5 Comments

Geriatric millennial 😆 Thank you for including all of the hyperlinks. Not only did I enjoy reading some of your other works, this was the first time that I've heard that term. The irony is that I'm part of this microgeneration, too. It's bad enough that I'm no longer of ideal childbearing age, this title sounds like I have reservations at the local care center. I think I like the "Oregon Trail generation" title more. Only our people would prefer dysentery and snake bites over "geriatric."

I also just wanted to say that I've loved this theme that you carried throughout your first contribution of being in-between. I've typically looked forward to change and saw it as a positive. However, when the change feels more like a wild river challenging its banks and threatening to destroy what we've come to love, this in-between stage can feel more like purgatory and less like an opening for a new and better opportunity. Prayers that you feel grounded in purposeful work soon that pays the bills, too. I look forward to reading more from you!

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I've been a huge fan of the Highway Ends blog ever since I came across it years back. It is and remains a magnificent resource for us Iowans. Thank you for continuing to write and for putting yourself out there with this new project. I'm excited to follow along. On another note, have you seen the recent developments with the Lincoln Highway Bridge in Tama?

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I am aware the council is considering its options. I know it's been pushed off the agenda a couple of times. I hope to write more when I find out more.

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The bridge's side rails with the lettering were struck by a vehicle and damaged (again) this winter. The city closed the bridge a couple of months ago and started kind of deconstructing it to determine if they could fix it. They got 12 inches down into the concrete from the top of the bridge deck and still couldn't find salvageable concrete to rebuild with. And since then, they've left 5th Street in Tama closed and are capitulating as to the future of the bridge and the 5th Street truck route. The bridge has somewhat of a local activist following who have made efforts to pressure the city council to keep the bridge in use, which I think has kept the city from taking any action at all. And at this point, there are logistical and financial complications that would come up regardless of which remedy the city decides to pursue for the bridge. Also, the Tama mayor just resigned over what appear to be unrelated circumstances. There is also talk about the shuttered King Tower restaurant down the road from the bridge being demolished and replaced with a dollar store. And in one week, our community will have 40,000 RAGBRAI riders/tourists (a preposterous figure) descending upon the town while we have two bridges across major roadways under construction (this one and another on Business 30 in Toledo). The whole thing has become quite the melodrama.

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Delighted to welcome you to the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative! Great start!

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