Kansas City Trip February-Day Three

Friday was a busy day.  I began with coffee with Anola at Dunn Brothers Coffee, her favorite coffee shop.  We talked about everything as we always do.  If I didn't appreciate having an older sister growing up, I certainly do now.  I was happy to learn that she has finished the first draft of her current novel and is now revising.  Her commitment to her writing is exemplary.

Next I had lunch with Terry and Ruth Noel, a friend and classmate from high school and college.  Even though he is wearing that marvelous hat from Austria--they went on a river cruise last fall--he isn't doing it hide any hair loss!  His head of hair looks like it did when he was twenty.  I can't say the same for myself.  It was great being with them and enjoying the great barbecue at Jack Stack's in the warehouse district just north of the Union Station.

After lunch I was supposed to meet my brother-in-law Peter to take some photos.  This something we usually do when I visit.  Last time we went to the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, a quite dramatic structure, that fills me with pride for my home town.  You can see those photos here.  This time, however, Peter wasn't feeling up to par so we decided to skip the photo trip to the Liberty Memorial and the newly expanded and renovated World War I Museum.  Instead I went over to their house to visit and talk photography.  However, since I was in the area for lunch, I did stop at the Memorial.  It was cold and very windy with wind chill in the teens and I decided to take one picture rather than three for a panorama.  As you can see, it was a wonderfully clear if cold day.

Mary invited me to be her guest at a Valentine's Day fund raiser for the local American Friends Service Committee.  This is one of Mary's many peace and justice activities.  It was wonderful to experience the gathering and especially the folk/protest music provided and to see how much those there loved and appreciated my sister.

Go to the updated Picasa photo album.

In addition to photos, I captured some video of the singing which was quite entertaining and moving.  Below is a sample, of "We Shall Overcome" which has become a standard for peace and justice protests.