Day 14 – Memory Lane

first custom home

Narration here.

Kevin was up early as he was very excited about his 11AM meeting at the Urbandale pool with his x-swim team members who could make it. Theresa and Kevin left plenty early so that they could drive by their last house in Urbandale not to far from the pool. It was the first new house that the couple had built and presented lots of building challenges during its construction. The foundation hole had been dug wrong, the foundation was poured wrong and basically the wrong house was built! It was however on the right lot so the plans were redrawn by Theresa. The contractor then built the house from that point on using those hand drawn plans. The result was a unique floor plan. Kevin and Theresa moved into the house just before Thanksgiving and the house was enjoyed for 9 months until it was time to move to San Diego in 1984. The house looked good and seemed to be well kept. Kevin snapped some pics and then it was off to the pool.

The pool looked closed as Kevin approached the front door. The posted hours indicated that it would be open at 1 pm for lap swim, however a bright pink sign announce that the pool was closed until Sept 8th for maintenance. Kevin took some pics of the outside of the pool.

A bit before 11am Kevin and Theresa were greeted by Jerome and Tom. Tom shared artifacts from the first ever Urbandale swim team.

They included; old meet schedules, team rosters , score cards for the meets, pictures, news clippings of several event results, cartoon drawings of each team member created by an artistic swim team member, Brad Smith.





Theresa noticed someone was moving around in the pool. Kevin knocked on the door to learn it was open. He visited with the pool manager and explained he was there with the first ever Urbandale High School team members, and that Kevin was hired as the pool was being built to develop the swim programs, pool rules, hire and train the staff, act as the first pool manager, develop all the swim lessons, create an age group swim team followed by being the first Urbandale High School Swim Coach. Impressed with those credentials the group was invited in to examine the old digs. Surprisingly the pool was still in great shape as Kevin and his swimmers recalled HS antics that were a daily occurrence at 5:30 am or 4 pm practices. Just a few more shots of the group outside and then it was time to depart with promises to remain in touch via Facebook.

Kevin's tastebuds were salivating with the thought of a Smitty's Tenderloin sandwich on the southside of Des Moines. This was on the way to see more old residences as well as to pick up Theresa's sister, MaryJean. There was little that was recognizable on the once very familiar route form Urbandale to the airport on the south side. Once on Army Post Road a few of the old landmarks were still there including a DQ as well as the slightly relocated Smitty's. The small rustic old dinner style establishment was equipped with round bar stools at the counter that overlooked the entire cooking process. Kevin announce to the head cook, “The last time I had a Smitty's tenderloin was in 1971!” The cook said “then that must have been down the street when my granddad ran the place!” Kevin then learned that Smitty's has been a proud family business for 3 generations and the current proprietor has his son helping so he will be the 4th! A large Tenderloin sandwich was ordered to go with a side of onion rings, a large diet coke to wash it down and a commemorative t-shirt. This would be plenty for Kevin and Theresa to share as they sought out the places they called home in the past. On the first bite of the deep-fried- breaded-pounded-pig-meat, Theresa delightfully sighed “It tastes just the same!”

First house

Kevin's grade school house

Buryl and Judy Roe

On the west side of Fort Des Moines (now a Army Reserve area) Theresa navigated Kevin to several houses including the house where Kiehl was born which was across the street from Burl and Judy Roe (Kevin and Theresa's family friend & boss). During Kevin's Jr High and High School days he and his family lived next door to Judy and Burl in a 2 story house. Kevin therefore lived in two houses on the same street across from each other. As Kevin snapped the picture of the first house (the two story from his jr high and highschool years) a guy stepped out onto the front yard (of the first house Kevin and Theresa ever owned). Theresa asked “sir do you live here?” He replied “Yes” Theresa then announce “We used to live here”. After some discussion of the timing of his purchase he turned out to be the guy who bought it from Kevin and Theresa in 1983! He recalled 'Crazy Judy' (not Roe) that lived next door as well as other neighbors, all but one who had moved away. The house was in a state of disrepair and even had the same paint trim that Theresa recalled painting more than 35 years ago!

Kevin's HS home

There was one more house to locate that was the one where Kevin's family lived when he graduated from HS. After several wrong turns and back tracks there were finally some familiar side street names that led to the right block. Not recalling the house number it was a process of elimination to identify the correct split-level with the garage on the left. Glorianna, Kevin's mom, would be pleased to know that it looked very well taken care of and very nicely landscaped.

Blaisdell family home

Howard and Phyllis Lemons

The next stop was at Howard and Phyllis Lemons who lived across the street from the Blaisdell's during Theresa's formative years. Howard and Phyllis were mom and dad #2 to the 5 Blaisdell children and very close friends to the parents, Chuck and Helen Blaisdell. MaryJean had arranged with Phyllis to let her park her car at their place wile MJB is on the Smitanic adventure thru Glacier National park. Since Lemons are a few miles from the airport, it will be convenient when MJB flies back from Montana. Hugs were shared as well as an update on David and Ronnie, the Lemons' sons. Group pics where snapped as well as a few of the old Blaisdell abode across the street. Howard and Phyllis are doing well and are an inspiration on how to maintain a great life attitude as time passes.

Zin was left with Joe & Connie while the house tour and MJB pick up took most of the day. Joe had taken Zin for several walks and Connie gave her treats and became her new BFF.

Before dinner Kevin got out the drone and did a couple flyovers of the Robinson's estate which backed up to a community lake. Joe drooled over Kevin's new flying camera and the command central that would project the birds eye view from the drones camera on a iPad mounted to the remote tethered around Kevin's neck. See previous day's post.

Kevin in turn had been drooling over the red 2001 corvette parked in Joe's garage! Joe backed it out of the garage and took Kevin for a spin and then let Kevin try out the the smooth precision and acceleration that the iconic classic embodies. Kevin now has a new buck-list item... to own a Toadvette. 


Connie had spent all day in the kitchen preparing a Iowa style dinner for the visitors that consisted of Hamburgers, Connie's famous potato salad, macaroni salad, home grown tomatoes that Joe procured from a neighbors garden while walking Zin, corn on the cob and chocolate cake and ice cream for dessert! Good thing there is lots of hiking in store for the Smitanic adventurers!

With food comma setting in, the team headed into the RV before a storm headed in from the NW. There was little wind and the awnings were out so no rain made it inside and the light patter on the RV's roof lulled the adventurers into a deep slumber.