POSTVILLE, IOWA

POSTVILLE, Iowa... I just cleared the small town of Clermont this morning on the busy, awful Hwy. 18. Climbed a big hill out of the valley and saw this guy at the side of the road waiting to cross.

Heavy truck traffic; saw his mailbox, and figured that was his goal.

Instead, he reached the mailbox, turned around and waited for me.

"Want a bottle of water," he said.

His name was Randy. He was a county employee who had lived at the top of the hill for the past 10-plus years. Worked a bit for the farmer next door. He passed me in town and went home and filled up a bottle with ice and water.

We chatted for about ten minutes. So nice...