IOWA

By: Ian Weiss

As I grow into an older, more mature person I find that my appreciation for natural beauty grows as well. While Elon looks to be one of the natural beauty hotspots of the world, so is Iowa; A farming state with beautiful open landscapes, carefully made murals, old brick factories and many more eye grabbing pieces of undeniable beauty.

A theme of Iowa, in my mind, is rundown, lowly populated towns. Ottumwa is one of them, and boy, is it one to marvel at. As I rode into town my attention was snatched by a row of dispersedly spaced box like structures with overgrown vines running in and out of the building on one side, while neatly abandoned on the other. Founded in 1843 with a current population of just under 25,000, the city of Ottumwa will keep you thinking, just like a good movie.

The highlight of my time spent in Ottumwa was not the inside look at a five person local news crew, nor was it skimming through Mickey Mouse’s Space Adventure in Antiques and Uniques, but twas the Canteen Lunch in the Alley. A cute box shaped building sitting neatly under a parking garage. Built in 1936, the Canteen is known for their pies, milkshakes and on top of all their “loose meat sandwiches.” That and the warm warm vibe brought on by it’s constituents, and by constituents I mean the nicest ladies aged Mom to Grandma.

While the vat of loose meat scared away the rest of the pack, myself and three other friends stayed to enjoy an authentic Iowa lunch at the Canteen Lunch in the Alley, and boy was it great. The loose meat sandwiches was just good, but the lunch is one that I will hope to hold close as it was one of the many experiences which make life life.

As I ride the bus through Iowa to rally to rally, I am mesmerized by the open pastures and the quaint little homes sitting appropriately next to big red barns. I lightly exhale with a feeling of content that I am just a mere observer of this great big world and there is so much more that I am yet to see.