On January 29, 1861, the great state of Kansas was admitted to the Union. It has become a tradition for me to make note of that date on this old blog, to express some of the love I have for Kansas, and sometimes pine for the day that I can go back there to live.
In conversation with non-Kansans, they sometimes mention how they “drove through Kansas” once, and man, was it boring. It usually turns out that they drove (or more likely, barreled) through the Sunflower State on Interstate 70. Now, there are some fine towns and great people along I-70. I guess, though, when your goal is to get through a place, that one gas station, convenience store, or nationally franchised fast-food place looks pretty much the same as another.
So here’s some advice; get off the interstate, go on the two-lane highways, the gravel and dirt roads, and see what you can find. You may come across a scene similar to this picture. Imagine that you’ve found a hill overlooking this field1. The wind blows a bit practically all the time, and this green wheat would reveal colors from light green, to chartreuse, to deep forest green, as the grain waves in the wind. It reminds me of ocean waves, and it’s breathtaking.
As the fields ripen, the colors go to more colors of gold than I have descriptions for; again, I always think of the ocean when I see it.
So, Happy Birthday, Kansas. Maybe I’ll be back there before you are 148.
-k-
Photo Credit: Prairie Pathways
Picture posted with “Click to Embiggen.”
[stags]Kansas, Kansas Day[/stags]
[tags]Kansas, Kansas Day[/tags]
1
I just stumbled across this blog in a goggle search for Kansas Day. I grew up in Scott City and live in LA now, but Kansas is always home to me. It’s nice to see someone else who appreciates the place as much as I do.
Wow Ken, your description of the wheat fields reminds me so much of the rice grass prior to harvest, so beautiful. The waves-totally feeling this one.
@kansasgirl – We lived in Ventura County CA for five years. That was the first time were were a *long* way from Kansas, and probably when we decided that wherever we were, we were Kansans. Thanks for stopping by; come back often; we never close.
@Mark – it’s hard to describe scenes like the fields to someone who’s never seen such a thing. I know my poor prose doesn’t begin to describe the beauty.
-k-