This past week I enjoyed attending and taking photos at the Easter Egg Hunt and festivities at Community Hope Church in Montezuma.
      More than 700 youth and families attended the community event on Saturday, April 19. It was open to families from across the county and area. You were not required to be a church member or even attend church to participate.
      There were bouncy games, face painting, train rides, Easter Egg Hunts for youth from preschool to fifth grade (including special needs youth), photos with the Easter Bunny, popcorn, snowcones, lunch of hot dogs and chips and lots of fellowship.
        It’s a great event and wonderful way to reach out to families with the good news.
     I had to take several breaks throughout the day to rest up. I also took time to enjoy a grape flavored snowcone. I’m glad there were plenty of chairs around to rest up.
       As a journalist, small-town community events are one of my favorites to cover. I also enjoy covering the Poweshiek County Fair. This year will mark my 26th taking photos of kids and their prize-winning animals at the county fair. I’ve never missed covering the swine show. I’m now taking photos of kids of kids I photographed 20 plus years ago.
      There are also community events such as the Fourth of July parades and festivities in Montezuma and Grinnell, the Brooklyn Flag Festival and various other community gatherings such as Montezuma’s Summer Nights.
        This year’s Brooklyn Flag Festival is being held in celebration of the town’s 175th birthday.
       Having grown up in Oklahoma, which didn’t become a state until 1907, communities are not near as old as Montezuma (1848), Brooklyn (1854) and Grinnell (1854).
    My hometown of Tulsa has been around for a number of years prior to statehood. The town was incorporated on Jan. 18, 1898. By 1890 the town sheltered approximately one thousand people. In 1900 the federal census reported 1,390 residents, and at 1907 statehood Tulsa had a population of 7,298.
        Today, the town has 410,722 residents. Toss in all the small towns, and there is a million folks. I’ve always said that all big towns are is a bunch of small towns.
       I grew up in the Florence Park Neighborhood about five miles from downtown. Most of the homes were built in the 1920s. My folks paid $9,000 for my boyhood home in 1959. Today, some homes in that neighborhood sell from between $270,000 and up to a half million.
       I’m proud of my hometown and my upbringing. I’m thankful for all the experiences life has afforded me from growing up in Tulsa, throwing newspapers in the 1970s with my mom, going back to school in my late 20s and 30s and moving to Iowa where I met my lovely bride, Debbie.
Moving on 
       My colon cancer healing journey continues onward. My surgery wounds are healing nicely. I meet with an oncologist in the hospital and again a week ago. At the recommendation of my surgeon, I will be taking a three-month regiment of chemo starting May 5.
       I should be done in time for the Iowa State Fair and the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion.
     I’m thankful the cancer was contained within my colon. There was no indication that it had spread. The chemo is being done as a precautionary measure to make sure I am cancer free and have the best chance of a more positive future.
     Treatments will include a two-hour infusion every three weeks in West Des Moines and four chemo pills daily for 15-days with a week break.
      I remain hopeful that I can still get out and about and stay on the move while taking the chemo. I’m a firm believer that healing comes from not only medicine, but staying positive, laughing, spending time with family and friends, praying, continue doing good things and enjoying life.
      I’ve always had that kind of approach to life.
     As I’ve mentioned before, I’m so thankful for all the prayers, support, cards in the mail, Facebook greetings and much more through this journey. I’m so thankful that my cancer hasn’t spread and that my future is looking bright.
       Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day.

        As I continue to heal from my colon cancer surgery, I am slowly getting out and about more.
      On Saturday, April 12 Debbie and I along with our oldest nephew, held our second annual Montezuma Business Expo and Craft Show.
        We took this event over last year and decided to keep it going. It had previously been under the direction of the former Montezuma Business Boosters.
       We had many new vendors this year and a study stream of attendees. Many of our vendors reported good sells.
       Getting the word out about these kind of events is always a challenge. We advertise through Facebook and that does reach out to many. We also hang up flyers in Grinnell, Brooklyn and Montezuma to get the word out.
       We are very appreciative of the Montezuma Schools and custodial staff for use of the school’s central gym, chairs and tables and making this community event possible.
        That evening, Debbie and I and rest of my Iowa family enjoyed supper out. It was my birthday supper, only six months late. It doesn’t bother me as time spent with family is time well spent.
       Debbie signed and sold nine copies of her newest book in the Hope Series, “Accidental Reveal,” at the show.
        This is Debbie’s fifth novel since the spring of 2018 and fourth in the Hope Series. Her other book is titled, “Mister Christmas.” It’s a novella that she released in the late fall of 2023 about an Iowa town that almost didn’t have a Christmas celebration.
          Following is the synopsis and bases of Debbie’s Hope series of books.
