in which we do not die of dysentery

It was a sunny Tuesday when we set out east in a rented Dodge Grand Caravan. Koopa was securely buckled in and for once, all the baggage we could want was packed comfortably in back. Also for the first time, I fervently want a van.

On the trip out to Pueblo last June, which was the last time we'd left the state, we took the southern route through Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. This time, we went northeast to Kansas and Missouri. 

Kansas was about what we'd expected. Empty, flat, rural, with countless billboards warning us about hell, urging us to trust Jesus, condemning abortion. But about halfway through Kansas the landscape shifted and there were green rolling hills and tall deciduous trees. 
 

Sometimes we feel like we live on the moon, Pueblo feels so distant and so foreign to everything we're used to. This trip is doing a lot to help us realize the ground under our feet is all connected to all the places we have lived and loved. They (and we) can still be reached. 

In Topeka we made use of an urban dog park and nearby playground. Adele had a blast on the dangerous old 1970s era equipment, really the stuff good playgrounds are made of.

We had a picnic in Independence, Missouri and made a whole lot of Oregon Trail jokes.

And spend the night at our friends' new home in St. Louis. On the way back, we'll be able to stay there with them in it, too! Can't even wait. 

Thursday morning we found time to climb Monk's Mound at Cahokia, which about 1000 years ago was a major indigenous metropolis. We found it lovely and peaceful in 2017.

Cahokia is located in Illinois but you can easily see St. Louis from the top.

We had a spare hour in Louisville on the way so we made sure to see Buddy and Aiden at the park! Buddy's recovering from surgery and not at his best, but he made an effort to see us nevertheless. 

Aiden was enjoying the spray park, while our kids were forbidden to wet themselves and then get back in the van.

We just drove along and suddenly Cincinnati reared up in front of us. What a relief to see infrastructure and people!

That evening we made a pit stop at a Starbucks where I interviewed for a job. It wasn't 30 minutes later that they called me back to offer me the position!
 

We woke up in Columbus the next morning, refreshed from a night in a very nice hotel, and while we drove through Ohio that morning I accepted the job with Heaton Middle School. I'm going to teach my neighborhood sixth graders next year! At our local public middle school, just half a mile away! I won't have to drive on weekdays anymore, and I'll get the kids I had at Belmont last year in class! I still haven't fully appreciated the goodness of this gift. 
 This fall will be a whole new adventure.

But for now, I am living in the solstice and taking in unfiltered UV rays all over the country. 

Next up: New York State.