Ok. So how did I end up in Kansas City?
“Wait, you went to Kansas City?”

Yes, I did.  “Why?”

I got an email from work stating I needed to get out of there because “You are here too much, Aimee. Get a life.” and should use my PTOs.  I had a trip planned with a friend, but those plans unfortunately fell through.  So goes life.  Common sense would be to stay home for two days, but since that is not how life works I went to Kansas City.  Why, you ask?  In the time it took me to get my days off of work, plan this trip, and them falling through I got a summons for jury duty!  As soon as I saw the envelope I KNEW what date it would fall on because …life.  Sure enough I open the envelope to reveal a trip date.

“How do I not become a felon?” was the thought she asked herself…

Someone who works at the courthouse happens to be one of our clients so I asked that question (in different words) and he helped me avoid being a felon!  One less thing to worry about!

The time had come and my name wasn’t on the schedule.  The travel buddy plans were no more, but mentally I was committed to this trip because of the promise I made to go AND to the jury duty gentleman who helped me.

“BUT LET YOUR WORD ‘YES BE ‘YES,’ AND YOUR ‘NO BE ‘NO.’ ANYTHING MORE THAN THIS IS FROM THE EVIL ONE.” – Matthew 5:37

“What am I going to do in Kansas City???”

I looked up other places to travel, but Kansas City was the original itinerary (I’m so adaptable!) and since it was last minute changing everything was too expensive. I’d need to sell and kidney and sleep in the car.  That’s always a backup plan to keep in your pocket.  JUST IN CASE.

You do what you gotta do.  😛

The anxiety I get before an event borders total irrational.  I’m always fine once I am there or doing what I am doing said plans.  I mean, clearly I did not get kidnapped or murdered, but I just like being mentally prepared.

‘Scared? You went to IRELAND alone…!’
You flee the country ONE TIME and they don’t let you live it down…

“What if I die or something happens to my car.”
“You will not die……I can’t make any promises about the car because we know your track record with rental cars.”

EXACTLY!  Recap:
-Living in Memphis I ran into a construction barrel and ripped the mirror off (that was my fault, but the car was wider than mine…)
-Tire blow outs on the interstate. Angels dressed in wife beater shirts and tattoos pulled over and changed my tire.
I initially told them I would wait for roadside assistance, but they helped me anyway. So nice. They freaked me out at first, but guess what? People don’t mess with hysterical, crazy people. My backup plan if they tried to kidnap me was to throw myself into traffic.
“It’s going to be ok. Calm down…Get away from the street…”
-All the lights going on in the middle of the desert.

Departure day had come…!

On the way there my dad said “You’re running a few minutes late!”
“Yeah…”
“You sound really excited about this trip.”

My flight was for 6:00 AM, but I got there two hours early.  Made it through security to find that the airport coffee shops don’t open until 5 AM.  STRUGGLE BUS.

Do I spend money on coffee and risk having to use the bathroom or do I just wait it out sleepily and get “complimentary” coffee on flight?  Things that make you go ‘hmmm’.

The lady behind me in line had the same problem.  She was in New Orleans for a work conference.  We chatted a few minutes while internally struggling with decisions.  She asked where I was going (since you never mention traveling alone) so I said to meet a friend in Kansas City and we were going to drive to see the St. Louis arch for the day.

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES she used to live in St. Louis, but moved back to Vermont because she didn’t like flat land and summer.  She lives close to a ski resort and likes to have open air flowing through her house instead of A/C 4 months out of the year.  I explained I went through 2 New Orleans summers with no car A/C.  We both agreed how insane that was.  She gave me a few fun things to see and mentioned “Don’t go to East St. Louis.”  Noted.

She abandoned the coffee line and eventually I did, too.  I made it to the gate and read my bible until boarding time.  (Whatcha readin’?  I’m reading through the gospels and am currently in Luke.)

*** 2 posts in 1!!!  “IMMA LET YOU FINISH, BUT I WROTE SOME NOTES ON MY PHONE” EDIT:

I’m currently on my final flight home from Kansas City eating my complimentary pretzels and typing this post in my phone.

Like a lot of other times in my life my anxiety clearly did not match reality as I was not kidnapped nor did I die.  What traumatizing events led up to this in my life that cause me to have this alternate reality…??  Those thoughts were REAL though and one of the reasons I did not cancel this trip.  The old me would have run and taken the easy way out.  WE DO NOT RUN ANYMORE.  We have learned to stay.  My Dad’s response to that was, “Aloooooooone.  Yes but you should still use wisdom.”  Oh Dads.  😛

What was I going to do in Kansas City?

When I arrived and made it to Enterprise to pick up the rental the girl working there was VERY nice and made me feel welcome!  I told her about my previous rental car experiences and when she looked at me with wide eyes I said, “Yes!  Exactly!” so she did a double check on the tires for me and I hoped for the best.  (ALWAYS GET THE INSURANCE!)

I told her it was my first time visiting and was nervous.  I asked her what she liked to do for fun and she mentioned the Crown Center and barbecue at Arthur Bryant’s since Kansas City is THE PLACE to eat barbecue.  The only things I had planned really were to eat at an Irish Pub and drive to St. Louis.  Anything in between would be bonus.

“This is one of those keyless cars??”

Yes. Will keep that info nugget for later.

When I was heading out of the Enterprise lot the older gentleman who verifies you’re not actually stealing the car was friendly, gave me a map, and asked where I was headed…

I blurted out “Crown Center”.

He gave me directions out of the lot and onto the interstate and some tips and asked if there was anything else he could help me with.

“I wish there wasn’t a line of cars behind me so I can ask them all.”

