MO Impressions

Flat, flat, flat…where are the mountains? I can get no sense of direction. Which way is north, south, east, or west? But it's green, green, green and humid.

Looking down from the airplane you could see the patchwork of landscape. In times past, it reminded me of a patchwork quilt with all the various field crops making up the squares. Now, it looks as though someone has taken a giant paper punch and punched out green holes in the patchwork quilt. They are the irrigation pivots that go round and round in circles.

Landing in Kansas City, MO was anti-climactic. Compared to the hustle & bustle of SLC and DEN it was like walking into a country store after being at a Mervyn's sale. Their restrooms had two stalls…and a line. They had two doors into the boarding/waiting room — one going in with a guard and one going out with a guard greeting the new arrivals with, Welcome to Colorado, Welcome to Albuquerque, etc — and nobody paying any attention to him. (My kind of guy!)

We got the rental car and headed East? towards Independence, MO.

I kept looking for a downtown area with tall office buildings…nothing. It reminded me of Small Town, USA that was stuck in the Fifties. Reminded me of the town in the Back to the Future movie.

We drove past Harry Truman's home and cs was thrilled. We stopped at Historic Independence Square and walked through the old court house…we literally walked through it…in one door and straight out the other. cs said that we had to find the Clinton Soda Shop.

What's that?

It's where Harry Truman first worked and earned $3/week

So, we began our quest, with me taking the lead and walked two blocks in the wrong direction. It ended up being right next to where we were, but in the opposite direction.

We went in. They asked for our order. cs said nothing. Walked to the back, looked around, and headed out the door. We followed.

Aren't we going to get something to eat?

No. I just wanted to see it. And we did, so now we can go.