Happy Friday, everyone! Our trip to Kansas City, where we lived for a very long time, brought up a whole lot of feelings, so I thought I’d do a Friday recap!
We went to the Chiefs parade. We weren’t there during the shooting.
Although Mr. Donovan and I have lived in the Chicago area for a few years now, we have not made the switch to the Chicago Bears yet (even though they literally might build a stadium a mile from our house, and even though I am a Cubs fan through and through.) We’ve been cheering for the Chiefs since before you were born, probably, and there’s never been a funner time to be a Chiefs fan. And yes, I do think the Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift romance is as adorable as it is iconic.
(Mr. Donovan has been a Taylor Swift fan for years. I had never really paid attention to her music, but we went to her Eras movie because I figured it might be fun. I was so impressed by the hard work and passion that went into it, and by the time I left the theatre, I was a newly minted Swiftie.)
We had planned our visit to Kansas City months before the Chiefs won the Super Bowl. On the morning of the parade, we were having breakfast with a couple of old friends in the suburbs—at one of the restaurants that was actually open. Many restaurants, schools, and shops were closed because everyone was going to the parade. We knew that people had started lining up for it early in the morning, so when Mr. Donovan and I drove downtown, just before it was about to begin, we didn’t really expect to find a place to park.
We did. Amid a happy, friendly crowd, under a sunny blue sky, we enjoyed the parade. But I thought about what I’d do in an active shooter situation. There were children near us, and I thought that if need be, I’d help the parents get them on the ground and cover them.
I told myself to stop having such negative thoughts and just enjoy the day. But right after we saw our star players, Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes, we headed to our car.
We’d parked near the Children’s Mercy Hospital. An hour after we left, several children were brought there because they’d been injured in the shooting. I am praying for all the families of the people who were hurt and the family of the DJ, a mother of two, who was killed.
Gun violence in our country is a complex issue, and I don’t think that tighter gun control laws will completely solve it. I do think they would help. I definitely think we should try it out and see.
I Officially Finished Editing My Novel
My forthcoming novel from Berkley, Her Knight at the Museum, went through a couple of rounds of edits! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate my editor’s meticulous work and insights. In this last round, I decided to switch the point of view of the final chapter, even though my editor didn’t ask for that. (She said it was “brilliant,” though!)
I Led a Meeting of the Chicago-North Romance Writers
In a past recap post, I talked about wanting to make more friends in Chicago. I’m now the president of the Chicago-North Romance Writers, and on Monday I actually spent the whole day figuring out how to lead the monthly program meeting. It went smoothly, I think! It should be easier next time.
I Visited Independent Bookstores In Kansas City
Prospero’s Books has been around for decades. It is a huge, quirky, mostly used bookstore, where I once participated in the World’s Longest Poetry Reading. Under the Cover, a romance bookstore, is pretty new, and it is adorable! I hope you’ll check both places out if you’re ever in Kansas City.
I thought about enjoying each day as much as I can.
As we walked our dogs around a familiar park, and visited some of our old haunts, we thought about good times we’d had in the past. But more and more, I’m aware of the fact that I need to enjoy the present moments I share with Mr. Donovan, our families, our friends, and our dogs (who are surprisingly excellent road trip companions).
Do you ever visit the places you used to live?
Did you do anything special for Valentine’s Day? (We had Kansas City BBQ and enjoyed the hot tub at our AirBnB.) I’d love to hear all about it! Have a lovely Friday and a fun weekend!
2018 marked the 100th anniversary of my Maxwell family moving from Kansas to Colorado. I thought of all the fun things I wanted to do to celebrate. I wanted to rent a 1916 Studebaker touring car (like the family traveled in with eight children, Mother and Dad) and go for a drive. I even wrote a play about my nine-year-old grandmother’s adventures and planned to stage that play either here in Oregon or in Colorado. I planned to go to a Scottish Festival.
I arrived in Colorado to commemorate a life, but the life we remembered was my mother’s. It’s interesting that this came up today as I prepared my mother’s stories of her young life to share with my cousins.
Hi Jessie! I am sending you good wishes as you commemorate your mother’s life. I love it that you have great stories to share with your cousins. I love all your ideas, too. <3
Local “boy” Noah Gray is on team Chief, so the town was excited to watch the game, despite the Patriots not playing. LOL
I was so sad when I read about the shooting at what should have been an exciting event for everyone. The anger of a few have changed lives forever.
Hi Debby! Yes, it’s so sad that a celebration led to tragedy. And oh right, Noah Gray! It’s always fun when someone from your hometown is doing great things.
Glad you enjoyed your Kansas City trip, Bryn, and that you missed the shooting, so sad. I agree with your thoughts on gun control. My husband and I are older, so didn’t want to go out for Valentine’s Day, just asked for an Arby’s, since I make most of our meals. It was so good and no dishes! I sometimes drive by homes where my family used to live and can see myself as a little girl running and playing. It’s nice to reminisce. Oh, and the robins are back, here in Newton County, Indiana.
Hi Alice! No dishes and a change of pace—sounds good! It’s nice to hear the robins are back. We haven’t seen them yet up here in the Chicago area. But spring is on its way!
The last week has been a bit of a mixed bag. I had to say goodbye to my foster kiddo, which left me an emotional heap of blubber. But, my boyfriend and I had a talk about where we are and where we see things going. Long story short, he is moving in! So it ended on a very positive note. There are a lot of changes happening in my life, but I believe they will be for the good.
Erin! Wow, what a weekend! I can only imagine how hard it must have been to say goodbye to your foster kiddo. You are such a good person and you did such a good job there, I know! And how exciting that you and your boyfriend are taking things to a new level! 🙂 I bet it’s going to be wonderful—I hope it is!