         Hope Iowa is a small town full of everyday people. Like most small towns, people in Hope usually know your personal business, sometimes better than you do. But they also are the first to bring a casserole and offer a shoulder to cry on when tragedy strikes. Some people have secrets they are desperately trying to hide while others’ lives are an open book. Some are longing for the day when they can break out of their small-town chains and others are hopeful to return home. Join our journey as we tag along and learn about the lives of the fine folks of Hope, Iowa.
         Together, Debbie and I have now published eight books.
       This includes my own book of 75 newspaper columns entitled, “Good Things are Happening,” that was released in October 2024.
        I picked up the “Good Things are Happening” focus on life while in college in the 1990s at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
         I was a non-traditional student in my 30s in school. I overcame many obstacles along the way in earning my degree.
        No matter the outcome of a test or assignment, I just kept pushing myself. I never gave up. I also learned the importance of getting help.
        I attended many tutoring sessions in English, math and chemistry.
       I spent my evenings working as a custodian at the university. I listened to lots of Bible tapes to build my faith and along the way. I picked up the “Good Things are Happening” slogan listening to the Word of God.
It’s been an important part of my life ever since.
       The other day I was interviewing three Montezuma high school girls, two of which are seniors, for a future article. When I was done with the interview, I told the young ladies that know matter what life brings them, don’t ever give up.
       I spoke briefly of my struggles with high school English and how I went on to attend one of if not the top journalism program in the world.
       I encouraged them to keep going and not let the world’s distractions get in their way.
       I hope my encouragement helps them along their life journey.
     On a side note, I meet with an oncologist this week to talk about the possibility of going on a six month regiment of chemo to make sure I am cancer free.
     The surgeon feels that he got all the cancer. However, there was a small strand within the cancer that raised some concerns that it might have started to spread. 
      I want to do what is going to give me the best chance at a cancer-free quality of life in the coming days and years.
       I do appreciate all the prayers, thoughts and cards in the mail and support through this journey.
     You are the real heroes and I appreciate each and every one who has taken the time to send me a kind note and a pray to God in Heaven.
       Thank you!
       Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day.

       Debbie and I drove to Grinnell last week to run a couple errands and pick up some much needed groceries.
         We stopped at the Dairy Barn for a late lunch and I mentioned to a couple of the young ladies at the cash register that I had cancer surgery a couple weeks ago.
            “Ice cream will help you get through it,” one of the young ladies said.
            She’s right, I love ice cream.
I’ve also learned in life that family and friends are also a big part of the equation. 
            If it wasn’t for all my family and friends flooding Heaven with prayers, I couldn’t have gotten through all this.
           And having a strong, faith-filled wife has been an important part in helping me meet this challenge head on.
            Debbie has been by my side the entire time.
            What a blessing!
            My surgery went well and as the surgeon told me, “I do this all the time.”
Amazingly, I’ve had very little pain from the surgery.
            I was at Methodist Hospital in Des Moines for 10-days and nine-nights.
            I had a number of nurses keeping an eye on me and most were very good at their job.
            In the early going, nurses were poking and prodding me almost hourly. They were constantly checking my blood sugar and drawing blood for this and that.
            I only had one set back in the hospital when I had to have a tube put in my nose to drain my stomach. That was not a pleasant experience. It caused me to get a terrible sore throat and I couldn’t hardly swallow.
           The tube came out three days later and the next day I was able to eat solid food for the first time in a week. I enjoyed toast and bacon for breakfast.
            At the writing of this column, I have been now home for just more than a week.
           Outside of getting tired on an occasion, I have my color back and I’m feeling stronger every day. I have no plans to run a marathon in the future, but I will be back to my old self soon.
        I’m also meeting with an oncologist later this month to talk about going on a six-month regiment of chemo. The surgeon got all the cancer, but there was a strand within the cancer that looked as if it might have tried to spread that caused some concern. The chemo is being suggested as a precaution and to make sure all is clear. I’m going to do what is best for my future.
           And while in the hospital, I wrote a sermon. I didn’t put it on paper, but I have it my heart. You never know what the future holds.
         I’ve reached out to many friends and family via Facebook Messenger, text and by telephone and enjoyed sharing my story and talking about the goodness of God.
           Many shared their thoughts and prayers with me prior to my surgery. Following are what some of my friends and family had to say.
           “We are PRAYING,” a long-time friend wrote. “I believe God led you to all the right places and early so this would be discovered and you can get it out and on the road to healing. Be encouraged that these people are experts and all will go well.”
           “We have been praying for you in my Sunday School class,” wrote a friend of the family. “Love ya and hope you’re back to normal soon.”
         “We will pray that your surgery will go well and that all cancer will be removed,” wrote a friend in Oskaloosa. “Also for quick and complete recovery. I speak peace over you and Debbie.”
