Spring Fling Week 1.5

 SAW-HEARD-DID

SAW- I saw an opportunity and I took it!  

 Yep- for this road trip- I set myself a goal to blog weekly.   Historically- the blog gets updated monthly out of habit- so switching to weekly seemed like a lofty goal for me.   But, today- being a lazy day at camp- I thought- why not use this quiet afternoon to   reflect on yesterday's adventures.   As both had very special meaning to me.  

HEARD-  I heard the call to post at Churchill Downs!  

As a kid,  I grew up knowing exactly what we would be doing the first Saturday in May.   Dad would have made a pitcher of mint juleps (often using mint from his own garden) and the TV would be tuned to "the race".    Mom would be sitting in her cardinal chair (a chair with large wooden armrests- upholstered in cardinal fabric)-  ready to cheer on whatever horse caught her fancy (usually based on the name that she found most amusing).    It is as  they say these days "a core childhood memory" for me. 

Richard sporting one of his Derby day creations..

most likely as he perfected the batch of mint Juleps

So- when I looked up and noticed that Churchill Downs was in striking distance of our campsite for the next few days- I just knew I had to go.   

Hubby, without such childhood memories- was far less interested- even more so when we discovered that "Spring Meet" is a 9 week run that includes  44 days of racing  at Churchill Downs...and while  May 8th was not nearly as crowded as the 145k people that attend the Derby- it was still way too people-y for him!  

He dropped me off at the museum entrance with the instructions to "take your time- have fun!"  (He's a wise man that Hubby!)

The museum has some colorful exhibits and a fabulous film shown in a 360* format- where you feel like you are in the center of the track.   After that- the docent shows up to lead a tour out to the racetrack.

Imagine my surprise- when this guide announced that we had all timed it just right- as the horses were due to race in a few minutes!  

And sure enough...soon after we reached the grandstands- the bugle was played- signaling the arrival of the horses to the track and noting that the race would soon begin.   

Not often do I feel the presence of my parents these days...but in that moment I did...that bugle sound took me right back to my childhood family room...surrounded by my family.    Feeling their love yet again on a sunny day in May!

DID- In the Spring of 1984... I did a "thing".   

Taking my oath- becoming a 2LT

I applied  for an ROTC scholarship.   A decision I made at the time out of perceived necessity.    A decision that would teach  me solid  leadership skills long before my nursing peers.  A decision that would indeed change the trajectory of my career as a nurse and put me on a path to meet some really good people...to include the man I call Hubby!   A decision to this day that I take a tremendous amount of pride in having made!

So yesterday- when we stopped off at the General George Patton Museum of Leadership just outside of Ft. Knox Kentucky- the last thing I expected was to take a trip down ROTC-Memory Lane.

But- unbeknownst to Hubby and I- the museum is not just dedicated to General Patton but also serves as a tribute to  junior leadership programs such as ROTC.   I guess when the tanks left with the relocation of the Army's Armor school- they needed to restructure the museum.   And now that the base serves as the command center for all things ROTC- well, it just made sense to the museum folks to add in some ROTC history to fill those large galleries.

I am glad they did...for it gave me an opportunity to learn more about one of the military's greatest combat leaders.  

Oh sure- he had his flaws- but he also had the courage and conviction that inspired his men.  The museum in the curation of their exhibits did an outstanding job of framing his career thru the lens of core leadership skills- all of which are taught through ROTC programs across the country!  

Wrapping it up

It has indeed been a busy few days...with weather gradually warming up- and us both finding our way on this spring fling adventure...

Until next time...be it a week, or a month or maybe just a few days...

May you find yourself having an opportunity (or two) to revisit the past thru new experiences

...and may they fill your heart with joy! 

  

Spring Fling- Week 1

SAW-HEARD-DID

Wrapping up  Week 1 of what we are calling our "Spring Fling", I thought I'd see if I can at least complete a weekly blog update.   

A little background- when Thing 2 moved east earlier this year- there were a few things that couldn't be shipped but that she still wanted to have.   As loving parents- we offered to bring them to her.   Ok- that's sort of only part of the reason...we also want to see how she's settling in, we enjoy a good "slow mode" road trip, and have crafted an itinerary that also gives us a chance to see a handful of dear friends that call the east coast home.  

4.29-5.5

SAW

This week I saw that not everything mentioned on Roadside America warrants a detour-

I give you Exhibit A- Truckhenge..

On the outskirts of Topeka Kansas- is a place called Truckhenge.   After a dispute with the county- where the county insisted the owner do something about all the debris on his property- he turned it into art- ending the argument (or so the story goes- court cases still found him guilty of some offense).  

Let's just say- Cadillac Ranch it is not.   Overgrown with an overall weary and tired appearance- it wasn't the kitschy fun that we often discover with this app.  

HEARD

In our first stop on the road...I heard the sounds of silence...

Situated about 15 miles south of the interstate, near Wakenny Kansas  sat a quiet little state wildlife area.   A gem of a spot- to hear the birds chirping and to discover that central Kansas isn't as flat as one would think- made it well worth the fuel cost for this little excursion.

Next would be Blue Springs campground- part of the local county park system.   Sadly- there was so much road noise from the nearby highway and fools on motorcycles- that the charm of the campground was almost lost.  

And now- we sit listening to the steady pitter patter of rain here at Coles Creek COE campground- on the shore of Carlyle Lake- just east of St. Louis (by about 60 miles).

Fear not- the skies should clear tomorrow- which is good as we are out of eggs and need to make a grocery run! 

DID

Week one- We did a lot...who knew that Kansas and Missouri are packed with some seriously well done museums!

First on the list is the National WW1 museum in KC, MO.    What a wonderfully curated museum- filled with multi-media presentations that help bring the exhibit collection to "life" if you will. 

