Yesterday, we went to the Field of Dreams movie site in Dyersville, Ia. The movie is about a man who hears a disembodied voice in the corn field telling him "If you build it m they will come" and we did! The man, Ray, builds a baseball field in his corn field and it is now a free park-like attraction in real life. It's also someone's real house and the Lansing Family owned it for over 100 years. When we got there instead of a tacky and commercialized tourist attraction it was a quiet, peaceful and picturesque scene with a white-washed house, crisp dried corn stalks set against the greenest grass and bluest sky dabbed with white clouds. It was as if an artist painted a perfect Iowa summer day for us. The wind blowing across and through the corn stalks sounded just like a rainstick if you were quiet and listened. It is just like the place in the movie, exactly as you'd expect it to be. I'm very happy the family keeps it open and doesn't charge to visit. There is a souvenir stand that isn't obnoxious in the parking lot where you can buy t-shirts and baseballs.
My mom and I played catch, ran the bases, whispered in the corn and took pictures. It was a great experience as no one else was around. Just going there was magical but sitting on the bleachers talking to my mom about dreams for the trio, hope for the future and regrets of the past was the part that made it the most memorable. An 11 year old with regrets you ask? Only a few... like desserts I didn't get to try and getting the email address of that really nice girl in Powell's who talked with me for an hour about authors and book series we liked. We supported the family by buying postcards, a baseball for my Dad which we got dirty for him at the field, and a shirt for my cousin and the original book written by Mr. Kinsella the movie was based on called Shoeless Joe. My mom and dad and I are going to read it together on the trip. If you haven't seen the movie in awhile now is a good time to rent it and remind yourself of this amazing place.
I wondered what the game of the ghost teams would have been like if the movie had gone longer. I think you would see baseball in a new way. Instead of a competitive game (you will find my mom and I are not very competitive) you would find enjoyment with the people you came with and the setting, sights, smells and feelings. To enjoy this place you do not have to have played baseball or been a major league player or fan. Some people love baseball who come here, some Iowa farmlands and some are movie lovers. There is something here for everyone. Funny thing though, if you are going to pretend to be a baseball player DO NOT SLIDE INTO HOME PLATE, it's gravel and not dirt because just like in dust-bowl times dirt blows away in the strong breeze here. My leg paid the price learning this for you. My mom thought she was funny when she teased me saying the bag of frozen vegetables would "ease his pain". Don't ask who the disembodied voice is in the movie because it's a very carefully guarded secret. In the credits it's even just listed as "himself".
Now, go the distance... and comment any good places we should visit on the trip. Write a haiku for us based on places we've been or about the movie Field of Dreams. We are lonely out here... so write us!
Happy Batting!
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