Pedley's Ponderings

By: 
Nick Pedley

Hittin’ the road back home

 

     Last weekend provided me the opportunity to make the trip back home to my old stomping grounds in northwest Iowa.

     It's always great to get away for a few days and reset the senses. It seemed like quite a few folks skipped town recently for summer vacations, so I figured I had better join them. My hometown is a three-hour drive from here, so it wasn't such a monumental expedition like some get-aways.

     I can't think of a time in which I've gone home with no expectation of accomplishing something. When I was in school, I always brought some homework with me. Last week, I planned on writing a couple articles in my down time. Despite these productive intentions, I can't think of at time in which I've actually accomplished what I set out to do while at home.

     I'm not griping, however. This weekend particularly stood out from past visits. The weather was beautiful and I was able to spend considerable time with my niece and nephew. Being away for four years really cut into my "uncle duties," so to speak. There were many moments where I found myself thinking, "They're growing up so fast…" Even so, I had lots of fun running around and playing with them.

     I'm still a young guy by most standards, but I still don't have half the energy that these two whipper-snappers possess. My four-year-old nephew was running circles around me all day and I'm not sure how he was still going at nine o'clock that evening. My mom asked him if he wanted a nap following lunch that afternoon, but he was resilient. That's more than you can say about me. I was more than ready for naptime.

     I was able to take him out to a local pond and check out all the frogs that lined the shore. Many had just grown their land legs, so walking alongside the water was quite a spectacle. Dozens of those slippery devils were leaping into the water all around us. It was funny to watch my nephew trying to keep up with all of them. I was able to catch a couple so he could inspect the peculiar critters, but the frogs were always one step ahead of him. Maybe he'll have his frog-catching skills honed by next year. I think they usually come full-circle around age five, anyway.

     He was too shy to show me his new skill of riding a two-wheeled bike. However, we had fun playing baseball in the backyard. I don't particularly remember whether or not I had any skill in the sport at his age. However, he seems pretty adept at throwing and hitting already. That is to say, throwing and hitting the ball at his uncle.

     I spent a majority of the time dodging and ducking line drives smacked directly up the middle. Such a talent is great, but it's a rather nerve-wracking situation when you're on the receiving end. I never new plastic softballs could sting so much. I think I still have a few red marks on my legs and back.

     My two-year-old niece was also quite the character during my short visit. She has to keep up with her brother after all, and she certainly holds her own. She's already an expert at instigating trouble and getting the blame thrown onto him. It's hard to stay mad when she bashes her big blue eyes in your direction.

     She's learning to master the "big girl potty," and she's coming along just fine. She was boisterously proud to proclaim to the entire family that she was wearing, "Panties!" on Saturday evening, however, she's not perfect. After using the toilet by herself and not telling anyone, I found her heading to the backyard without any pants on. They were turned inside out, and she needed her mom's assistance and an apparent blast of fresh air.

     It was great to get back home, even if it was only for two days. I got to see friends, family and other folks I hadn't visited in a while. Hopefully I'll be able to make more trips now that I live closer than I did before, but sometimes it's hard to get away from busy schedules and other things. They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, and I can certainly say that's been true for me over the past few years.

     Nick Pedley is the regional news editor for the Hampton Chronicle, The Sheffield Press and Pioneer Enterprise.

Hampton Chronicle

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Hampton, IA 50441
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