            “Prayers for you,” a friend in Tulsa wrote. “God has you and will take care of everything.”
            “Speaking the peace of God over you,” wrote a friend in Brooklyn.
         “We will be praying for you,” wrote a friend and her husband in Tulsa. “We feel confident that the surgery will go well. I know that anxiety of going under the knife. Listen to worship music over and over.”
            My friends sent me a photo of Jesus in the operating room guiding the surgeons. It brought tears to my eyes.
            “Praying for you in this journey,” wrote a cousin in Oklahoma. “I hope they get this figured out and get you back on the road to good health.”
            There are so many more kind words, thoughts and prayers I could share. This is a small sample and I appreciate them all.
            My family and friends make me the richest person in this world.
          I’m already looking forward to a trip this early summer to my native hometown of Tulsa for a cousin reunion. It’s going to be great to see everyone and reconnect.
            Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day.

          The encouragement, support and prayers that I have received since learning earlier this month that I have colon cancer has been heartwarming and comforting.
         I learned of the nasty cancer during a colonoscopy at the Iowa Clinic. At the writing of this column, I will be operated on at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines later this month.
      The surgeon will perform the surgery with the aid of a robot. The technology that is available in the medical field is quite amazing.
       I’m expected to be in the hospital until I am able to eat solid food. I’m hopeful to come home in a few days.
        According to the surgeon, this is a routine surgery that he does often and both Debbie and I are confident that all will go well.
            I’ve spoken to some who have had this type of surgery and all have gone on to live healthy lives. That is what I am expecting, too!
            One person I spoke to said her husband had colon cancer and he has been going strong for 18 years. Another said their sister had the surgery and she is doing great some 15 years later.
            I’ve lost around 80 pounds in the last 10 years, from my heaviest at 352 pounds. It hasn’t come off fast or easy. I’m working hard to eat healthier and it is bring positive change.
          This cancer journey came about in early December when I began experiencing stomach pains. I visited my doctor, then a  specialist in the endoscopy department at the Iowa Clinic on Feb. 7. That led to me having a CT scan in late February and the colonoscopy earlier this month.
            Drinking that nasty cleanout solution is no picnic.
            It’s the worst part about the ordeal.
           I do not know any other details of the cancer, but I am thankful that it was discovered at what I believe is an early stage.
          When the surgeon told us that I had cancer, it was a shock and tough pill to swallow. My first thought, “I’m going to beat this.”
          Growing up, I would have never thought about getting cancer.
       Outside of a few rare cases, my family doesn’t have a long history of the nasty disease. My mom had breast cancer that ended up spreading in her body. She passed away in September 2009 from complication of the disease 12 years later. 
           I’m proud of the fight she put up and more proud of her stance in life. My parents taught me so much, including the importance of keeping the good book in my heart and mind.
          It’s kept me out trouble, encouraged me, guided me through my challenges and dreams and kept me moving forward in life.
            I’m thankful for all the life experiences along the way.
            Here is what some of my friends and family wrote about this cancer journey.
           “We are praying for you and believing that you’re going to be well again,” my cousin in Arkansas wrote. “We love you, J.O.”
           Another cousin told me not to be a tough guy and to ask for help or pain medicine if I need it. He then went on to share about his health journey. I think he should write a book.
           “You will be fine,” he said. “Try to enjoy the rest.”
           “You will surely be in our prayers and I will believe for the hand of God to reach down and touch you,” a school chum wrote.
            “Please take care of yourself and fight through,” another cousin said.
            “I have full faith that you will come thru it with no problems,” a cousin in Oklahoma said.
            “You and Debbie are in my prayers for a successful surgery and a complete and swift recovery,” a high school classmate wrote.
           “Your health journey was my first prayer this morning,” an older cousin said. “I am glad you have a good faithful wife by your side to support you along the way.”
            “I’ll pray for you and Debbie,” one cousin said. “Don’t worry about going under the knife, the doctors are pros.”
           Another cousin in Florida encouraged me to stay strong and believe in the Lord’s power to heal. She suggested that I listen to a song, “Peace in Christ,” by Claire Crosby, which I did.
           “We will be here for anything you need that we can provide,” she added. “I know you have so much support around you.”
           Another fellow and good friend took time during a visit on the telephone to pray with me. He said it was his best Methodist prayer, which made us both chuckle.
           “Good Things are Happening,” a former classmate wrote me. “Believing with all my heart you will be good as new after the surgery.”
            There have been so many kind words and prayers sent our way and I appreciate them all. I’m looking forward to beating this cancer and getting back to my love of life and newspaper work. I thank you for your support and prayers.
             Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day.

         I checked off another milestone in my journalistic career last week at the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union State Basketball Tournament. I was there to cover the game between the Montezuma Bravettes and Algona Bishop-Garrigan Golden Bears.
