Is this heaven? No, it's Iowa ...

It's been one of those "I love my home state" weeks. I am yet again impressed by friendly people who care deeply about others and important issues of the day, as well as beautiful landscapes I had the pleasure of witnessing while traversing the state from Iowa City to Sioux City on Tuesday. Take for instance last weekend. I finished a killer psychiatry exam on Friday and needed a break over the weekend. I was happy to discover a women's music festival near downtown on Saturday full of vendors selling homemade clothing, jewelry, and art, political folks stumping for their presidential candidates and for marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples, as well as silent auctions, great music, and brats. I then wandered over to the Old Capitol building downtown and was exceptionally impressed with the restoration following the 2001 fire. I couldn't really think of a better way to spend a sunny September afternoon ... especially after learning that my Cyclones beat the Hawkeyes in the annual Cy-Hawk football game! I was the only one in red and gold wandering the streets of Iowa City, I can assure you.

On Sunday, I took part in the largest ever Harkin's steak fry on the hot air balloon fields near Indianola --- what an event! Nothing like eating barbecue with 12,000+ other rabid Iowa Democrats and listening to the six top presidential candidates (Obama, Richardson, Clinton, Dodd, Edwards, and Biden) all vying for the nation's top job. PHENOMENAL ... I have never seen so many stickers, posters, and buttons in all my life --- and not to mention the tractors and bales of hay for an "Iowa" backdrop! I took *several* pictures (probably an understatement ... !) and shook the hands of Obama, Edwards (John and Elizabeth), and Dodd. The next few months are going to be fun ones in the political world ... go, Hillary!






After a quick pit stop in Ankeny to visit Susie and my former high school cross country and track coach/Spanish teacher Jim Robidoux and his wife Emily (So great to see you!), I drove up on Tuesday to northwest Iowa past rolling fields of corn, wind generators, and several barns boasting painted quilt blocks. I also got stuck behind an old man and his tractor --- a few times over. I have been fortunate to see some beautiful places in my lifetime --- the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, fireworks over the National Mall, Iguazu Falls in Brazil, the architecture of Barcelona, and the nighttime skyline of New York City from atop the Empire State Building. They are all beautiful in their own way, but it took me to move away several times to realize that the sun setting over a late summer cornfield in Iowa is also pretty stunning.

So, here I am for the next four weeks in Sioux City on my community-based primary care clerkship. Essentially, this means I will be seeing patients in the family medicine clinic here, as well as touring several local public health agencies, including an Indian reservation, a community health center, the local public health department, and a rehab center. I've been here 48 hours, and I love it. I have six other female roommates in my sixties' era apartment across from the main clinic --- two med students, two pharmacy students, and a PA student. (We have decided to call our experience, "Real World: Sioux City!") The staff has been superb, and they provide us with free meals, free housing, and quarters for the pop machine! Yesterday, I got done at 3:00 p.m., and a couple of others and I went running along the Lewis and Clark trail along the Missouri River and went shopping at Target. Not bad for the first day! Today, I started seeing patients, and the two physicians I worked with (including one who roomed with a high school classmate of mine in college!) let me go in and visit with the patients first. I discovered again today how much I love patient care --- just as much as I love health policy and my life over the past year in Washington. And just when I think I can't remember what questions I'm supposed to ask or what drug we would prescribe or particular elements of the physical exam, I meet a patient who is exceptionally encouraging and supportive. I love people, and I love my career of choice. I am not sure in which direction it'll take me, but I love it!

(And as a funny side note --- I learned today that the couple I am staying with in Storm Lake in a couple of months owns a funeral home ... am not sure yet whether I'll be LIVING in a funeral parlor, but stay tuned!)