Day 03
Monday
16 August 99
Kearney, Nebraska - Ames, Iowa

We were going to stay in Des Moines, but we instead went to Ames, so that I could visit with my old boyfriend Sam.   We had the best time you can image - despite the fact that it was monday night in Iowa).   He joined my mother and I for dinner, during which he was a total peach, and listened to all of our ridiculous stories.   My mom and I agree that no one appreciates our adventures as much as we do, but Sam made quite the effort.   Sam was by far my favorite boyfriend until I met Matthew.   After dinner he and I went to a bar and rehashed old times to our own amusement and enjoyment.   It was wonderful...!   I hope to do it again soon, either by coming back to Iowa, or talking Sam into visiting me in NY.

At the bar, when Sam went to the bathroom, I got in a little discussion with Randall and Ed, the former of which was bragging about being a redneck.   Sam, upon his return, remarked that he couldn't leave me alone for a minute.   This is true.

The drive to Iowa was lovely.   There was a lot of construction on the freeway, but we stopped for incredible antique shopping in Lincoln, Nebraska.   This antique mall was larger than any supermarket I have been to in my life (ok, it was comperable to Costco).   It was called Aardvark Antiques, and we must have spent an hour there.   I bought Sam an old cookbook called 50 Wonderful Uses for Cheese.   I knew he would appreciate it.   Anyway, he already thinks I am a total nutcase!   Today my mother told me, "You're the best hoot and a half a person could have."   She also said I made her lungs hurt, because she was laughing so hard.   We do amuse each other!

We have been finding humor everywhere, though nothing topped the man at the hotel desk in Utah who was complaining that the hotel kept giving him fresh soap.   He actually said, "Nothing infuriates me more than having to unwrap a new soap every night."   My mom and I almost died laughing right there.   We also enjoyed the woman who had the dancing cactus on the back of her car.   It was pretty cute and very silly...

Passing Aurora, Nebraska made me think of my dear sweet friend...

Jim has [rightfully] recommended that I hand over the camera to my mother, but she has been rather unresponsive to the idea of taking pictures.   She promises to do so in Milwaukee -- her home town -- where we are going tomorrow for two nights.   We are going to visit her mother's grave, and see the church she used to go to and the houses she grew up in.   I think it will be a lot of fun, although I have no doubt that my mother will get weepy on several occasions.   She even told me she would show me the exact spot on the bridge where she got flashed in high school.   We are a one of a kind pair!

Here is a house my mother said would be a lovely place to live, and the view from our hotel:

 
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