      Even though the game didn’t turnout like I and all Montezuma fans wanted, being at state courtside is quite an honor.
        Only the top eight teams in each division from Class 1A – 5A advance to state.
        And for Montezuma, this was their sixth trip in the last eight years. I’ve covered five of the state games as the first one I was on hiatus from journalistic work.
     I covered the Montezuma boys at state in 2019, 2020 and 2021, when they won the Class 1A state basketball title.
       That was quite an experience watching that game unfold and witnessing the team, the fans and just being a part of that winning atmosphere.
       And I’ve covered the Grinnell girls’ basketball team in 2019 at state and the Grinnell boys’ basketball team for a three-year stretch at state in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
       And as often happens in Iowa during state tournaments, a round of ice, snow and cold hit the state.
      The weather in this state can turn on the bad switch on a moment’s notice. It can be 75 degrees one day and the next it will be 20 degrees or some other ridiculous ice cold temperature with a half foot of snow.
After hearing the initial weather reports from last week’s weather, at first, I was using the “wait and see” approach about attending the game on Wednesday, March 5.
       As the weather reports kept rolling in, Debbie and I decided it would be best if I booked a motel room and headed to Des Moines on Tuesday night.
        The state basketball tournament goes on, even in bad weather. 
       So, that is what I did. I was able to get a room less than a block from the Wells Fargo Arena, so walking there was no problem.
       It was great to be courtside at the tournament. It’s one of the many life opportunities that I have enjoyed since returning to college and earning my degree.
     But more importantly, it’s the players, their families, the kids, the coaches and the fans that make it special. And I get to be there and watch it all.
      Now that the tournaments are nearly finished (the boys wrap up on March 14), it’s time to think about spring sports.
        There’s track and field events coming and softball and baseball will get underway in late spring.
On the college level, the basketball conference tournaments get underway this week with the March Madness brackets being announced on Sunday, March 16.
         Then it will be three weeks of basketball games and more games to watch at the Parker house. 
         Then toss in college softball.
      Debbie and I are big fans of softball, especially the OU Sooners. We enjoy watching them play on television and have seen the Sooners live on several occasions at Iowa State University in recent years. We also traveled to the University of Kansas last March and watched two of the three game series.
         They are amazing, having won the national championship four years in a row. And they currently are the only D1 college softball program to be undefeated with a 22-0 record. That’s a great record for a team of freshman and transfers.
        Now that the Sooners have moved to the Southeast Conference, we had planned to attend the games at the University of Missouri-Columbia in a couple weeks.
       However, getting tickets is next to impossible. In fact, the games at MU are all sold out and we missed out.
       We talked about traveling to Fayetteville to watch the Sooners take on the Razorbacks, but those tickets sold out almost as quickly.
        Plans are underway for a  cousin reunion on my mom’s side later in the spring in Tulsa. We might have a chance to get tickets and watch the Sooners in Norman during that trip.
       Our dream is to someday attend the college world series in Oklahoma City and hopefully have the chance to see OU and many other nationally ranked teams.
        On a side note, now that I am 65 years of age, I can get a lifetime Iowa fishing license. That sounds like a good summer activity.
        Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day.

          I got wind the other day of a group of Montezuma High School boys who started a garage band. I think it was Debbie who found out about the band on Facebook.
        She’s pretty good about sharing news story ideas with me and I appreciate it. It’s great to have a wife who helps me better serve the area.
        Anyway, I reached out to one of the band member’s moms, Dana Desrochers, this past weekend and she arranged an interview with the band on Sunday early afternoon at the school.
     Band members are Ethan Desrochers on vocals, Isaiah Wilson on guitar, Evan Haughery on bass and Easton Hudnut on drums. Desrochers and Wilson are in ninth grade and Hudnut and Haughey are both in tenth grade.
    They call their band “Unknown” and the boys have been playing together for several years in the Montezuma Pep Band. They first talked about starting a band three years ago, but nothing came of that until this past fall.
       Since that time, they have been practicing during the lunch hour and on weekends at the school. They also practice at band member’s homes.
        The boys enjoy playing rock and roll and heavy metal music and have played at basketball games. They’ll be playing at Montezuma Summer Nights on June 19 on the Montezuma Square and will also perform at the Montezuma Variety Show on March 22 at the school.
        The boys plan to write and record some of their own music and produce an album. I’m looking forward to writing another story when they release their album.
        I told the boys that back in the day when I was in high school, we had live bands at school dances. One of the popular bands during that time was called “Daddy’s Money.” A classmate of mine, Rick Hemmert, played drums in a band with his brothers.
        They played all the cover tunes of the 1970s rock and roll music.
      “Daddy’s Money” played at my high school senior prom in 1978. They later changed the band name to “Paradise.”
