REPORTING ON THE BIGGEST NIGHT OF SUMMER IN RURAL KEOSAUQUA, IOWA

 

Fourth of July entertainment in Keosauquah came unexpectedly from this little tent.

"The Harvest Band" caught my ear with a professional rendition of Dylan's "Everything is Broken," then moved into Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues."

Whatever payment they received for the gig was well earned with at least a 2-1/2 hour set while waiting for things to get dark enough for fireworks.

Hey, did they play Dylan's "It's Not Dark Yet?"  I didn't notice.

A few eager beavers setting up early for the fireworks display.
Before nightfall, a couple hundred more would join them.

Sitting on the banks of the Des Moines River, one thing you won't see is trash, not on this bank or the one across river or downriver for miles.

Iowa's rivers and highways are clean, not surprising after passing mile after mile through pristine corn fields, barns, farm houses and equipment sheds with not a single thing out of place.

Iowa kids tend be cute, but some are actually beautiful, little Hansel's and Gretel's with blonde hair, perfect skin and features.

This man, likely on crystal meth, entertained with crazy, jerky dance movements.  Locals seemed embarrassed when I took the picture.

One boy and girl, maybe 6th graders, were obviously a couple.  Exactly the same height, the boy with perfectly coifed platinum blonde hair and movie star features, the girl in pig tales and displaying premature curves.

They communicated with the understanding nods of a married couple, knowing their partner without explanation.  

Have they at age 11 found their life partner?  As extraordinary as it seems, I would not bet against it.

Despite youthful beauty, many Iowans don't seem to age well.

Most middle-aged men are bearded with skin darkened from agricultural work under a hot sun, while many of the women succumb to obesity.

Good parenting is on display everywhere.

I watched a man and three sons in the river on inner tubes for two hours and the woman next to us with purple hair, mothering three young kids masterfully.

When a two year old zig-zagged crazily for the river bank, his six year old brother, using Deon Sanders moves, physically prevented his descent over the bank.

The fireworks?  Well, my pics were taken through the leaves of a tree, while Ana's are more traditional.

But, you've all seen fireworks before.

But, this was the biggest night of the summer for Keosauqua, likely the subject of local coffee shop conversation this morning.

Local men have gone back to work while their wives balance motherhood and jobs.

Ana is resting up for her 12 hour shift in the hospital while I sit in front of a lap top.