He laughed.  I left (while wanting to ask him to come WITH ME and pretend to be my grandpa).

I figured once I landed I would be fine because the only options were to stay scared at the airport or adapt to my adventure surroundings.

Crown Center sort of reminded me of New Orleans (I guess like any other major city).  It’s separated into districts, library, government, Power and Light (entertainment), etc…

I was so excited when I got to the bridge because I knew I would be close.  I drove around aimlessly taking in the sights and not knowing exactly where to park when I saw the wall of books.

I had told a friend about this trip and she told me to find a painted wall of books as it was on her bucket list to see.  I had no idea what she was talking about or where it would be.  But, it makes sense that it’s in the library district and just like she said is a brick wall painted like the spines of classic books.  As soon as I saw it I texted her and was super motivated to park so I could jump out and send a picture.  “Ok, this trip won’t be so bad.”

When I got closer I noticed a sign outside of the library: A Photo Album of Ireland!  What!  I didn’t make purposeful plans to travel on St. Patrick’s Day so I wasn’t even thinking about Irish things other than I wanted to eat in an Irish pub for fun.  A new adventure and Ireland!  Obviously I had to go see what it was all about.

After visiting the exhibit I walked around and explored a little more outside to build my appetite for Irish food!  When I finally decided to go back to the car I couldn’t figure out how to start it as I’d never been in a KEYLESS CAR before!  She had started it for me at Enterprise and I did not even think to ask.

I was pressing the start button and the dash board said “Press brake”.  I pressed brake.  Nothing.  “WHAT IS WITH ME AND RENTALS??”

I called Enterprise for help, but they were already closed for the day.  I googled how to start keyless entry cars and it said the same thing I was doing.

“I’M GOING TO BE STUCK IN THIS SPOT FOREVER!!!”

I was about to text my former coworker because I remember her having a keyless car (because I had to help her find her keys ‘that had to be in the car because it starts’.  It ended up being in her shoe behind her drivers seat 🙂 )with a keyless car when God intervened and I thought press AND HOLD the start button AND the brake at the same time.  Engine started.  PHEW!  Crisis averted.   I mean, the people walking down the street did not notice the “HELP ME” look of despair on my face.

Anyway, after that almost-but-not-really fiasco I plugged in the nearest address and the Irish pub for directions!  IT WAS TIME.  After circling and circling the same streets 19 times trying to find the restaurant I SPOTTED IT.  I parked and headed around the corner to feast.

My waitress was either having a bad day or hated me.  I’m not sure which so since I work in customer service knew how much she would enjoy anwering questions:
“I’m torn between the stew and fish and chips. Which would you pick?”
“I like the fish and chips.”
“Ok, I’ll have that!”

My suspicions were confirmed when all of a sudden a new waitress appeared to take care of me.  I know I’m very intimidating and a difficult customer.:P

I asked my new waitress if they had Irish coffee.  YESS!!!

I made it to the hotel and rested up before heading to St. Louis the next day.

Upon exploring the hotel room realized they did not have a coffee pot.  WHAT.  I rushed to a grocery store and bought cups, some yogurt, salad, and instant coffee.  Now, I was ready.

It was a 3.5+ hour easy and uneventful drive to St. Louis.  For whatever reason I was feeling nervous and anxious and all of a sudden Dream for You by Casting Crowns played on my shuffle:

“So come on, let Me dream, let Me dream for you.
I am strong. When you’re weak I’ll carry you.
So let go of your plan, be caught by My hand.
I’ll show you what I can do when I dream for you.

I have a dream for you.”

So obviously I started weeping.  Oh life crisis, you are so small in comparison to my God.

I pulled into St. Louis and could see the arch from afar.  I parked and headed towards it.  I had checked the website before I left and the tram to the top was supposed to be open by the time I got there, but it was still under construction.  It was still cool to see and just means I’ll have to go back for the full experience.  🙂

I walked around for a little while and hopped back in the car to head back to Kansas City.  You know the Griswald’s Grand Canyon trip?  That’s how I feel about traveling. Saw it.   Let’s go.

It was such a beautiful day.  It started out a tad drizzles here and there, but it turned out perfect.

I don’t know if I was just tired from driving??? but I had planned on seeing Kansas City at night.  I rested a few minutes at the hotel and decided I could be myself and be a recluse or discover new things and be adventurous while I was there.  “Don’t be yourself!”

Apparently, I should have just been myself because my mind kept missing exits and I ended up in a not so good neighborhood and had to pull over and ask for directions back to the interstate.

“How did you end up all the way out here?”

Well, if I knew that I wouldn’t be here would I??

They did help me and I went straight to the hotel and stayed in for the night.  I listened to some sermons someone sent me and discussed those via text messages.  I love that so much.  I love that my relationship with Jesus has grown and I can discuss it with others who enjoy it too.  God unites His people. 🙂

Saturday: It was my final day in Kansas City and I hadn’t eaten barbecue yet.  I started early in the morning and headed to the River Market.  I decided to see the city via street car and you can hop on and off at any time FOR FREE.  I rode it all the way down to the train station and made my way back up.  The River Market is like New Orleans French Market with different vendors selling their goods.  It was a beautiful day for it, too.  I did not get any pictures of that, but I did soak it all in.

I headed back to the car and it was time to eat barbecue!

B.B.’s Lawside Barbecue!  It was right down the street from my hotel so that’s where I decided to get my first taste of it.  Let me tell you I would go back to Kansas City just to eat there and if you are making plans to visit I highly recommend!  It was delicious! On Saturdays they play live music starting at 2 PM.

The next day was my flight home.

And this is how Chicago layover breakfast sent me off home…

Order #666.

Until next time…