       Hemmert went on to enjoy a long career in music playing drums and recording albums with Carla Olson and the Textones.
        Growing up, I didn’t have a stereo. I had a Panasonic tape recorder that my mom bought me to record a piano recital in sixth grade. I rode my bicycle to Radio Shack about a mile and one half from my boyhood home and bought a spool of stereo speaker wire and ear plug piece to attach it to my tape recorder.
        I found an old television speaker at a neighborhood television repair shop a block from my home.
       I used a strand of speaker wire and rigged up a stereo in my bedroom. I would pop in a cassette tape and listen to my music.
      My first cassette tape was by Three Dog Night and featured “Joy to the World” and “I’ve Never Been to Spain,” both written by the late Hoyt Axton.
       I learned to play “Joy to the World” on the piano and performed it and Handel’s “Messiah” at recitals. I also learned to play “Let It Be” by the Beatles.
       I kind of miss playing the piano and once I retire, I might give it another try. I’m going to have to buy a keyboard to practice.
       In seventh grade, I joined the Columbia Record Club. Some of you might remember the CRG. I was able to purchase 13 cassette tapes for a penny with the stipulation that I would buy another 10 or 12 at full price plus shipping and handling.
      In junior and senior high, I hung out with a friend, Weldon, who lived a few blocks from my boyhood home. We both had newspaper routes in Tulsa in the 1970s and enjoyed music.
        He had a nice stereo and I would spend time at his house listening to music. One of my favorite albums was titled “Brain Salad Surgery” by Emerson Lake and Palmer.
        I bought my first home stereo in 1981. It featured an Akai receiver and turntable and a Yamaha tape deck and recorder. The speakers were Norman Lab.
         I paid about $750 for the setup and it was awesome sounding.
         I still have the speakers and a few years ago, I had them tested at the former Music Shop in Grinnell. The owner said they sounded like brand new.
        That’s pretty good for nearly 45-year old speakers.
        I’ve been to a number or rock and roll concerts through the years. My first one was the Dobbie Brothers in April 1979 in Tulsa.
       I saw a lot of good bands back in the day that included REO Speedwagon, Journey, Heart, Little River Band, Charlie Daniels, ZZ Top, Van Halen, Bad Company and more. I later started attending Christian bands that included DeGarmo and Key, the Joe English Band, Sweet Comfort Band, Petra, Resurrection Band, Mylon LeFever and Broken Heart, David and the Giants and the Imperials.
          Since those days, I’ve attended a few country music concerts including George Strait in Des Moines. It’s hard to beat George Strait and his guitar. What a show!
           Thanks boys for all the music memories.
         I hope the Montezuma boys keep it up. Music has the ability to bring people together. I’m rooting for them and hope that they have much success in their band and in life.
          Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day.

​        I attended the comedy night at the Brooklyn Opera House on Saturday, Feb. 22.
       It was a fun evening of improv, joke and storytelling that lasted nearly two hours.
       I’m thinking maybe I should have signed up and participated in the event.
      Then I thought that wouldn’t work because there would be nobody to take photos. I am the camera man, as youngster have called me in the past.
      That didn’t keep me from thinking about what my opening dialog would center around. The last time I was on the stage was December 1971 when I played a snowman in the sixth grade Christmas play in elementary school.
      My mom made my snowman outfit from a white bed sheet. There were two us that had snowman roles.     The other snowman had an outfit that had wire hoops to make it look like a real snowman. My outfit was a white bed sheet.
       I think some of the other kids laughed at me, but I didn’t care. It was a fun memory.
      I can’t forget about taking dancing lessons at the Pink Barn in Tulsa (a real pink barn) when I was 16. My mom paid for the lessons to give me a chance to socialize and meet girls. I learned a move or two, but didn’t find a girlfriend.
      As I was taking photos of the different acts, I was thinking about what else I might share if I were on stage. I could share funny experiences about life or talk about seeing the wonderous works of God in my life.
      I remember the time Debbie and I got ready to leave for a playoff basketball game at GMG and our garage door broke. We had to leave it open all night since it wouldn’t shut.
     My brother-in-law stopped by the next day and bolted a steel support bar across the middle of door that allowed the garage door to work again.
     We used it that way for 10 years before finally getting new garage doors and a garage door opener three plus years ago.
      And then there was time a racoon got in our garage.
      Debbie said we used a live trap to catch it and the family released in the woods the next day.
      When you live in the country, it’s best to leave the garage door shut. There are all kinds of critters out and about and at any time, one might find solace in the garage.
      I would hate to find a skunk in there.
     And then there was time our kitty brought a baby rabbit, a snake and a frog into our house. Not all at the same time.
     I could talk about almost running out of gas the time that Debbie and I were taking a mini vacation to Hannibal, Mo.
