Jonathan Meyer.

About a year ago, my sister, Jenna asked me to dance with her in one of her senior dance solos. If you’re unaware, I am not really the dancing type, this was very much out of my comfort zone. After all was said and done, no one brought me flowers. With the feeling of immense despair and frankly rejection, I vowed that no one would have to feel like that again after dancing their ever loving heart out. It was my duty to bring Jenna some flowers this year, no matter the cost.

All sarcasm aside, I was relieved not to be in the actual show this year. I was very content with buying some flowers, coming home, and watching. Here’s my (mostly accurate) recount of that day.

I started my morning in Waverly, eagerly waiting for my roommate Chris to wake up. Waiting isn’t really my thing so I decided to take a different approach and crawled into his bed and started whispering his name repeatedly.

After startling him just enough, we threw on some Hawaiian shirts and hit the road. No drive back to Tama would be complete without a cup of coffee. WIth Starbucks claiming no less than ten dollars for a bite to eat and cup of joe, we hit the road.

I mentioned getting flowers earlier and how wildly important it was, I couldn’t just go anywhere for those said buds and blossoms wrapped up into a bouquet. I took my on the go business to Simply Blooming in Traer right on main street. Now this place does hold a bit of a special place in my heart. As a favor for Ruby a few years ago, I went and covered an event when the shop was named small business of the week by Senator Joni Ernst. Getting to meet my second senator and have a decently long interview was super cool, I was proud of my article that came from it too.

Showing Chris around the cute little store as my bouquet was assembled was a fun “side-quest”, but it was time to get back on the road.

Skipping forward a few hours we ended up in the casino. My parents were going to the later show, we were on our own. After getting tickets bought, and Chris into his seat (he’s on crutches) I went and bought us a second round of coffee at the new Starbucks inside the casino. I have really enjoyed having something close to a coffee shop relatively close to us. I see some new coffee trucks coming to town which is another good step.

Chris found us some seats that were front and center. I sat next to Mr. Koch and let me tell you, he kept me in line. As I joked about heckling Jenna on stage, he reminded me that “You only have one little sister, be nice!”. Who am I to argue with that?

The highlight of the recital was Jenna getting to perform in the teachers dance this year. Sitting right in the middle like we did, and dressed in a purple Hawaiian shirt, she spotted me instantly when she was on the stage. Now I’m not one to ruin things, but I did make some silly faces at her. She cracked a few smiles and stifled off some giggles as I joyfully sat there watching.

When the show was over, we all met up for some pictures and she got her flowers that I obsessed about all day. My mission was done.

Until the next coffee, bouquet of flowers, and recital shenanigans, I’m Just Jonathan.