The Iowa Book Tour has begun and what a way to send me off. I was able to speak at St. Thomas More and W.T. Elementary (home of the Bobcats). It had been 40 years since my last visit as an elementary student. At St. Thomas More, Peg Fischer, the school principal, allowed me to walk into my formal classroom and oddly enough the same familiar smells returned. I dedicated my speech to my mother and father who attended St. Thomas More Church from 1950-1970 and have regrettably passed on. Several of Mom's and Dad's friends were in attendance during my speech.

At W.T., I spoke in the gym where I remembered parading around in a clown's outfit for Halloween. W.T. Elementary was built in 1934 and it saddened me to hear that thhis would be the school's last year. A new school would open in 2010. Kathy Clark told me that the school was just too old to repair. Her daughter was in a classroom where the temperatures reached a 102 degrees, so I understood why a new school had to be built. Kathy gave me a tour of my old stomping grounds and I was able to show her Creepr's Pond. (Yes, Creeper's Pond survives!) Kathy told me that her brother played on my original WT Cardinals team and her father was one of our coaches. It just goes to prove that this is a small world where we share collectively in fond memories.

I arrived in Alleman, Iowa at three in the morning. I debated whether to get a hotel or sleep in Central's parking lot. Somehow I didn't think it would have gone over well if I was found sleeping in my car by the school's principal. I don't think this would have made a good impression. So I opted to find a hotel and then after three hours of sleep spoke to students at Central and West. Jamie Noack coordinated the speaking event and she gave me a tour of Polk City and its growing community. The students were very excited about my visit and their enhusiasm gave me the strength I needed to encourage them to live their dreams. I especially enjoyed speaking to the youngsters who had so many interesting dreams.

I am now in Dows, Iowa where the town's main street is barren, and yet rock 'n' roll music is piped through speakers witout a captive audience to listen to it. It is mid-February and I am now on my way to Latimer to Cal schools and what concerns me is Highway 35 has swing gates that can be used to close the highway. I sure hope the snow stays away.