Friday, March 12, 2010

"There's no place like Home"

It's almost time...almost time to say goodbye to Kansas.  I didn't live there long and I haven't even lived there for 18 years.  But now, Mom and Dad have sold their house in Kansas.  Home base is no more...it's always hard to say goodbye but this one is a bit harder than I expected.  When Carl and I married 18 1/2 years ago, I didn't think too much about leaving, I was excited to be married, in Colorado and on our own.  Mom, Dad and Shana were all still there and I could easily run away when I felt the desire.  It was safe...just like in tag...your safe when your at home base.  I will dearly miss Kansas.  I will miss seeing my kids run all over the place with as much freedom as they ever dreamed.  I will miss those beautiful fields of wheat and sunflowers that just make you smile.  I will miss Manhattan, Call Hall ice cream at KSU, the Wamego park with the kids, Olsburg lunch after church, driving Tuttle Creek dam and remembering the hours and hours spent waterskiing during college, Camp Lost in the Woods with my awesome family, hangin' with my bestie, Shana.
I will actually miss the drive...it may be long but it always lead me to where I wanted to be whichever way I was headed...East or West.  I will miss all those miles and miles of mile-markers.  I could almost tell you all the cities...Colby @ 57, Hays @ 151, Salina @ 250, Manhattan @ 303, give or take a few.

Some wonderful memories...

Camp Lost in the Woods!
FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We were all celebrating Mom and Dad's 50th Anniversary!!!!

 Grandpa (using his Kansas House of Representative privileges...thanks gramps) talking a security guard into giving us a run around the Kansas Speedway...totally awesome!
Stopping at one of Grandma and Grandpa's friends and riding on the combine...sooooo fun!
  As we were riding the combine, a train passed us by...it's so beautiful!

  My second favorite part of the trip...visiting Shana!  


This is where we will be going from now on...Mom and Dad/Grandma and Grandpa are in the middle of building a new home in Wyoming.  It's truly a beautiful place.  We love that they will be so much closer to us and instead of mile-markers, we count antelope (cantaloupe if you are my kiddos)!!  The house is beautiful and it's such a relaxing place. 
We love Wyoming but Kansas will always be home!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ugh!
Why did you do that?
Make me cry!
Then make me laugh - where did you get that picture of us? I look like Troy!

It is pretty weird - I always think of Bampa Bern & Bamma Turl anytime we drive to Manhattan.
I feel sad now.

Anonymous said...

That's some mighty fine writing, Sis. Well done. Now you know how I felt when they left California! I've done this before, and I never lived in Kansas, but it is hard for me too... See you soon!

Anonymous said...

That's a pretty cool writing! Although I dreaded the drive to KS, I will miss it. I am gonna rephrase your saying... "I love Colorado but California will always be home!" So many great memories, esp with our grandparents and our hometown, Placerville, too!

Alicia said...

I loved finding all those pics! I am a little sad too Shana...can you tell? That pic of you and me was taken the morning I left last summer. Obviously you were headed for a run. Can't wait to be back in KS!