Baker's heartbeat

Steve and I, in downtown Minneapolis, where I was born. I was raised in the suburbs.   This is where I grew up: Tipton, Iowa. The view out the back window where I live now: North Scott County, Iowa.  I once served on an advisory committee for the North Scott School District. Nominated by the principal at my daughter's elementary school, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience through the school year. We parents and district stakeholders were an advisory group, of sorts, to the superintendent. The first meeting was notable because the superintendent had simple questions that confused us newbies: What is your hometown? Where are you from? Uh, what exactly? Some of us shrugged, wiggled uncomfortably, and said "North Scott." Now, I love living in North Scott but I actually didn't move into the district until 1993. I was born in Minneapolis, Minn., and raised in Tipton, Iowa. What is a hometown, anyway? According to dictionaries, "hometown" i...

Photos above: Me, after appointment; masked stylist Amy Bowe and me; the wild hair. It took more than three months but a Red Letter Day arrived on June 3 with my hair appointment at Smiles, a beauty salon in Eldridge, Iowa. I couldn't wait to get this mop cut off! Hair? Essential services? One and the same in the minds of many, many women. Every woman I spoke to the last few weeks knew exactly what I was talking about. For example, while shopping earlier this week I mentioned I was busy on Wednesday "getting my hair done." The store owner was enthused: "My appointment is June 9!" she replied. I was on time June 3 and carried a mask into Smiles, where I have gone for the last two years. Salon owner Nikki Tuftee had fielded my call many days ago, and noted the earliest open appointment was Wednesday. Tuftee and stylist Amy Bowe both wore masks at my visit. The salon was sparkling clean and had a central station for hand sanitizer and masks. I...