Baker's heartbeat

Ballooned arch and volunteers at the finish line. Here I am, happy to be finished with the 5K.      The scene was set Saturday morning at North Scott High School in Eldridge: An arch of red-and-white  balloons wafted in the breeze as the starter used his megaphone: "Ready, Set, Go!"     A group of us, more than 140 men and women, teens and children, took off down the bike path across the street from the high school. A 5K "Fun Run," was sponsored by the North Scott Athletic Boosters and it  was fun.     I was looking for a 5K event to end the summer. I did my first one back in June and in July, took part in the two-mile event associated with the Quad-City Times Bix 7. There was a 5K in Moline connected to the Quad-Cities Marathon on Sunday but I eventually made a choice to stay closer to home.       It was perfect for this newbie runner.  The weather was cool but the sun shined brightly. The North Scott dance tea...

       This is a rug seen in a local store (JoAnn's Fabrics, Davenport). It is a good sentiment, isn't it?        With the calendar turned to September comes a change throughout America.     We, the people, become more focused, productive, and future-watching than we were in August. It was so hot in July and August that most folks just tried to enjoy vacation and forget about home-based troubles.     This seasonal change prompts mood revisions to many, according to Good Therapy.org ( https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/does-your-mood-change-with-the-seasons-0925144 ).     School is back in session by now and that causes a change in family dynamics. Add that to the current pandemic, plus battles concerning mask-wearing (or not), and you get a mish-mash of psychological or physical issues.     Seasonal changes in the weather, such as cooler days and nights, also prompts adjustments. Most people crave and flourish...

       A juror tapes photos to the wall during jury deliberations. This is a jury summons, and badge.      John Grisham wrote a legal thriller "The Runaway Jury" that also became a hit movie but that's not quite how the judicial process works in Scott County, Iowa.     I know this as I was recently chosen to be on a jury. It was a first-time experience.    While it's not as dramatic as Grisham offers, it remains a fascinating process and quite simpler than might be imagined. I received the jury summons back in the spring but was out of town on the appointed day. The summons was thus delayed to the third week of August.     For this, I received several notices though e-mail and text messages. I arrived at the Scott County Courthouse in Davenport at the appointed time, carting along books, magazines and other items to keep me occupied for hours if necessary.     More than 150 prospective jurors started the day...