An Ode to Kansas City

I moved to Kansas City under duress. Most people, especially in the late '90's, did not move from Seattle to Kansas City. Prior to Seattle, I had lived in Portland, Boston and New Jersey. I was not a mid-western kind of gal. But my ex-husband's graduate school options were limited, to say the least. At that point, I still had vague hopes of saving my marriage, so I went along. Then he declared he wanted to have a trial separation upon moving to KC. I agreed, knowing that it would be the end of our marriage (no way would I return to living with him after the freedom of living alone). I went along to feel like I had tried my best - and because I had a teaching job there.

When I moved to Kansas City, I didn't know anyone. I had visited briefly for my job interview and that was it. I didn't know about 3.2 beer, that some people still didn't believe in evolution, that strangers apologized after bumping into you. I could only get from my job to my new apartment. By the following spring, I had friends who called me for directions. I had become a Chiefs fan and actually went to Royals games. I even started calling soda, "pop".

Instead of staying for the year it took my marriage to officially fall apart, I stayed for nine years. At the start, I was somewhat satisfied with my inner-city teaching job. I liked the early spring and the late summer (not to mention the days of sun, something that the Pacific Northwest sorely lacks). I liked the affordable housing. I liked how nice people were at the grocery store. I liked Chiefs games and the manageable yet impressive Nelson Art Museum. I liked Jerry's Bait Shop, Kennedy's Bar and Grill, shopping in Lawrence and Parkville, the preponderance of Targets and the fact that I always ran into acquaintances while I was out.

But I stayed because I made wonderful friends - the kind of friends that I didn't expect to make this late in life. Friends who put up with my moods, my wild bouts of drinking and my tendency to retreat. Friends who listened through my disasters of post-divorce dating, who braved my sad attempts at community theater and karaoke, who threw me baby showers.

I miss you guys more than I can say.