Lost Nation Series: Rolly World

Rolly World is not a fictional place; it exists outside of Bellevue, Iowa, near Paradise Valley. My friends Steve and Peggy own this beautiful and idylic land. The name Rolly World comes from their last name and "Wally World" from the movie "Vacation". I can't recall the first time we went there for a gathering of friends, food and spirits . . . but I know it has been maybe twenty years ago by now. Time. It is hard to keep track of.

In the late 1980's, I began to bring my camera with me when I went to Rolly World. Since then I have taken hundreds of images there. Pictures of the kids swimming in the ponds, picnics, cow pie throwing, turtles and whatever struck my eye. Lately I have been focusing on the younger generations. When we first began going to Rolly World, our own children were just children. Now many of our children have their own children. Time. I am keeping track of time by taking pictures . . ..