If you’ve been reading my posts, you know I grew up in the Kansas City area. I moved away after high school to sing/act in a traveling music and drama ministry for four years. I came back to Missouri, got married and went to college. After college we moved to Oregon for seven years where I was music minister and elementary teacher. We moved back to Kansas City in 1998 and spent the next fifteen years teaching in the Raytown School district. In those fifteen years, I got to know Kansas City pretty well by singing in the Kansas Symphony Chorus and performing in community theater in different venues around town. Before college I worked in downtown Kansas City for two and half years, and I thought I’d seen and done most of what Kansas City had to offer.

Elizabeth Kay was born in June, so we booked tickets to Kansas City as soon we could. Autumn and Jim were also able to fly to Kansas City so our whole family could join together to celebrate the arrival of this precious little girl!

Nothing I write can describe the overwhelming feelings of love and pride as you gaze into the eyes of your first grandchild.  I never thought I’d be ready for this phase of my life, but it’s amazing. My brother Dave and his wife Jennifer purchased a condominium in Lee’s Summit that Erik and Amanda are renting, and it gives them the perfect space for this new addition to their family. I love seeing the baby and visiting the kids, but as you’ve seen, I can’t sit still for long periods of time.

 

Erik loves cities as much as I do. Before I moved to New England, we spent a day seeing things in Kansas City that tourists should see. One thing we weren’t able to do was the Negro Leagues and Jazz museums in the historic 18th and Vine district. Erik loves jazz and has played trombone in many combos.  Like his mother, he’s also a huge Royals fan, and is also aware of the legacy of the Kansas City Monarchs negro league of the mid-twentieth century. These museums are both Kansas City gems and celebrate a rich heritage of African-American art and sport.

After the museum we headed over to Arthur Bryant’s BBQ and had lunch. I’m not a huge fan of AB’s BBQ as there are other joints in KC that I prefer. But Arthur Bryant’s was the first to begin the tradition of KC BBQ and it seemed fitting.

After lunch we headed over to the Liberty Memorial. This torch style monument is the national World War I memorial and both of us were eager to visit the newly completed museum underground. I have to say that I was really impressed with the exhibit, and very proud that Kansas City houses such a quality venue. We took the elevator to the top of the torch for some amazing views of the city.

Union Hill cemetery is just up the street from the Liberty Memorial so we paid respects at the grave of my great grandfather Elisha and his wife. My father had taken Erik here a couple of years ago, and he was eager to show me their headstones. Erik loves family. He has a strong sense of heritage and makes everyone who is related to him, proud that he’s part of the family. For me, he’ll always be the best son I could ever have.  Thank you son for sharing the day as I visited my home town like a tourist.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller