So Long, Ames
Well, this is it. We always knew it would happen — but we didn’t think it would come so quickly.
It’s time for us to leave Ames — and this may well be the final time we do so. When we arrived here a month ago for our annual summer sojourn to the Midwest, the goal was to sell our condo and spend most of the rest of our lives Out West — specifically, in Madera County in the San Joaquin Valley of California. We recently built a home there, and we like it a lot.
When we first bought our condo in Ames, we hoped to spend five good summers here. Well, here we are, five great summers later, and how did the time pass so fast? It did, and here we are. We have, indeed, sold our summer place here — at least, it’s in escrow, and we hope everything will go well over the next couple of weeks and we’ll finalize the sale.
Before we left Madera, the plan was to spend one month here — and so we have. Now, we’ll pick up our rental car at Enterprise this Wednesday and leave Ames on Thursday for one final, long and leisurely road trip across America. Over this past month, we proved to ourselves that we could fly into Iowa and live without a car in Ames. Things mostly worked out except for the day I walked to the Target on South Duff Avenue and walked back with two heavy bags of items. Of course, I strained my hip, and now I’m trying to recover from sciatica. Live and learn, huh?
Our trip back West will include stops at the Truman Presidential Library in Missouri, the Philbrook Museum in Tulsa, the National Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma City, and such illustrious other places as Wichita (get ready for breakfast, Al and Sally Buch), Amarillo, Albuquerque, Flagstaff, Barstow and then Fresno. Yep, it sounds like a Route 66 road trip, and for much of the way, it will be.
This could be our last cross-country trip by car. Over the decades, we’ve made this trek many times, and we’ve seen much of the scenery this great nation has to offer. It’s pretty spectacular in places. Then again, we’ve also been to Rawlins, Wyoming.
But that road trip is still just ahead of us. For now, it’s time to say “so long” to Ames — this absolutely wonderful heart of the great American heartland.
So long, downtown and Main Street. You are a jewel out of the past, and my absolute favorite place to be on so many Friday afternoons over these summers has been at a table outside Cafe Diem, where I could look down the street and into your great history. Your buildings have historic plaques on them with names such as Greeley, Tilden, Duff, Sheldon, Munn, Huntington, Bigelow, Baker and Budd — the builders, movers and shakers of early Ames. Long may they be remembered.
So long, Old Town and all your gorgeous old Victorians with their lush, green front yards and grand old oaks and sycamores and maples. Because past residents acted wisely and put your neighborhood into the National Register of Historic Places, you look much like you did 50 or 100 years ago. 
Here’s hoping you always maintain your good looks.
So long, Hickory Park and Sweet Caroline’s and Brick City. Over all these summers, we’ve enriched your coffers by partaking of your excellent food and atmosphere. And a special “so long” to the aforementioned Cafe Diem. I’ll just say it like it is. It’s my favorite coffee shop in the nation, and I’ve been in more than a few.
So long, summer concerts. We’ve been to dozens over the years in Ames. Yes, those Municipal Band concerts on Thursday nights at Bandshell Park have been great — and the “Summer Sundays” events at Roosevelt Park have been even better. We spent many evenings, listening to music as the sun went down in Ames — and, again, there was no better place to be. It was grand and glorious.
We have more — many more — fond “so long’s,” of course. Reiman Gardens. Brookside Park. Ledges State Park. Iowa State University’s lovely campus. Football Saturdays at ISU. Summer thunderstorms and autumn explosions of color in Old Town. Yes, plenty more.
But the most important “so long’s” belong to the friends we have come back to see, year after year. Many have been friends for decades, since the time I taught at ISU more than 40 years ago. We foolishly left that job because it got cold in Iowa during winter. Yes, young couples make dumb decisions — as couples of all ages do.
Anyway, Sharon and I want you to know how much we have valued your friendship all these years. Actually, we more than “value” your friendship. We treasure it. You know who you are, Tom & Linda, Tom B. and Cliff & Cindy.
But there also are more recent friends and acquaintances — those we’ve met since we bought our condo in Ames. Paul W. Katie and Yuri. Mary Ann. Misty. You’ve made our lives better since we’ve been coming back. Thank you.
So this is likely it. We may return to Ames next summer and stay at an Airbnb for a bit. Of course, it won’t be the same as owning a piece of the city, but it will still be “something.” Between now and then, here’s hoping — really hoping — all of us stay healthy. It’s getting harder, yes. But I’m willing to do what it takes, and I hope you are as well, friends.
Meanwhile, Al and Sally — we’ll see you for breakfast in Wichita this Saturday morning.