There and back again...

When you look out over Kansas City from the World War I Memorial, you can begin to understand the urban setting. Essentially, the main business district is encircled by interstates on all sides, and this lone monument rises above the city's skyline, memorializing the Great War.

The other day I arrived in this Old West town and dined at a local famous bar-b-que restaurant. It was everything I could have imagined. No wonder KC BBQ is so popular! Another stop in this city was the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. After a light security check, the exhibits showcased coins and currency from the early colonial time onward through the revolution and well into the 20th century. For a currency buff, this is a must see. You even are awarded approximately $165 in unfit currency (shredded, of course) upon your exit of the building.

The final stop in KC was at a local museum. I was blown away at the specimens and artifacts there. Particularly I was drawn to several pieces. One was a painting on a piece of wall from a Buddhist temple, and the other was a gem of antique American furniture (see below). Now, if only I had a house in which to put it.

As my time on the road drew to a close, however, I made one final pit stop in Pella, Iowa, before returning home to Cedar Falls. I had lunch with a friend at the Windmill Cafe and then made the quick jaunt home. I covered just about 3500 miles on this trip with all the little stops and caveats, and each mile was worth it. The car ran beautifully (averaging between 30 and 35 miles per gallon on the highway), the food was great, and the people were as amazing as ever. Were it not for my friends across this great land of ours, it would just be a magnificent country with breathtaking sights. It is not about what you do, or where you go, but, rather, who you are with.


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Now that I have made it back, I'm rested and relaxed. I'm ready to begin the new semester with vigor and persistence. One year remains before I can obtain my master's degree, and then the time will come to decide where to go next. I want to stay, and, yet, I want to be on the road. It calls me. It beckons me. One day, I will return to the dotted yellow lines and two lane blacktop. For the longest time it was the road that I loved. Now, I love another. She is the most sweet and genuine girl I have ever met. Sometimes the best things happen when you least expect it...like a stranger approaching you at a bookstore.

So, where does this tale of a weary traveler who craves coffee from mom and pop shops go from here? Well, as further developments happen in my existence, you'll be updated. For brevity's sake, however, I'll close this evening with just a final thought. The human experience is nothing without travel. Our ancestors traded at great distances with peoples of other cultures, and through that we became this amalgamation of completely different cultures all intermingling with one another. Don't be a tourist, just be a human being. Get out of your comfort zone and explore. Create your own path. It will be you in the dirt when it is your time to go. (Oh, and stop to try the local cuisines while you're at it. Nothing makes for a great road trip like good food.)

Until next time, catch you all down that dusty trail!