KC

Kia and I returned this afternoon from a day in Kansas City, where we saw my grandparents and mother, who were scouting out potential spots for the family reunion in October. What, you may ask, did we see on our travels?

-An overwhelmingly large (even disproportionate, you might say) number of fireworks places. Why people along I-70 in Missouri feel the need to blow up a lot of things, all the time, is beyond me...so far.

-Also, an overwhelmingly large (even disproportionate number, you might say) number of nostalgia places. I guess they were selling nostalgic merchandise. There was also an Elvis museum we passed. Didn't look too promising.

-Mexico, MO. Yes, we went through Mexico. And let me tell you: what happens in Mexico, stays in Mexico. Interpret that as you will.

-A bumper sticker that read (I kid you not): "I'd rather be bow hunting." Oh yes. That's from a movie, right? Help me out. I feel like this is from a movie, maybe "Kicking and Screaming," or possibly some John Cusack flick.

-A scaled-down Walmart, I wish I could remember what it was called. It was green, and small(-er) and was supposed to look like a nice little mom and pop store. It makes you sick, because you know they kicked a real mom and pop out to get there.

-And in preparation for the long drive from St. Louis to Oberlin in two weeks, I began learning to drive a stick-shift car. I had attempted once with not much luck, but maybe this time will be more successful.