA offices, awards and competitions, and other school activities, I seriously wonder if I just had enough of it.

This isn't a new ponder, I've thought about it a lot over the last few years. But it once again entered my mind a couple of weeks ago when a group of us went bowling. Oh man, the bowling alley was exactly as I remember it from when I was growing up. They even still have those black balls with the red and blue triangles that we used to learn to bowl! And every time I got up to the lane, I could hear my Grams telling me what to do..."move over a board, reach for that arrow, you're turning your wrist, you have to follow through...". And I'm glad she wasn't there because she would have been so disappointed in the number of pins I knocked down (or didn't knock down is more like it)! But I had the best time, I just laughed all night, and didn't really care how bad I did! We even bowled a game where every frame we did something crazy like bowl with your other hand, bowl with your eyes closed, bowl between your legs, and bowl backwards (Grams might be rumbling right now that we messed around at the alley!) But it wasn't at all about winning or losing, it was about having fun. And that we did.

I've still got a competitive streak, especially when it comes to board games (and cheaters), but for the most part I've really been amazed at my preference for staying out of the limelight. Where I've really noticed it over the last few years is in my professional life. It's somewhat important to be involved in the professional organization, hold offices, serve on committees, and get awards...but I don't really have any interest in doing so. A funny thing happened a few weeks ago when I presented my research at a national meeting; I won second place in the poster division and really didn't even know it was a competition until right before the meeting! I know it's all going to be important the next time I look for a job in the profession, but right now I'm pretty content with the awards from way back when that are tucked away in a box, probably getting dusty and tarnished.

It's Iowa and We Don't Grow Potatoes

When you grow up in Iowa, you get really used to meeting people at national conferences and having them say "oh yah, Iowa, where they grow potatoes." And always you think, "no that's Idaho, get your geography right." It wasn't too complicated, all we had in Iowa was corn, beans, pigs and cows. But these days Iowa agriculture is becoming pretty diverse and lots of niche markets have surfaced. But the one thing that blows my mind is how many wind turbines I can see when I leave our farm. We harvest the wind! They've been doing it forever in California and the west; but who would have thought Iowa? I know they're doing good for this whole 'go green' movement; but my jury is still out whether I like the way they fill up the north central Iowa countryside. I guess I have way too much of my father in me...image has a lot of influence on decisions I make and things I accept. I'm sure I'll just need to get used to the turbines because they are here to stay. Wonder what will be next that I'll just need to get used to.

Where I Come From

As I was preparing to move back to Iowa, it seemed like people generally asked me one of two questions..."who are you going to hang out with?" or "what will you find to do for fun?" I wasn't particularly worried about either of these things because I knew what was in store. When you grow up in rural America...you know how to make due with what you have and you get creative in finding ways to entertain yourselves. I love to think back to the days when empty grain bins served as playhouses and crusted mud puddles made the perfect fake brownies and we performed like Dorothy Hamil on the frozen ponds. But yesterday I was reminded of just how crazy we can be to find fun things to do. We pulled out our bicycles and headed to Perry for the BRR ride. Rain or shine or blowing snow, this ride takes place every February. I guess it's intended to give us a little cure of our cabin fever! Lucky for us, Mother Nature brought out the sun and some 40 degree weather for the ride from Perry to Rippey...only she forgot to calm the wind as we rode into it the whole way. We joined about 3000 other people in having a blast on a winter day just dreaming of the week we'll spend on RAGBRAI this summer. It's the little things that get you through the winter. And I guess we have been raised to enjoy life and make the most of every situation.

Time

As I recover from the holidays and get back into the swing of work; my mind wanders back to the things that brought tears to my eyes over the holidays. One of those things had to do with my mom's family and how much they mean to each other. Whether it's their immediate family, extended family or relatives, they go the extra mile to make sure they see each other and spend some time together. My auntie Paula even made another surprise visit from Arizona so she could spend some time with her sisters in the frozen tundra. Their value of time together really exemplifies one of my favorite sayings "the most important things in life...aren't things."

Whether for work or play we spend most of our lives building relationships with other people. One of the things about growing up in the country is that you spend a lot of time together mostly because you have to entertain yourselves....but that time together usually results in tight knit families and friends. It makes me think about my Aunt Suzy and how important people are to her, which leads me to this picture I gleaned from Grams' photo albums. It's of Suzy and her cousin Sherry having a tea party out in the yard (covered in snow). I guess she knew early on that it's important to take time out to just slow down and share some time with others. I know that I really appreciate all the days that she stops by my house at lunchtime just to sit a spell and chat. Sometimes she sees joy and sometimes she sees tears, but she always comes back because she knows the value of spending time together.