You’ve made it to The Native Iowan’s Blog.
Well done!
You like stories of island adventures? How-about stories of childhood’s magical memories? You like to laugh a lot?
Well, you’ve found the Solomon Islands, in a virtual sense, so you are on the right track…
May I suggest a good laugh… check out “and mother farted”
For a decent cry check out “Ron’s day”
“Yapo” and “Confined” are longer works in progress… index of all stories, comments and diatribes under “Published Verbiage”. Just click on a subject head and select a story… all too easy. Please, feel free to let me know what you think.
Who is The Native Iowan?
It’s a long story. The product of three lineages of migrants: The staunch and dour Germanic line that sailed prairie schooners from the East, fought for their land and lost their original name at Ellis Island. The stiff English-Irish line that carried their history in books. Books I greedily read as a child. The late coming Greeks who isolated themselves and, even to my generation, spoke with an accent.
Bred and born on the plains. A child of placid rivers that ran wild each spring. Of stifling hot summers and deathly cold winters. We baled hay and played baseball in the summer. We shoveled snow and played cards in the winter.
Following these forbearers I am an immigrant too. Over half my life has been spent in my adopted home, Solomon Islands.
We are very tribal in the Solomons. Some call us natives.
I am the Native Iowan
Nice hat! I still have a couple of those floating around in boxes.
By: Rooster on April 15, 2009
at 11:02 pm
Hey! My husband is a Native Iowan too- !
I really enjoy your stories and I’m looking forward to seeing more
Anita Marie
( from the soul food cafe group )
ps that hat is pretty darn awesome
By: Anita Marie on April 20, 2009
at 12:46 am
By golly, Dr. Hemmeringway, you look just like yourself………………….but older!! Keep smilin’!!
By: Uncle Dewey on May 15, 2009
at 5:12 pm
Dok,
Looking like me is hard… takes heaps of work… enjoy
By: nativeiowan on May 16, 2009
at 8:17 am
Congtratulations on a beautiful website, you did well. Good one for those outside of the Solies and home sick for home. Any music?
By: Dark Petal on July 25, 2009
at 10:01 pm
Dr. Michael Hemmeringway I presume…I finall found your site!!!Can’t wait to begin reading of your adventures…I’ll be checking in with you…
By: Barb Bell on August 12, 2009
at 12:57 pm
Spike Milligan had a hat just like that. I found it once hidden in the far recesses of the BBC’s prop store in London.
By: blackwatertown on January 8, 2010
at 10:59 pm
Mike,
I ran into Barb Bell the other night at one of the old fart’s band reunion shows and she told me about your blog. Wow, you do look like the same guy I remember. I’m looking forward to spending some time reading your writing.
Peace,
Rick
By: Rick Garber on July 6, 2010
at 6:46 pm
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By: Leighann Pettay on October 30, 2011
at 6:52 am
found your blog on Google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
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at 12:33 pm
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at 4:31 pm
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at 4:20 am
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at 1:29 pm
Poor news – Syria’s ‘mutilation mystery’ increases…
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at 4:08 am
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at 4:23 pm
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at 5:38 am
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at 12:15 pm
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By: wembley hotels on December 30, 2011
at 3:19 am
Hi, I ran into a guy that did a canoe float from Northern MN to Hudson Bay when fishing on the Wapsi today. It got me to thinking about Brian Esmoil and the tragic trip that they took. I see you knew Brian and Lacey Gee, but I can not place you.
By: John Belding on September 5, 2013
at 3:48 pm
John, Let me see if I can place you… your dad was a dentist, office down by the library? Your family lived 1st or 2nd ave SW? I recall an elder sister you had, Beth, who was the same age as my sister? Am I right? I was at St Johns for the duration. Boy Scouts/ growing up with Brian Esmoil and Joe Mason, both who were on the ill fated Canadian trip years ago. My family lived on 2nd St NW, behind White’s. I was always down at the river around the old Mill and City Works offices and depot. Met Lacey when I was real young, 8 or so. His house was just down the river a bit from the Mill. Remember his Wapsi Fly tying business on the NE side of town as you cross the bridge? I hung out there and Brian, Joe and learned to tie flies from Lacey. I remember the exotic furs and feathers in Lacey’s front window,,, polar bear fur, peacock feathers, buck tails. I graduated in 76 and basically hit the high road. 37 years later and I have lived overseas 33 years of it all. I visit Independence quite often. Was just there in July. My parents are still alive and kicking so still go back and walk down memory lane. Which is very good. Very, very good.
By: nativeiowan on September 5, 2013
at 10:59 pm
still do not know you, I don’t think, although that seems impossible. Beth was my sister Chris’ friend, but you have every thing else correct. Since I went to St. Johns and knew several people from there, including John McGrane, who I still see on occasion. I graduated in 76 with Brian.
By: John Belding on September 5, 2013
at 11:12 pm
Interesting, indeed…
Yep, Chris I remember too. My sister Jane’s age. John McGrane, Danny Osterhouser, Brian, Donnelly, Mike Olaughlin, John Toole, Dan and Dale Fishels, The Greenwood brothers… Hell there were only 30 of us in the St John’s class of 76. And I have not seen a single one since graduation.
But like I said, I never stuck around. Went off to Waverley/ Wartburg in September 76, by January 81 I was in the Solomon Islands.
Small world, filled with inefficient memories…
All good
By: nativeiowan on September 5, 2013
at 11:44 pm