Relatively Minor
Laughter does not have to come from a major source. It could indeed be ... relatively minor.
Iowans are a special breed. We don’t let Mother Nature’s mood swings get the best of us. We brave the blizzards, hail storms, heat waves, and long spells of gloomy weather with a smile on our faces and a shovel in our hands. We tackle unexpected snowfalls with the tenacity of champions, shoveling our way to freedom one drift at a time.
We’ve got a secret weapon that other states outside the region can’t match: our “Midwestern grit.” It’s a magical combination of stubbornness, determination, and a love of hot cocoa that keeps us going through even the coldest winters. And if you don’t like the weather here, that’s okay. Just wait five minutes, and you’ll be dancing in the rain.
The residents of Winterset are enjoying a welcome January thaw, which is shifting their focus towards football rather than the weather. Over the weekend, two football teams won their playoff matches and secured a spot in the Super Bowl. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Baltimore Ravens to earn their ticket to the big game. Like the bird in Edgar Allan Poe’s famous poem, the Ravens’ chances for a spot in the Super Bowl are “nevermore”.
On Sunday, Detroit’s season ended in the NFC Championship game. They aimed to win their first road playoff game since 1957, which was a year before my birth. But the 49ers beat them with a real “Purdy” win – no lion this time.
While some are focused on placing their bets for the big game, others anxiously await the verdict of Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog. Will he emerge from his burrow wearing sunglasses to signal six more weeks of winter on Feb. 2? Or will he make an appearance in the presence of clouds to signal the arrival of an early spring?
Who knows what will happen next? Only The Shadow knows.
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Member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative
The Iowa Writers’ Collaborative roster.