      We were rolling down Highway 61 late at night and I noticed we were about out of gas. The little yellow     “your almost out of gas” figure hadn’t yet come on the dash, but it had to be close. Thankfully, I found a gas station that was still open and was able to top off our tank.
      Debbie has never let me forget that one and often reminds me or asks if we have gas before leaving on a trip or going to Des Moines.
     And then there was time that I ran out of gas in my old 1959 Impala while out job hunting. Seems like it was around 1979. I had $3 in my pocket and a gas can in the trunk. $3 would buy a lot of gas at 25 cents a gallon in 1979. I waked about a half mile to a gas station and it was enough to get me home.
      In November 1981, I had quit by night job at a Tulsa grocery and drug store chain. The store took up half a city block and was so big, that it took eight hours to clean it.
      I got tired of working there and quit. It wasn’t one of my brightest moves, especially in the economy of the day.
     I had been looking for a new job for quite some time with no luck when a friend invited me to a youth revival in Tulsa. I was 22 at the time. I wasn’t a youth, but felt I could relate to others in attendance.
      While listening to the message, I decided after the service to ask the minister to pray with me. He was head of the youth division for the Assembly of God churches in America, which is based in Springfield, Mo.
After the service, I went to the front of the church and sat on a pew and waited about 15 or so minutes. Everyone was about cleared out and the minister asked how he could help me.
      I told him my situation and he said let’s pray and ask God to get you a job in three days. This was a new concept to me to pray and ask God to do something like helping me find a job. 
     On the second day of job hunting,  I stopped at a friend’s auto upholstery business near my boyhood home. There was a fellow in there named Bucky who asked my friend if he could leave his car there one more day so he could arrange a ride. He had a nice old Buick and was getting a new convertible top installed.
       I offered to give him a ride and he accepted.
      I followed Bucky home and then gave him a ride back to my friend’s upholstery shop to pick up his other vehicle. We started talking and he asked me what I was doing. I told him I was looking for a job.
      “They’re hiring at my job,” he told me.
     He worked in a small factory in West Tulsa that made sheaves used to move wire cable lines on large cranes.
      To make a long story short, I was interviewed and hired on the third day. It was one of the many miracles    I’ve experienced along life’s way.
      I leave you with this - keep your head up, keep dreaming and keep on walking.
      Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day.

​         Debbie and I enjoy going antiquing when we are able.
        Some of our favorite spots are the Brass Armadillo in Des Moines and Antiques Iowa in Story City north of Ames.
       The Plaza Antique Mall in Dyersville is another great antique mall featuring the old town movie theater façade at the entrance to the building.
       It’s been a number of years since we last visited The Plaza Antique Mall and we hope to get back there again soon. Being Dyersville, the antique store does have a nice selection of Ertl toy tractors and implements.
In 2009, my dad gave me his old Farmall 130 tractor with a couple implements. It came with a brush hog that my mom bought him to mow the pasture.
       He wanted me to have the tractor and Debbie and I arranged to have her brother and a friend drive to Oklahoma and bring it to Iowa.
        The Farmall 130 was manufactured in the late 1950s.
       My dad bought the tractor and implements from a neighbor in Oklahoma in the early 1980s and always enjoy mowing or driving around the yard.
       It sat in my driveway for several years and we opted to sell it to a collector and restorer in Oskaloosa. He gave us a fair price and went on to refurbish the tractor.
      I was able to take some photos of the refurbished Farmall 130 tractor in the Montezuma “Let Freedom Ring” Parade and wrote a story about it that was published in Farm Collector magazine.
      The tractor had a large dent in the front grill from the time my dad passed out from the heat while out mowing and ran into the back of the family Mercury.
       It happened to be a hot Oklahoma summer day. I’m sure my dad was thinking the grass needed mowing and due to the heat, probably should have waited until later.
      His buddy, Roger, was there at the time and saw what was happening. He was running after my dad and hollering his name. We are thankful Dad didn’t fall off or get hurt.
       Later, I was able to buy an Ertl toy tractor of the Farmall 130 at an toy store in Dyersville. 
      One of my favorite antique ventures is hunting for postcards. There are two postcard dealers at the Brass Armadillo who have an expansive offering of postcards, all of which are categorized by state, subject, farming, comical, World War II and much more. There’s even a chair and table at each dealer’s booth to use to sort through the boxes of postcards.
       Debbie will go one way and I will head to the postcard section.
      We also have enjoyed visiting antique stores in Hannibal, Kirksville, Columbia, Eldon, Marshfield, Ozark, Joplin and Lebanon in Missouri. All those cities and towns have nice antique malls. We have also visited antique malls in Illinois, Oklahoma and Kansas. 
     Going antique hunting on E-bay is another of our favorite pastimes. We have purchased a number of goodies through the on-line auction service. In fact, I’ve been buying on E-bay since 2004. My first purchase was a book on Buford Pusser, the legendary sheriff of McNary County, Tenn., who carried a big stick and kept law and order.