Curious as to how this museum ended up in Missouri?   While only 441 citizens of the Kansas City area died in the conflict- many came from very prominent families.  So prominent- that when it came time to raise money to build a memorial (as was the practice of the era), the good (and apparently very wealthy ) people of Kansas City raised a record setting  2.5 million dollars (35 million in today's numbers) in just under 10 days!  

How it became the "National Museum"...the docent I asked said- it was mostly a case of congress deciding we needed one, and declared that this museum in Kansas City would receive the official designation in 2004.  Then in 2014- they added that the tower and surrounding features would be designated as the official memorial for the nation.   

Absolutely worth the cost of admission.

Next on the museum tour- would be the Arabia Steamboat museum.   Normally- I don't think it would have caught my attention- but a friend recently shared that this museum is a classic KC attraction- that by the end of the year- would be closing its' doors- essentially go see it now or risk never seeing it.

The story behind this museum is as interesting as the artifacts themselves.   

When the mighty Steamboat Arabia sank near Kansas City on September 5, 1856, she carried 200 tons of mystery cargo. Think of it like- an Amazon delivery truck- loaded down with an assortment of goods- from tools to clothing- even perhaps 400 barrels of precious whiskey- disappears without a trace.  

The steamer would be lost for over 130 years- when in 1988- a determined group of locals set out to remove the sunken ship from the Missouri River muck.    Rather than cash in on their findings- they decided to save it all and created this museum that not only shows off the treasures- but tells the story of the recovery along with a history of the Missouri River boat and the role it played in the 1850s of transporting goods and people headed to the west. 

Last on our tour agenda would be a visit to the town of Independence Missouri.  

Here we would learn about all things Truman- who grew up in the area, married his childhood sweetheart (much to the dismay of his mother-in-law) and returned to the area after serving nearly 2 terms as the 33rd president of the US.

Both the home tour (run by the National Park service) and the Presidential Library and museum helped us both understand who this man was- and the challenges he faced during both his career and home life.    Both proved to be worth the cost of admission!   I personally enjoyed the home tour a little more- it was a small group of 8- with a docent led tour- who shared stories of President Truman and his life.    While the library was well curated- I think by the time we visited there- we were approaching a saturation limit on all things presidential.  

And that about wraps up week 1 of our travels...oh wait...

There was one last museum- the National Churchill Museum in Fulton Missouri

Yes- that Churchill...

Turns out- in 1946- the president of the local college (Westminster College- rather fitting don't you think?) invited by then "former" prime minister Winston Churchill to visit the college...he also coordinated with an alumni of the college who was working for President Truman- also a native of Missouri- to join in the fun.   

Or something like that...but what makes this visit remarkable- was it was here during the visit that Winston gave the speech known as the Iron Curtain speech.

The museum itself is located in the basement of an old church- a church that was shipped over from England and restored brick by brick.  

Another example of how impressive these museums can be- located in what you might think is the middle of no-where.  

Until next time... 

"Never trust a man that has not a redeeming vice"...

wise man was that Mr. Winston Churchill...

Right Now- April recap

 RIGHT NOW...

I'm listening to the morning chatter of the northern cardinals (or so says my Merlin bird call app) here at Blue Springs Park on the outskirts of Kansas City.  

In the past- opening my monthly recap with a "I'm listening" prompt  is a way to ground my thoughts and look back on the month that was.   For it seems- the older I get- the more the days all seem to run together.

But this month- the memories are as vivid as the photos on my camera roll!   The tricky part will be trying to pare it all down and share a few highlights.

I'm loving that everything unfolded just as I imagined it would...

The Easter dinner turned out delicious...

 Our houseguest, Pinky was a delight

*Owen the cat may beg to differ...

And finally- I'm loving that 

 the true highlight of the month- 

a river cruise in the Netherlands

proved to be as bucket-worthy as my bestie and I imagined!

*minus castles on the hillside..

We laughed saying that the river cruising itself was nothing like those PBS Viking ads..

Not a single hillside or castle in sight...

Yes- gentle readers- I went gallivanting across the pond without the Mr.- and lived to tell the tale!

It all started about 9 months ago- when visiting with my very well traveled friend, SusieQ.   I asked if there was anywhere she still had on her bucket list- and she mentioned she'd always imagined taking a river cruise.

Well- as you know- I am THAT person- who takes off running with such an idea and soon we had met, teased out the details and found ourselves booked on an itinerary the folks at Viking have aptly named "Tulips and Windmills".

And yes...

There were  fields of tulips

to which of course..

I tried to tip toe my way through..

With a windmill photo stop

*because ya know- bus tours were involved to get to those lovely tulip fields

But this windmill would just 

be the warm up act...

As our itinerary included a stop at 

Kinderdijk- a UNESCO site that features 17+ windmills

some dating back to the 1600s

Absolutely worth the cost of admission*

(which with Viking- it's all bundled into your cruise fare!)

And as for tulips...

We'd enjoy the spring blooms throughout our travels..

But the featured attraction was a visit to 

The Keukenhof gardens...

In English- that translates to the kitchen garden.  What started back in the 15th century as the garden for the nearby castle- these days it is home to what many consider one of the world's largest flower gardens- covering nearly 80 acres and features some 7 million flower bulbs.

Not gonna lie...

at times it was more beauty than the eye could take in..

I found myself pausing..thinking that 

Emily Dickinson was right when she wrote

that happiness is a field of tulips

each petal 

a burst of joy

in the garden of life!

Until next time..

May you have a chance to don 

 some sturdy shoes..

and a hearty appetite..

And set off on an adventure..

filled with some art

some seaside views

maybe even learn about some 

engineering marvels

share a good laugh..

and - make some new friends..

while being thankful 

for having a friend as easy to travel with as 

SusieQ