Growin' Up Iowan

Tom Lee's early life in Iowa is in all likelihood not much different from that lived by countless other children, not only in Iowa, but in many places throughout the world. Childhood should be a good experience for everyone and it certainly was for him. It wasn't perfect, and he certainly wasn't perfect, but the environment was as close to perfect as he could imagine. Living in Iowa provided Tom the opportunity to live in a safe place, and filled him with a sense of adventure that has been a part of his entire life. There were things and places to explore and learn about that went beyond school, although school and classwork were also important. Friendships were generated that taught him how to get along with other people. He found out that there were other folks who cared about him similar to the way his family did. He learned that doing things with others was more satisfying and fun than being by himself. The opportunity to take risks and explore limits was there and he took advantage of all of this. Safety was a consideration, but was not always at the forefront of his thought process. This allowed him to reach beyond his capabilities and grow in wisdom and ability. He learned how to interact with nature and how important other creatures are to our lives. There is beauty and strength in many aspects of both the animal and plant world and these can have a big impact on a young life. He experienced other parts of our country and found these just as exciting and interesting as his home town. As different as these locales may have been, they did not detract from the joy of living in small town Iowa. Iowa's climate allowed him to experience a wide variety of conditions and to find adventure in all of them. Although Tom's life in Iowa came to an end in a rather abrupt and unpleasant way, the enjoyment experienced during this time of his life has been a source of wonderful memories for decades. The education he received there, both formal and informal, has helped him develop into a useful and caring individual. Thank you Iowa and thank you God for allowing this to happen.