I am Going to Marry Kansas

We are 1,300 miles into our trip, and I have not driven one of them. Please allow me to go on record: I am a GOOD driver -- just a bit slower than Checkered. Okay, after we got on the two-lane highway in Kansas and the wind gusts got a little frightening, I was happy to allow him to continue driving.

We each have our favorite region of the trip thus far. My children loved Iowa and its surprisingly rolling terrain. They genuinely hope for a return visit someday. I do think our visit with Jeannelle influenced that affection for Iowa. They asked today when would get to see her next. My youngest hopes to return there some day and build a tree house. I told him I would stay on the ground when I come to visit, but his dad offered to help him build it.

Checkered thought Kansas City was beautiful.

I am quite in love with the plains of western Kansas and announced my desire to channel Laura Ingalls Wilder and move here. The open vistas have completely captured my heart. The endless wind.

The lack of traffic. The small towns. They are all part of the lure. I've been dreaming about coming to this part of Kansas to teach, but I have learned that there are no Tim Hortons west of the Mississippi. That could seriously impact my decision to move to the prairie. Of course, if we were to move to Kansas, we would probably end up in some town, but where I would really want to be would be out on the prairie on someone's ranch.

I guess I wouldn't be a great rancher or farmer. But maybe I COULD be a wind farmer.

Today we spent in Dodge City. I am happy to report that the town smelled fine. I suspect that the offensive odor my sister encounterd here years ago was the result of these stock yards. They are so spectacular in their expanse that there is a pull-off to stop and gawk.

The Boot Hill Museum is okay. It's goal is to capture the spirit of the old west, and their acting troupe is certainly entertaining. My kids loved the gunfight, but were a little disappointed to learn that blanks were going to be used instead of live ammo.

Meet Dodge City's newest deputies. They had to go through rigorous training to earn their badge: hopping (to demonstrate how they would chase the bad guys after being shot), running (to chase the bad guys before being shot), and shooting a finger gun. We're quite proud.

For Checkered, my daughter, and me the highlight of Dodge City was seeing the actual Santa Fe Trail tracks. This site has been verified by the National Park Service. See the parallel dark tracks? Now imagine a covered wagon bumping over them with the drivers wondering when the next Indian or weather attack would occur. I was mesmerized by a display at Boot Hill of actual things discarded by travellers along the trail.

The exciting news for the night? That same sexy driver just found an open Sonic.

And all is well.

New Things in my Town

I live in a busy area. Lots of new buildings going up while entire strip malls sit vacant. Roads being widened while the potholes on other roads swallow entire towns. New cars running me off the road even as the Big 3 claim low sales.

But all those things are old news. Anything really new around here? Well, of course!

Roundabouts!

This is our road commission's answer to traffic congestion. "Just go around and around until you can get out," is what I believe their working theory is. It seems to work well for Checkered who charges full-speed into and around and out of the roundabouts. But someday he is going to meet a driver like me who just can't seem to get in the right lane and is befuddled. It won't be pretty when it happens.

Sonic!

It is the first in our area ever and we are entirely grateful. For years we've watched their ads on cable late at night (in this house: 9:30) and craved an intimate acquaintance with Sonic. Then we went to Myrtle Beach and my family took it upon ourselves to make that franchise a fiscal giant in one week. Now Sonic has moved in about 15 minutes from my house. Sonic gives us 3 ordering options.

• The drive-in: which we finally managed to execute today after several attempts. Imagine a line of 20 cars waiting for that next empty spot. We were quite excited when I managed to snag one of those slots today, but then I realized that we had to pay a tip. The fun factor deflated immediately for me.
• The walk-up: which would leave us battling for our lives in a sure-to-lose encounter with hypothermia. Nevertheless, every teen-ager in the county has claimed the walk-up as his or her own domain.
• The drive-thru: which takes only 30-43 minutes to navigate. The line just doesn't move. Such a winner in my book. What's an hour's investment when it results in a Sonic slush?

My fear? That the traffic crisis Sonic has now created will result in a roundabout.