The Amana Landscape - Softcover

For twenty-five years I taught behavior disorder students in the Cedar Rapids Community School District. Then tragedy struck. My son Jordan Hans and I were driving to Iowa City when a Ford F-150 pick-up truck whipped into our lane and slammed into us head-on. Jordan died on the spot. I was knocked out from the impact and regained consciousness on the side of the highway, dazed, confused, and critically injured. An off-duty firefighter saved my life by putting a tourniquet on the artery of my left wrist. In time, it became apparent that changes were occurring in my brain, and that I wasn't quite the same person as before. My short-term memory was compromised, judgment and teaching skills were impaired, and I could no longer teach. I struggled with intense grief, sadness, and regret, and felt miserable. I reluctantly retired from teaching and pondered what to do next. I began reading and exercising and went on long bike rides. When the weather turned cold, I walked. My first outing was to the Lily Lake in Amana. It was a gray November day, and the lake was iced over. I carefully tested the ice and found it solid and clear. I then noticed fantastic images beneath the ice: all kinds of frozen lilies were different shapes and colors. I was in awe of the beauty. I ran home, grabbed my camera, and returned to the lake. I took picture after picture. The beauty and solitude were overwhelming. I felt energized, productive, and enthused. Days were spent exploring the lake, the Mill Race, and the tailrace. I felt focused and inspired which led me to the creation of this book, The Amana Landscape.