The human existence is rich with traditions, customs and rituals that define our lives and make us individual. “Rituals” is a weekly photographic essay that celebrates the human spirit through these events. Please send your ideas for this feature to Press-Citizen Photo Editor Jason A. Cook.

• Paper Boy: Steven Spurrell is one of the last of his kind: A teen-aged paper boy who delivers his route from his bike. (Aug. 2, 2004).

• Baking bread: Ila Miller of Kalona spends her days baking bread, pies, cookies and more for the area's farmers' markets. (July 26, 2004).

• Picking sweet corn: On one of the hottest days of the year, Larry Murphy and his three sons pick sweet corn with deliberate perfection. (July 19, 2004).

• Rehab: They come from all over Eastern Iowa: Patients rehabilitating their hearts at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. (July 12, 2004).

• Little League: Nothing says summertime like an afternoon at Little League. Step up to the plate on championship day in Oxford. (July 5, 2004).

• Joe Johnston: For the past 40 years, Joe has been playing pick-up basketball games every Monday, Wednesday and Friday over his lunch hour. (June 28, 2004).

• The Dane family petting zoo: Take a trip the Dane family farm and free petting zoo that brings joy to children of all ages. (June 21, 2004).

• Saying goodbye to Pat Zioberek: Experience the last day of school as 34-year teaching veteran Pat Zioberek retires from Lucas Elementary. (June 14, 2004).

• Riding with Doug Broxey: Doug Broxey of Kalona treks through Iowa City, Hills and Riverside on his 22-mile ride home from work on his bike. (June 7, 2004).

• The Eucharistic Adoration Chapel: The Holy Eucharist is never alone in St. Patrick's Eucharistic Adoration Chapel. (May 31, 2004).

• The Shimek Elementary Post Office: They don't have to brave the weather, but the regular mail duties of the students at Shimek Elementary are demanding nonetheless. (May 24, 2004).

• Table to Table: It was something inside that told Lauren Tucker Huber or Ann Donahue to volunteer for Table to Table, a program that collects donated food from area businesses and delivers the food to local service organizations. (May 17, 2004).

• Prom, Lone Tree High School: Ahhh, prom. The guys always show up early, the girls are never ready (despite spending all day trying to do so), the music never stops and nobody gets home on time. Isn't high school great? (May 10, 2004).

• Cassie Ricci, diabetic: Every day, every two hours, even overnight, 12-year-old Cassie Ricci gives up a drop of blood to test her blood sugar. It's something she's lived with since she was 7, and likely will for the rest of her life. (May 3, 2004).