the    sides

Today was the first day in a long time that I missed Kansas. I missed the cold mornings and frost on the trees. I miss Arizin’s Coffee Shop, Joyce was wonderful. I miss laying on the floor at the Goff’s in front of the fire. I miss our hardwood floors in our home. I miss seeing Coop and Cammy sliding all over the place in their stocking feet!

I miss the Cazares’ bringing over their mom’s tamales and hot sauce. The best I have ever put in my mouth. I doubt I will ever taste Mexican food that good again. I miss that every Jayhawk Basketball game was a community event! (Except for K-State fans.) I miss the rolling Flint Hills and the field burning in the spring. I miss Stoutland! Thousands of acres with no powerlines or telephone poles. Lots of farm ponds.

I miss Cathy and Nate and dominoes and nerts. Cindy and Mike and Al and Garen. I miss seeing Kitchens get torqued when I screwed up playing pitch!

I miss walking across the street to the Park and letting the kids run crazy wild. I miss playing broom hockey on the frozen pond in front of the Loewen’s house. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve had a great snowball fight? Ahhhhhhh.

And I hesitate to even write these things - not knowing what kind of reaction it will bring from my new family here in Arkansas. I love it here but just for today - I missed Kansas.