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Of tea and newspapers

Breakfast has always been my favorite meal. It has several origins: My Scottish and English forebears, for whom a substantial first-meal-of-the-day was an article of faith; my maternal grandmother preparing a bounteous spread for farm hands at 5.30 a.m. in her farm kitchen; and a lifetime of travel and, with it, hotel breakfasts eaten all over the world. Now, in retirement, I see the wisdom of John Gunther, the American journalist and writer, who famously said: “All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast.” Once you get in the habit, it has a way of drawing you in. The prospect ...

Eb shops for his Valentine

I could spot him halfway across the big box store. The trademark bib overalls and plaid flannel shirt — it had to be Ebeneezer Griper, my irascible old friend. Eb was surveying the candy inventory as I approached and stuck out my hand. “Howdy, Eb!” I said with a smile. “You and that stupid grin,” Eb scowled. “Do you know how stupid you look?” Eb has never won the Mr. Congeniality Award. “I like you too, Eb,” I teased, shaking his hand. “Picking out a Valentine present for Hilda?” “No, I’m shopping for a new truss,” he grumbled. “I take it you’re ...

An expression of gratitude

Hi! I am Alex H. Pruismann, your newly-elected Hamilton County sheriff. Thank you for taking a few moments to read a brief message from myself. The month of January for myself was one packed with change, learning, budgets, quick responses, press releases, and so much more. But none of that compares to how much I have learned to lean on my employees that I am blessed and tasked to lead — everyone from the deputies, office staff, dispatchers and the jail personnel. I knew the title of “sheriff” would be one that I would have no idea what truly went into it until I was in the ...

It all started with kindergarten

Having heard it was about to be demolished, one Sunday afternoon in the late 1950s my father drove by his old one-room country school. While his young sons watched from the car, Dad parked along the gravel road, climbed a fence and walked into the dilapidated structure. He spent several minutes in the rural building, apparently remembering the eight years he had spent there. I now understand his visit. After all these years I still have memories of my old school buildings. My family moved frequently when I was a youngster so I attended several schools over the years, the first ...

Legislators should let ideas compete, not micromanage state university curriculum

There may be a solution to the complaint some Republican legislators have about the University of Iowa’s plan to close a tranche of departments and programs and create a School of Social and Cultural Analysis. The lawmakers object to merging African American Studies; American Studies; Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies; Jewish Studies; Latina/o/x Studies; and Native American and Indigenous Studies. Majors in American Studies and Social Justice would be cut as part of the plan, which has been discussed for two years, UI leaders said. Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis, ...

It’s impossible to hum while holding your nose

Once my reading skills advanced beyond the Alice and Jerry primers I became a newspaper reader. My parents’ nerdy first born devoured newspapers, often not understanding everything I read. More than 50 years ago I discovered a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist, L.M. Boyd, who wrote a daily column of trivia and amusing facts. Since my mind processes trivia better than more complex matters, I became a quick fan of Boyd’s work. Louis Malcolm Boyd retired in 2004 and passed away in January 2007. I still miss reading his collections of minutiae. In memory of L.M. Boyd, I ...