       His life was featured in a series of three DVDs from the 1970s. I remember seeing the first movie at a theater in Tulsa my senior year in high school.
       When buying on E-bay, be careful of the shipping costs. Some dealers have some steep prices to ship the items. Other sellers have high prices on their goods. Look around for the best deal and make your bid and leave it.
      Outside of collecting postcards, I enjoy collecting cigar boxes, Auburn rubber toy tractors, pop bottle openers, Pepsi collectables and seed corn booklets.
      Back in the day, seed corn dealers used to give their customers a pocket-size seed corn booklet. Some have various seed corn company history and others are blank or have charts to track prices and yields.
One seed corn booklet that I bought at the Old Threshers Reunion in Mount Pleasant a few years ago was used to record the farmer’s family tree.  It lists in detail the entire family.
       The seed corn books are colorful and full of history.
      What Cheer is another great place to find antique goodies if you are willing to do a lot of walking, dig through the treasures and have a pocketful of change. I like doing the digging, but I don’t have a pocketful of change, so I have to move on in some cases.
      I always enjoy entering my antiques in the Iowa State Fair. The antiques are located in Pioneer Hall. I typically win a few ribbons and once won a sweepstakes ribbon for my antique Will Rogers mantel clock.
       And now our oldest nephew enters antiques with us at the ISF. I enjoy the challenge and seeing who can pick up the most ribbons.
       And in recent years, we have purchased some items through auction services on-line and in person.
      We bought some Pepsi collectables through an auction from New York state and we also attended a two-day auction at a Pepsi bottler in northeast Missouri a few years ago. The owner had passed away and the family was selling his collection. It was amazing how much the Pepsi metal signs went for. They were all out of our price range.
      Debbie recently found a Barbie auction and had a great time digging through the large collection on-line and bidding on a few items.
     It is fun doing something we enjoy together. It’s all about the thrill of the hunt and enjoying God’s blessings.
       Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day.

​       It might be cold outside, but when I’m visiting with folks, my heart is warm and happy no matter the temperature.
      And that was the case on Saturday, Feb. 8 at the 50th wedding anniversary of George and Jane Cline of Brooklyn.
       I was invited by the family to come take photos of the life milestone and celebration held at the Michael J. Manatt Community Center.
       It was surprise event hosted by their son, Seth, and his girlfriend, Amy.
       They had a nice a turnout and it was an enjoyable afternoon with good food.
       I met a lot of good people and reconnected with some I hadn’t seen in a while.
     I took time to visit with the couple at the end of the event and learned how the Clines made it to this milestone.
     “Compromise and give and take,” said Jane as she and George visited with a few remaining guests. “There were some bad times, but the good things outweighed the bad.”
     The couple met on a blind date and Jane said they went on their first date on Sept. 21, 1973. They were married on Feb. 8, 1975. George said the weather was much worse 50 years ago than on Saturday.
     Jane spent her early years in Guernsey before moving to Brooklyn in fourth grade. George is a life-long Brooklyn resident.
      When the couple married, George worked as farmhand. The couple was able to buy their first farm, an 80-acre spread west of Brooklyn, in 1993.
      The couple still has a cow calf operation and raises chickens.
      George worked for Sig Mfg. for 13 years, then spent a number of years at Victor Manufacturing, retiring in 2017.
       “He was a factory worker and a farmer,” said Jane of her husband.
      Jane worked as a proofreader at the Brooklyn Chronicle and spent time in the BGM kitchen cooking area youngster’s meals. She spent 20 years at Manatts as an accounting clerk and performed data entry in the trucking division. She retired in 2019.
       “Family is important,” said Jane of the day’s activities as she and George soaked it all in.
       What a wonderful story of hard work, faith and determination that led to their 50th wedding anniversary.
       Sitting at the table next to Jane and George reminded me of the importance of celebrating life.
       It’s easy to get busy in life and forget to celebrate your accomplishments and milestones.
       We all need to do a better job in the celebration department.
      It might be something as simple as overcoming an obstacle at work or reaching a milestone or celebrating a special day in your life.
       It doesn’t have to a big anniversary, it could be that you lost 15 - 20 pounds on a diet or you saved enough money to buy a new vehicle or you got out of debt or paid a loan off.
      There’s no limit to how you celebrate a milestone. Set goals and when you reach a goal, take time to be thankful and celebrate, then move on to the next step.
       It’s easy to put things off until later. Don’t let the busyness of life keep you from enjoying life.
       A few weeks ago on a Friday evening, I told Debbie that Valentines’ Day was going to be special this year.
      She was thinking that I was going to take her to some crowded fancy sit down restaurant. That was not the case.
