Kansas
as in not in
anymore
but you are
barely in
KC BBQ
a reminder
wheels rolling
across plains
not so plain
hills rolling
from flint to smoke
at 75 miles per
grasshoppers nod
among remnants of wheat
in fresh-cut fields
destination, family
where words roll
in stories told
heat in the air
nothing compared to
warmth in the tales
with bonds
stronger than the hills
deeper than the bottoms
bonds now stronger yet
make parting
no easy task
hills, once more
until, finally
not there, anymore
A weekend trip took us to Kansas, where we celebrated Independence Day at a family gathering.
There’s nothing massive about the Flint Hills and the Smoky Hills of Kansas, but they still provide terrain with a striking view.
(Kansas City straddles the Missouri River and the Kansas-Missouri border.)
More travel for two weeks to visit family (starting Saturday) will means less time checking into WordPress.
Image: Library of Congress “a pumpjack, sometimes referred to as a ‘grasshopper’ oil pump because of its appearance”
rivrvlogr 
If you ever get as far in as McPherson or Saline County, let me know! 🙂
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Went as far as Barton county (Great Bend).
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That’s still another hour or so to us.
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my grandmother left Cottonwood Falls for California in 1912. occasionally went back, but not for long. only visits. her sister was still living there when I was a teenager. in 1984 I drove through and stopped at the old courthouse. only the sheriff’s station in the basement was open. he remembered my old aunt but would not tell me why. sometimes I look at real estate listings in Cottonwood and wonder about the weather.
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I thought of you when we were there in the Flint Hills.
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my grandmother was the last sibling to die, a few months before I drove through.
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. . . and I thought it was just my family who knew them as grasshoppers. You captured the feels very well. ❤
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💖
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Reading this I felt “right there” – scenery and then the difficulty saying goodbye to family after a gathering. Thanks for a good read,
Enjoy your upcoming travels. We, too, are about to take off – for 5 weeks!
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Thank you, Jazz.
Enjoy your travels. If you’re anywhere near mid-Missouri after the 25th, let me know.
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Probably won’t be near Missouri this year – our summer travels are Oklahoma & New Mexico. But we can be spontaneous now that Gary’s retired, so who knows where we’ll wander when … Missouri is on the list to return to sometime!
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A road trip must feel just right about now. Enjoy.
Pat
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It will be a welcome journey. Thank you, Pat.
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Nicely done, Ken. The words flowed, and I could imagine the scene. I’ve never been there–or Missouri.
I’ve been hearing a lot about Missouri with the virus.
Safe travels. I know you’re excited to see your children and grandchildren.
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Thank you, Merril.
They don’t call it “The Show Me State” for nothin’.
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😀
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It’s always a good time for family–enjoy.
My brother is in the midst of moving back to Ohio, so I may get back to the Midwest yet. Haven’t been there since my uncle’s funeral. (K)
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Thanks, Kerfe.
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good
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Thank you.
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