Out of Iowa - into Oklahoma: You Can Take the Girl Out of Iowa but You Can't Take the Iowa Out of the Girl

This memoir is a hilarious and touching account of growing up in the rural midwest and transitioning into Oklahoma and corporate America. Spanning a time period from the 1940's to the present, it colorfully portrays the idiosyncrasies of these cultures. Zany tales (you can't make this stuff up) of a life fully lived (sometimes the author does things she shouldn't) are guaranteed to produce robust chuckles. If you read this book on an airplane, the person next to you will be peeking over your shoulder.

The author's style is quirky and outrageously funny. She generously shares lessons learned, which are valuable and comedic insights into living life wisely and joyfully. Readers of all ages will benefit from her counsel and be royally entertained in the process. Savvy tips on raising children, engaging teenagers. embracing sisterhood, and treasuring the joys and duties of grand parenting are novel and astute. Generation gaps and aging are artfully portrayed and inspire appreciation for all stages of life. This book entertains, lifts the spirit, and encourages living life full out. The characters are a hoot, the historical references educational, and the lighthearted stories fascinating. It is a fun, hopeful, enlightening read.

Out of Iowa - Into Oklahoma contains touching accounts of losing parents, saving newborn babies, climbing the corporate ladder, and working through the emotional strains of divorce and romance gone wrong. Inspirational accounts of adjusting to retirement and the consequences of aging encourage those experiencing their "encore years" to face the downsides with humor, to relish the up side, and to share their wisdom. The author challenges boomers to role model for the young how purposeful and rewarding aging can be, suggesting that we owe them that as part of our legacy. Doing otherwise places an unfair burden on those who follow.

Characters are revealed in colorful detail. You will fall in love with this family. Dad is a hoot, Mom a rock, Grandma a "delightful terror," and a band of ornery, diverse brothers are rambunctious co-conpirators in childhood shenanigans. The author's interactions with rowdy, reckless cowboys (it's like a dog chasing a race car), and corporate executives (Who died and left them in charge?) are fascinating and delightfully portrayed. Feisty girlfriends (who can never have too much fun and often make bad decisions) and delightful grandchildren (who hide peas in their milk) round out the key players.

This book is rich with "lessons learned." Examples are: Don't pack children's toys that vibrate in your luggage. If you swear in front of children, don't follow up with "Oh shit!" Don't ask an older person how they feel unless you really want to know. March Madness is not a sale at Macy's. If a man is quiet, it does not necessarily mean he is mysterious, he may just be stupid.

"Capture Life," a companion book to "Out of Iowa - Into Oklahoma," describes the rewards and challenges of writing a memoir and uses excerpts from "Out of Iowa" to illustrate biographical writing techniques. Together these books are a perfect gift for Mother's Day, Father's Day, and for anyone whose life story has not yet been captured.

Here are some of the topics in "Out of Iowa:

Too Many Whelms--Just trying to matter
My Life Has Come to This?
Somewhat Lucky
Free-Range Chickens and Free-Range Children
IOWA--Idiots Out Wandering Around
Losing Parents--You Kids Take Care of Each Other
D-I-V-O-R-C-E--Independence Day and The Rally
You Are Never Free of Your Children
Saving Babies--Stronger Than They Seem
Children Are Dirt That Makes Noise
A Home That Rises Up to Greet You
A Recliner with Back Fat
Girlfriends - You Can Never Have Too Much Fun
Hunting: "I sees it, I kills it, I eats It"
The Next Thirty Years - The Encore Years
Just by Being, You Are Enough
What Just Happened?
You Can't Make This Stuff Up--Raccoon Attacks
Working Out--Tennis Shoes and Black Socks
Lessons Learned--Roadkill Lullabi