      “We’re going to Culver’s,” I told her. “I’ll even go through the drive-through and eat in the car unless it’s too cold.
        “I might go inside,” Debbie said with a smile.
        I typically don’t buy roses and boxes of candy, but I do enjoy a double cheeseburger deluxe at Culver’s
     And Valentine’s Day is this week. About the only thing that will keep us from going is snow and bad weather. If that is the case, we will go as soon as possible.
      We had the opportunity last fall to make the trek to Hannibal, Mo., and the Lake of the Ozarks for a few days of rest, relaxation, good food and antique hunting in honor of our 20th wedding anniversary and my 65thbirthday. We had a great trip and came back refreshed and ready to tackle our dreams.
       I leave you with this - enjoy the day, the week and enjoy life! You are valuable and have talents that others need.
       Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day.

         When it comes to finding story ideas, I can usually sniff out some good ones.
         That was the case the other day while scrolling through Facebook.
         I came across the Facebook page of The Iowa Gallivant, better known as Jay Jay Goodvin of Iowa City.
         His real name is Jay Goodvin, but he said when he says, “Jay Jay, people are more apt to hear him.”
    Goodvin has been traveling around the state for 11 years eating all kinds of foods from different restaurants and small town mom and pop eateries and then sharing videos of his experiences, all while giving the eatery a plug.
       He calls his fans Gallivant Nation and has quite a following on Tic Tok and other social media outlets. He calls himself a culinary crusader who is passionate about travel, food, family, overalls and the American Cornbelt.
       He’s been featured in the Des Moines Register, Ag Day, Farm Journal’s Pork and various other publications through the years. 
     So, I reached out to Goodvin recently and had the chance to interview him via telephone on Ground Hog Day.
      His most recent venture was eating a tenderloin in all 99 of Iowa counties. The project took 10 months and just wrapped up in late January. Goodvin will announce the winner of the best Gallivant tenderloin on Feb. 13 on social media. He will also announce his next statewide eating project on that day.
       When asked if the winning restaurant will get an award or trophy, Goodvin said, “They will get a nod from my favorite tenderloin and a spike in business will be their prize.”
     Before this project, Goodvin said he has been to every single county in Iowa multiple times eating everything from pizza to pasta, chili, pancakes, soups, salads, egg rolls, corn dogs and about anything else worth trying.
      Goodvin spent more than 20 years working in the restaurant and the hospitality industry before starting the Iowa Gallivant.
       “It started as an on-line family scrapbook project,” he said. “It turned into this beast.”
       When asked how he chooses a restaurant, Goodvin said he lets the locals and restaurant fan bases guide him.
      In Poweshiek County, he visited the Classic Deli in Brooklyn a couple months ago, where he enjoyed a tenderloin and some sides.
       He might show up at a restaurant wearing a pair of Key brand bib overalls or one his “Keep Gallivanting” T-shirts and Tenderloin and Chili ball caps.
       He sells T-shirts, bib overalls, ball caps and accessories on-line at tig.keyapparelstore.com.
       He carries a well-groomed beard along with a deep, inviting voice that makes you want to sit a spell, enjoy some iced tea and a visit.
     He doesn’t get paid for visiting the different restaurants, but said he funds his eating ventures by promoting different communities, organization and events on his travels.
       “Cities and communities hire me to do that while out traveling,” said Goodvin.
      He usually calls a restaurant the day before or the day off to let them know he’s going to stop by and make a video.
       “I think it is only fair that they know someone is going to be their making a video,” he said.
       A few years back, he traveled the state eating different kinds of sausage.
      “One of my favorite trips was Iowa’s Wurst Road Trip, casing the state for the best sausage,” he said. “That was hugely successful and I loved it.”
     That led him to write a book, Rural Iowa Sausage: History & Tradition of Brats on the Backroads, which was released in November 2023.
      The book features a story on Dayton Meats in Malcom.
     “Have your tried their homemade pies?” Goodvin asked me of Daytons.
     “I bought one once and put it in the freezer and forgot about it,” I replied.
     He went on to praise Dayton’s for their homemade pies. He said lard makes the best pies and there’s no better place to find lard than at a meat market.
     That’s making me hungry – not the lard, the pie.
     He does all of his own posting on social media with help from his wife. When he stops at a restaurant, his wife, or sometimes a customer, restaurant employee or someone in the restaurant will film him while he enjoys a tenderloin or some other kind of food.
     I mentioned that the next time he’s in Poweshiek County, I would love to meet and have my photo taken with him. I will put it right next to the Iowa Governor and a photo that Debbie and I have from the state fair with the now late Frank Fritz of American Pickers fame.
    And I mentioned to Debbie, that Goodvin would be a great speaker at our next All-Iowa Writers’ Conference in September.
      Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day.