Travel
The Humble Architects of an Unseen Power
Pulling out of the airport in Cedar Rapids, out into the back roads and side roads and major roads of Iowa, the first word that comes to mind isn’t what you might think. It’s not cows. Or corn. It’s not…
Why Good People Don’t Run for Office
When I was preparing to leave for Iowa, a couple of people made a point of saying that the Midwest seems oddly pale compared to Switzerland, compared to Austria, compared to whatever, fill-in-the-blank with some other beautiful place you’ve gone…
Not Tall Enough to Be Noticed
Off the beaten path of the Mississippi River, I found what appears to be a castle or a fortress or an ancient something without explanation, high enough that you can see the river from the top, but not tall enough…
The Beliefs of One and Many
Each brand of faith is like America from its core, some holding to an original doctrine, others brandishing some new evolution, each as certain (and sometimes as violent) as the other. But I can appreciate that for those who are…
Mississippi River Drive
In less than three full days, I drove more than 1,000 miles (1,038 to be exact) between Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, and (briefly) Wisconsin. The original goal was to visit some old familiar sites from my childhood, stop by the hospital…
Entering the Land of Lincoln
Looking east out of my Airbnb in Davenport, across the Mississippi River, you could see the State of Illinois, a part of the nation fully immersed in its recognition of Abraham Lincoln, so I made my pilgrimage to the American…
I Remembered His Name Was Jake
The current principal of my old junior high school was free and open to giving me a tour, talking about education in Iowa, and ultimately sharing that one of my old eighth grade classmates now happens to be one of…
To Say Thanks On His Behalf
This is Dr. Bell and Dr. Klein. A little more than 31 years ago, my brother, Joel Lucas, was born three and a half months early, weighing in at 1 pound, 13 1/2 ounces, and these are two of the…
Swiss/Austrian Stills in B&W
A Quick Tip About Tipping Overseas
There’s a strange disconnect in the world of hospitality both here and abroad. And after working in restaurants, in hotels, in places where my wage barely covered the cost of my taxes for roughly fifteen years before I became a…
