Sean Dengler.

The only time I have been to Las Vegas, if you are not counting passing through the airport, was for work training. While out in this desert city for a couple of days, I saw the sights and explored this unique city. While all the distinct types of casinos were interesting to see, ranging in themes from Italian to French to circus, my last memory was finding a country bar.

When I discovered this bar, I ordered a Busch Light. A true country bar must have this beverage, but it did not. I then left. While this provided an easy out to go back to my hotel, it was wild a country bar did not serve Busch Light. This is not going to turn into a tirade against places not serving Busch Light, but it is about keeping a part of me whether it is beer or another memory living on through my experiences.

This might be heresy in Tama County, but Busch Light is fine. If I am going to have a light beer, Busch Light is an easy choice, but I am not only going to order Busch Light in my life. Despite my love of small businesses and competitive markets, I recognize drinking Busch Light is supporting a large multinational corporation. Ordering Busch Light is not about the taste, but it is who I am. Busch Light is a little part of home. Whether it is ordering Busch Light or another light beer, it is about being true to where I came from. For example, I recently met a friend to catch up with, and at the bar we met up at Schlitz was available. Due to a loose family connection back in Traer, it felt appropriate to order one, which became three, since this beer is rare as mountain lion in Iowa.

The significance of keeping connected to our past even if it is the lightest way is important. I am not one to hold onto every part of my past, but it provides a nice throughline through life. This can be more than just beer. It could be a flower, a specific product, or an old milk container.

While not 100% certain, my daily walk with my dog, Eevee, goes past an Urbandale house with an old milk container which resembles one on our farm. Maybe this person bought this container from an antique store, but it could be a memento or from the family farm. It could remind them of their family heritage. It is also the house I stopped by, and as I spoke with the older woman, she had a Pioneer temperature gauge hanging outside. After inquiring about it, it turned out her husband used to be a Pioneer dealer, just like my grandpa, but in Illinois.

These connections matter. Life is a series of moments, and moments we remember through different items or experiences. These connections remind us of where we came from and where we are going. Not everyone has great connections to the past, and that is okay. It is important to recognize where we have been and how far we have gone. This is why I enjoy having a Busch Light in a place where others do not drink it. It is about honoring where I came from, recognizing the role my past plays in my life, and what I stand for.

Sean Dengler is a writer, comedian, now-retired beginning farmer, and host of the Pandaring Talk podcast who grew up on a farm between Traer and Dysart. You can reach him at sean.h.dengler@gmail.com.