Kernels of My Indiana
* Morning coffee on the back porch, overlooking miles of endless cornfields
* Drives into downtown Ft. Wayne (with its daunting two-building skyline), passing miles of endless cornfields
* Sitting indian style (how appropriate?!?) in the middle of endless cornfields. Joshua actually panicked at one point, as I went into the maize maze and disappeared for a good 20 minutes. And just f.y.i, you apparently have to watch out for violent insects in corn fields. The mosquito that bit me through my pants was fanged and fierce. I felt like reporting him to America’s Most Wanted; that is, before I smooooshed him to pieces. Take that, you winged beast, you.
* Cooking with Nanci (Josh’s stepmom/my new b.f.f.) Last nights menu: Veggies, corn, cheese, corn, potatoes, corn. Yespleasemore!
* Going to see all the places from Josh’s childhood…homes, school, coffee shops, thrift stores, Chick-Fil-A. I think the last item on that list was the most emotional for him. It was the only place we stopped to take pictures. White meat + Corn-fed chickens = delicious. We are determined to convince Seattle that it would be a better place with the addition of this fine-dining establishment. And if that doesn’t work? Josh is set on having Value Menu Item # 1 overnighted to him. Regularly.
…
It has been truly wonderful going around town with him. A celebration and embrace has been given/shared with pastors, friends, family, former co-workers that we’ve run into during our brief stay. To me, these moments speak volumes of the life, history, impact Josh has had in/on this place. And I feel honored that they’ve embraced me just the same.
Bear hugs. Porches. The sharing of stories. Homemade beer. Giggles from grown men being reunited. So fun.
I’ve quickly come to love the mid-west. Not because of its thrilling scenery (as shocking as that statement may be) but because of the people, stories, lives that fill its wide open spaces.
Goodbye for now. I love corn you.
did you happen upon any corn while you were in indiana? i left a comment on josh’s blog that i grew up in the middle of a corn field too. it’s probably the same corn field you were playing in. it spans minnesota to indiana and beyond.
i’m glad you had a good time in the midwest. it holds a special place in my heart. and i miss the corn. yum!
stephanie
August 20, 2008 at 12:24 am
the midwest. yes!
andy
August 20, 2008 at 7:31 am
Glad you enjoyed Indiana. I never thought I would like it (much less live here), but it’s not bad. And after seven (seven?!) years here the endless cornfields are actually one of my favorite things about Indiana.
Chick-Fil-a is pretty much amazing.
Melody
August 20, 2008 at 8:42 am
That’s crazy! I had no idea Indiana was so corny….I mean…corn-filled!
I have friends from Fort Wayne who now live in Hungary! Crazy! Small world!
Lots of love to you!
Andi
August 20, 2008 at 1:55 pm
More pictures please – wedding, dad and your new BFF etc You’re holding out. I love you. oh and by the way we pass oodles of cornfield in Delaware on our way to Rehoboth and Dewey Beaches. mom
kristin
August 20, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Hello Ms Rollins, Im Puneet we met on the train from Vancouver to seattle a couple of months agon…so nice to see your blog finally…I m glad your liking the midwest…Keep up the good work!!!
Puneet
August 20, 2008 at 10:03 pm
awww =] nice!
haha
yeah, ithe midwest isn’t as bad as many ppl make it out to be. i have a bunch of relatives back in iowa. i remember the last time i was there (in h.s.) we stayed in an old old farmhouse with an amazingamazing front porch… surrounded by cornfields. and the biggest thunderstorm i think i’ve ever been in. rain + tin roof = yes. the first night we were there we went to eat out on the back porch and i guess you have to be careful of the bugs that come out of these trees there?!?! i i was covered in them bc they fall from the trees when they know food is around. hm. i and apparently a few miles down the road is where they filmed the movie “field of dreams.” we also saw some amish (bought corn from them and they were gracious and let us take a look in their house when our cousin Shirley asked). from the moment i stepped off the plane to the moment i got back on it i couldn’t get over how flat the land was.
well now i don’t know why i just told you all that. i guess we are sharing midwest stories
jessicagrady
August 22, 2008 at 12:37 am
ps- and i wish i could go back there and take photos w/ the camera(s) that i now have.
jessicagrady
August 22, 2008 at 12:39 am
@ jessica: rain + tin roof = yes.yes.yes.
it rained tonight and i thought of you. i was craving the addition of a tin roof. it’s somehow not the same without it. one would think that, living in the rainiest city ever.ever.ever, someone would have capitalized on the awesomeness of tin roofs and put them on every home here. sadly, this is not the case. normal roof + rain = no.
goodmorningsarajevo
August 25, 2008 at 12:44 am
if you ever want to surprise him, let me or any of the Fort wayne bloggers know, we will overnight you a few of them scrumptious Value meal #1’s….
Eric Fetcho
August 25, 2008 at 2:15 pm
i will totally take you up on that…and this is where my lack of intelligence comes into play: do you think it’d really be good after being overnighted? i’m excited at the thought that it just might work. i mean, it couldn’t go bad in that amount of time, right?
kenz
August 25, 2008 at 9:44 pm