{"product_id":"9780982872604","title":"Out of Iowa - into Oklahoma: You Can Take the Girl Out of Iowa but You Can't Take the Iowa Out of the Girl","description":"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.\u003cp\u003eThe 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 The characters are a hoot, the historical references educational, and the lighthearted stories fascinating.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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOut 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. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCharacters 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. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHere are some of the topics in \"Out of Iowa:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eToo Many Whelms--Just trying to matter\u003cbr\u003eMy Life Has Come to This?\u003cbr\u003eSomewhat Lucky\u003cbr\u003eFree-Range Chickens and Free-Range Children\u003cbr\u003eIOWA--Idiots Out Wandering Around\u003cbr\u003eLosing Parents--You Kids Take Care of Each Other\u003cbr\u003eD-I-V-O-R-C-E--Independence Day and The Rally\u003cbr\u003eYou Are Never Free of Your Children\u003cbr\u003eSaving Babies--Stronger Than They Seem\u003cbr\u003eChildren Are Dirt That Makes Noise\u003cbr\u003eA Home That Rises Up to Greet You\u003cbr\u003eA Recliner with Back Fat\u003cbr\u003eGirlfriends - You Can Never Have Too Much Fun\u003cbr\u003eHunting: \"I sees it, I kills it, I eats It\"\u003cbr\u003eThe Next Thirty Years - The Encore Years\u003cbr\u003eJust by Being, You Are Enough\u003cbr\u003eWhat Just Happened?\u003cbr\u003eYou Can't Make This Stuff Up--Raccoon Attacks\u003cbr\u003eWorking Out--Tennis Shoes and Black Socks\u003cbr\u003eLessons Learned--Roadkill Lullabi\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Patina Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49972115865840,"sku":"9780982872604","price":12.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780982872604_p0.jpg?v=1784253478","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780982872604","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}