One of my best friends turns 80 September 25 and is having a party that day in our old hometown. I haven't seen him in six or seven years but we share memories and laughs on a daily basis. He gives me a lot of joy with his insights. You may recal the name, Council Bluffs Cowboy. He's the guy. Since the chances are good I might never see him again in this life I thought it'd be nice if I made the 12 hour jaunt to Central Iowa.
A guy can't go to one place only. It'd be a wasted effort. So, I contacted another friend who lives near Cedar Falls, Iowa. He's very funny, is some kind of honco at the John Deere Co. in Waterloo(He shows foreigners the intracacies of new tractors) but his great love is high school officiating, primarily football, boys and girls basketball and whatever else he can makee a buck. I spoke with the 65 year old sports enthusiast last night and he told me if he couldn't be around young kids and sports he might as well be dead. All the money he makes from officiating he uses to travel to Iowa City or wherever the Hawkeye football team travels. He's a friend to all coaches, sportswriters and fans. There isn't anyone he doesn't know. I'm honored to call him a friend. He lives in a small community near Waterloo and it's surrounded by the Amish. He told me the reason the Amish don't get COVID is because they don't have television so they don't know anything about it. He would be a must see on my trip.
After this I plan on drivin five hours to a golf community 15 miles south of Wisconsin Rapids. That's in Wisconsin if you didn't know. My buddy I've known since 1977. I was a teacher in a Wisconsin community called Mukwonago for one year. I commuted from Davenport Iowa on a weekly basis but that's another story. I've written about this guy before. He's a hall of fame football coach in Wisconsin and the most humble man I've ever met. His idea of fun is attending a minor league baseball game and having a beer and a brat. The last time I went to a game with him in The Rapids we saw and visited with Ken Osmond aka Eddie Haskell, a true patriot.
It was also the same night we were privy to seeing Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey do his thing.
Seeing my one of my best friends would be a must trip.
After this I'd drive down to the Chicagoland area of Evanston. Quite a few of my college fraternity brothers are residents. Yuck! Sone of them are pushing 77. I'd better go while I have the chance.
This sounds like a great plan, huh? There's always a problem. As I get closer to the leave date of Sept 23 my mind will put up the flashing wigwag signs. Do I really want to drive that far? Do I really want to spend that amount of money when I could be using it for other items, like toys for Charlie my pooch? The most important thought is-------do I really want to drive that much and that far.
Then, it'll hit me. Why don't I call them on the phone and give them my best. Problem solved.
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