I went to the Iowa State Fair today along with 104,621 other paid attendees plus fair workers and vendors. Between sightings of four presidential candidates I kept running into people I know. I got to thinking I could pass for a native Iowan as well as I have the layout of the fairgrounds memorized.
When the National Weather Service reports Iowa counties under the threat of severe weather I no longer need a map to know where they are located.
I am going to The Iowa Straw Poll tomorrow in Ames. I have become an Iowan.
I was born in Ravena, Ohio in 1953 and moved into 1980 Hanover St, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio before my first birthday. In 1963 we moved to Villa Park, Illinois followed by a move to Oak Park, Michigan in 1964. 1965 had a move to Mount Clemens MI, 1966 on to Royal Oak, MI and in 1967 to Beverly Hills, MI and then on to a second house in Beverly Hills in 1969. My last move during high school was to Hazel Park, MI in 1971. My first house on my own was also in Hazel Park, MI then in 1979 I moved to Carlisle, Iowa to work in the Preferred Risk Home Office. Preferred Risk transferred me to Clovis, California in 1989 and then back to Iowa in 1993. Iowa locations after the 1993 return included Waukee, Urbandale and now West Des Moines.
So adding it up and listing it in ascending order: Illinois 1 year; California 4 years; Ohio 10 years; Michigan 16 years; and Iowa 28 years. So with apologies to JFK: Ich bin ein Iowan!
I was born in Ravena, Ohio in 1953 and moved into 1980 Hanover St, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio before my first birthday. In 1963 we moved to Villa Park, Illinois followed by a move to Oak Park, Michigan in 1964. 1965 had a move to Mount Clemens MI, 1966 on to Royal Oak, MI and in 1967 to Beverly Hills, MI and then on to a second house in Beverly Hills in 1969. My last move during high school was to Hazel Park, MI in 1971. My first house on my own was also in Hazel Park, MI then in 1979 I moved to Carlisle, Iowa to work in the Preferred Risk Home Office. Preferred Risk transferred me to Clovis, California in 1989 and then back to Iowa in 1993. Iowa locations after the 1993 return included Waukee, Urbandale and now West Des Moines.
So adding it up and listing it in ascending order: Illinois 1 year; California 4 years; Ohio 10 years; Michigan 16 years; and Iowa 28 years. So with apologies to JFK: Ich bin ein Iowan!