Happily buzzin' northwest on country roads I reflected that it was Sunday morning and I would have the road to myself. And I did. The bad news was that there was not much on the radio but church stuff, and being of the Heathen/Infidel persuasion, it was gonna be a lonely ride. I went into a bit of a zen state for an hour or so and enjoyed the rolling farmlands, in which corn and stuff was at various heights, mostly quite small. This wasn't Southern California, I remembered, and the growing season was relatively short and intense. Then, about halfway to a food and gas stop at Mason City, IA, I stationed-surfed upon a preacher who sounded like a good speaker, so I listened to a lengthy discussion on the topic of "What Is Faith?" I thought I knew what it was, but admitted that the guy gave me some new slants on the subject. But he concluded his sermon with a sales pitch: For only $20 one could have a recording of his dazzling performance and continue to ponder the mystery of "faith." The Heathen part of me took over as I pondered another mystery: If that Protestant capitalist REALLY wanted to save souls, why didn't he mail his sermon to us sinners at cost? As another infidel once said, "Never trust a preacher with more than one suit." I turned off the radio and went back to zen pondering of the very pleasant rolling lands of north-central Iowa.
I stopped for car and body fuel in Mason City, located at 43?8'55"N by 93?12'7"W, it looked like an All-American, pleasant little city. Once again, I found myself in a bit of a rush and made a beeline for gas and food. Then wondered why the local McDonald's outlet had so many pictures of actor Robert Preston and people in band uniforms. Finally a photo label caught my eye as I stirred sugar into my coffee. Of course. I had stopped in "River City," the town in "The Music Man"! How fun!
Wikipedia notes: "Mason City above all else is known for its outstanding musical heritage, consistently producing successful performers and educators. Mason City's 'favorite son,' Meredith Willson, grew up there, having played in the city Symphonic Band while a student at Mason City High School. Willson's crowning achievement was the famous musical 'The Music Man', which of course centers around a town very much like Mason City. . . "Seventy-six trombones led the big parade," the song goes, "a hundred and ten cornets close at hand. . ."
That was a happy, well-done musical and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Remember this? "Yes we got trouble. . . right here in River City... with a capital T and that rhymes with P and that stands for Pool!" There was concern that too many kids were smokin' cornsilk out behind the barns. That was real cornsilk, dried. (I tried it as a kid. It was no fun.) Marijuana came to River City much later. I thought of these amusing things as I drove out of town enjoying my coffee. Then later found that a river runs through Mason City and there's a much-photographed bridge over it, which I missed. Of course I missed it! Too much of a hurry to "make time." What was this, 1947 and a survival "vacation" trip to Oklahoma, my birthplace? Heading on up I-35 I vowed that THIS would be the last time, and that henceforth I would TAKE MY TIME, really SEE THE SIGHTS.
