Ever notice how time seems to fly by in the aftermath of something you are really looking forward to? It might be a wedding, or a big game or a final exam. But the event suddenly comes and goes and then before you know it, a week has passed.

That’s the feeling I’m getting here on a sunny Friday afternoon, nearly a full week since this town was a beehive of activity with more than 200 visitors spending a wonderful weekend.

When you get as old as I am and you look at the type of schedule we had last week, it only seems natural that you would wonder where you would find time for the living recliner, TV remote and football game. You tend to think you’ve seen it all and the weekend like the one we just experienced would be just more of the same.

But as the days leading up to the events dwindled, I had a front row seat to some of the planning and anticipation carried out by some of those in charge of the events. Don Hlas, the guru of the Civil War Days event might stop by to go over details with Jon Dayton, Belle Plaine Community Development Director. City Administrator Bill Daily, who headed up the appearance of the Walldog artists, would stop by just to fill us in on how those arrangements were progressing. So it was impossible not to get caught up in the enthusiasm that was generated each day leading up to last weekend.

Those of us who have been here for a number of years have witnessed the Civil War re-enactments and this year’s group of re-enactors did anther fine job with the school students on Friday, explaining the life and times during that period. Coaches Bohlen, Cronbaugh and Kurriger stepped in at noontime to help in the concession stand. Boy, can those kids eat a lot of hot dogs, hamburgers and drink a lot of pop!

While some of the events of the Weekend of Living History started on Friday afternoon, many of us jumped in our cars and headed east to see the Plainsmen tangle with Durant. It was more than 90 miles over that 70 mph parking lot known as Friday afternoon on Interstate 80. But it was well worth the trip. As many of us expected, the Plainsmen handed the Wildcats a defeat. The home team crowd had one moment to cheer when they saw their team return the second half kickoff for 95 yards and their lone touchdown of the night.

Meanwhile, back here in town, a group of wonderful artists were beginning to create four great murals that are now displayed downtown and out on Highway 30. When we learned that some of the country’s best artists were coming to town for the weekend, many people may have thought we would be invaded by tempermental, demanding people. Nothing could be further from the truth. By all accounts, our visitors were all great people who genuinely enjoyed spending a warm, sunny weekend in rural Iowa.

Sometimes when you plan on something, especially when the reputation of those who are involved precedes them, there might be a bit of a letdown. Most folks I’ve talked to this week sound like they wish the Walldog artists hadn’t left and wish they could come back soon. We were truly fortunate to have this wonderful organization choose our town.

So the high school football team won, the Civil War battles were fought at Franklin Park in another grand authentic fashion and we were blessed by a wonderful group of artists from as far as Colorado and Canada. For a little icing on the cake, our local fifth and sixth grade football team beat Newton on Sunday afternoon.

The ideal weather held out the entire weekend. The last mural was placed on the grain bin on Monday morning. The last bolt was driven just as the first drops of rain fell. What great timing!

Growing up in an area with over 300,000 people, I never imagined there would come a time when I could get excited about an event in a town of 2,800. But last weekend, seeing how the many volunteers pitched in to help and how the community welcomed our visitors, it made me proud to call this place “home.”