Pedley's Ponderings

Summer’s march continues in earnest. Father’s Day is now behind us, and it’ll soon be the Fourth of July. It seems like 2024 will be the fastest year on record – in my mind, anyway.

My Father’s Day was a relaxing one. I went golfing with my dad at Meadowbrook to start the morning, and I think I’ll be sending a refund request for the dozen or so golf balls I lost. It was my first outing on the greens this year and my first ever at the rural Hartley course. I don’t golf often, but I can say it was the most challenging nine holes I’ve ever played.

More skilled linksters no doubt appreciate that type of test. The course looked great and each tee box presented a beautiful view. When I visit next time I’ll make sure the wind isn’t blowing 25 mph – however, I don’t think it affected my terrible hack job on Sunday.

I lounged around doing nothing of particular note the rest of the day. The kids and I watched a movie, I took them to swimming lessons and we grilled some steaks for supper. Good enough for me.

• How things change

Aside from a somber visit up north to attend a funeral, we logged our first road trip of the summer earlier this month during a weekend jaunt to Iowa City. The outing was a nice escape, albeit rather eye opening.

I never see much of my old college stomping grounds when I go down in the fall for football games – I get to my friend’s place Friday night, go to the game Saturday and leave Sunday morning. I was able to show the kids the UI campus this time, though, and I still can’t believe how different it looks.

Minus a couple ancient buildings that were demolished, nearly everything that was there when I went to school remains. However, there are several new facilities around campus that I had never seen before. Couple that with a downtown district comprised of more actual businesses than college dive bars, and I felt like I had lost my bearings.

I arrived in Iowa City one year after the 2008 floods damaged several buildings. Portions of some were closed, while others were shuttered completely. I didn’t know any different, though.

Things stayed generally the same for the proceeding four years. Now, everything is finished and looks great. The kids liked learning all the places I had classes, or at least they tolerated their dad blabbering on about it. It’s strange getting old – college graduation was 11 years ago already.

Boring campus tours aside, the kids had fun finding Herky the Hawk statues located around the city for his 100th birthday. Each one is unique and decorated differently, which necessitated a photo-op with every new discovery. Kaity and I are going to make a calendar for the kids with all their Herky photos for Christmas.

My personal favorite was Homer Herky. It’s supposed to resemble Homer Simpson, but looks more like a demented monster from somebody’s fever dream. It makes me laugh every time I look at the picture.

In the end, we got photos with 14 of the 100 Herkys. I’m sure we’ll up the tally when we go down in the fall, too.

• What a way to go out

America lost one its heroes this month when Retired Maj. Gen. William Anders died at 90. Nine decades is a tall hill to climb, but it wasn’t old age that nabbed the Apollo 8 astronaut.

Anders died of blunt-force injuries following a crash while piloting his small plane in Puget Sound northwest of Seattle. You read that right – at age 90, he was still flying.

If you don’t know Anders, you’ve likely seen his masterpiece. He took the iconic “Earthrise” photo that showed the planet from space in 1968 and was one of the first three humans to orbit the moon. His photo was the first color image from space and became one of the most well-known photos in modern history, crediting with changing how humans viewed the planet and inspiring environmental activism.

Only six Apollo astronauts are still alive who either landed on the moon or flew to it. While Anders’ passing is certainly sad, I can’t write a better ending to one of America’s original Space Cowboys.

Fly high, Wild Bill.

Nick Pedley is the news editor and ad manager of The Hartley Sentinel-The Everly/Royal News.