Christmas spirit, people wonderful in Iowa

By Jennifer Bioche

My family is feeling sentimental with the approach of our third Christmas in Iowa.

We arrived here during the first ice storm in February 2007, so the fun of the holiday season had already passed. Still, we were so enthralled with white weather, we laid out blankets on the living room floor that first night of a power outage, candles lit, and took in the coziness of feeling small against a large storm and living temporarily like a pioneer.

That novelty has worn off. Now when snow is coming, I brace for snow days and fret about how to keep four children in line when harsh weather keeps us in too-close quarters. I dash off to the market, stocking up on milk and other basics, as I did for this first huge blizzard we got earlier this month.

At the end of the day, however, it isn't the weather that makes Cedar Rapids so great, quaint as it is looking down the street at Christmas lights reflecting off the snow. It's by far the people. I want to mention some of the locals who represent not just the spirit of the season, but the spirit of the Corridor year-round.

If you haven't been to downtown Marion in a while to visit Deb Witte, owner of Witte's End coffee house on the square, well, you're missing out. I come from a long love affair with a family-owned coffee chain out west, but Deb's place is a quick pleaser, great for a girlfriend chat, and something warm to take the chill off. Deb spent time with me, giving me a feel for the community, telling me how things “worked,” not to mention inspiration as this gal knows how to run a successful business.

The media here is also very personal. I visited WMT AM 600 at Broadcast Park, got to meet program manager Randy Lee and the larger-than-life Bob Bruce from the “BBRE.” I had worked in broadcasting in southern California and enjoyed it - but never got to just breeze into some huge L.A. radio station without a zillion contacts, an agent and a really impressive audition tape. Same for magazines.

Here Mary Walton, publisher of the Corridor's “City Revealed” magazine, took me on as a columnist and her magazine is one of the most successful around.

And a holiday isn't a holiday without a place I visit sometimes daily - Hy-Vee (ok, maybe I need to plan my meals more efficiently). But considering how large of an operation that market is, the people are still into the individual customer. I worked for Pepsi Cola in a previous life, know that the grocery business is tough, so I am even more impressed.

Go see Wade Chalstrom at the Marion store and tell him I told you. Stephanie at the photo counter will treat your pictures like your own. And hey, they have Starbucks!

Only in the Corridor can the larger people - a business owner, radio personality, a large chain - seem accessible. That's what really makes living here such a treat.

Sure, I miss my California “winters” - three weeks of rain, temps in the 50s, and my friends and family. But for the time being, there are stockings to stuff, cards to write, but most especially people to thank for how they make the day to day feel like everyday is Christmastime.

Jennifer Bioche of Marion is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in a variety of publications. Contact her at jbioche@mchsi.com