Baker's heartbeat

The banner at the 2002 Rochau Open        Drive around Cedar County, Iowa, and you'll run into one town that has an intersection with stoplights.     That's the county seat of Tipton and the home of the  Rochau Open, a golf tournament that honors a former resident and business owner.     Rick Rochau, a graduate of Tipton High School, operated an appliance store until he was diagnosed with cancer. He passed away in March 2003 of complications from the disease. The father of two sons was 46 years old.     Later that year, his family and many friends put together a golf tournament to raise funds in his memory. The money would go to some of his interests, which included hunting and fishing.     And so it has, for 20 years now.      There were more than 100 people playing golf last Saturday at the Tipton Country Club. The event was won by a team that included Rick's eldest son, Larry.      ...

            Steve Baker holds tiny, sleepy granddaughters, Alina, left and Thea, right.      There are 10 fingers and 10 toes on two tiny babies with itty-bitty fingernails on each digit.     The feet are as long as one's thumb, and these two -- born five weeks early -- are stronger and more feisty than an adult might think.     This is a short description of Alina and Thea Rodewald, the two newest members of the extended Baker family. Adding two girls, with their big sister, Myla (age 3.5 years old), makes the girls/boys grandchildren ratio almost even. The count is five boys, ages 17-27 years old, and four girls, ages 3.5 weeks to 20 years old.     Granddaughter Hailey, the 20-year-old college student, said it's great to have more girls in the family. Hailey would know as she was the only female grandchild for more than 15 years.     The twins started life on July 20 in the Neo-Intensive Care Uni...

       Steve and Myla on the train at the Blank Park Zoo.      Call me crazy, but I found some similarities recently after we watched our granddaughter, Myla Rodewald, age 3 and subsequently Kobe, a Golden Retriever owned by a grandson.     Both experiences were engaging and needed effort.       Both were also worth every moment.     Myla's mother, our  daughter Kirstin, had twin babies five weeks early and the toddler could not enter the hospital. Consequently she needed her grandparents to help. Beautiful Myla is full of energy, has a stubborn streak, and knows what she wants and when she wants it.      Kobe's family members went north on vacation to Lake Pokegama in Grand Rapids, Minn. and he needed a safe place to stay for a week. Kobe is kind of a "teenager" dog; lots of energy and questionable judgment.     Thoughts that follow:     1. Obviously, you need to keep...