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| The Poehler sisters showing off the Guatemala aprons provided by their niece (or daughter). Does this reinforce any stereotypes? |
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This is the 24th year I've spent Christmas in the Kansas City area with Martha's family. (In years previous to 1990--i.e., before Megan-- I might go to Atchison with her, but leave by Christmas to be with my family in Philadelphia for a Hanukkah gathering).
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| Is that Santa greeting Megan at the airport? |
For the first time in that period, however, we made this trip without Megan. However, Megan planned to fly to KC to join us a few days later. Very exciting. The bad news was that just about the worst possible weather was forecast for the hours before and after her scheduled flight from Guatemala, via Atlanta. I was monitoring Weather.com hourly, as the expectation was for freezing rain and sleet turning to heavy snow. Megan's flight was due at 4:45, with the changeover to snow predicted for about 5. And Megan' s best buddy Laura was going to surprise her by jetting in from Chicago.
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| In the Xmas spirit at the airport. |
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| Megan was surprised by Laura, who jetted in from Chicago |
The good news was that, despite the miserable weather and scary driving conditions, Megan's flight was a bit early and Laura's only a little late. We arrived at Martha's sister Kathy's house in Platte City, MO, just north of the airport, as the snow picked up. Martha's thee other sisters were there as well, to celebrate Kathy's birthday. I was celebrating seeing Megan for the first time in over 10 months and not wrecking the rental car.
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| Kathy's xxth birthday |
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| Chatting over tea after dinner at Kathy's and Stu's in Platte City. |
During the week Martha and I spent in the KC area we celebrated Kathy Poehler's birthday at Kathy and Stu's in Platte City. We had a family Christmas Eve dinner, after which, dressed in a cheesy Santa Caus outfit, I spent about two hours handing on the stacks of gifts surrounding the tree at the Prairie Village, KS home of Carol and Ann and then a Christmas day dinner at MJ's and Scott's in Kansas City. We all had an enjoyable dinner at Trezo Mare on the outskirts of KC. The women-folk undertook multiple shopping excursions (hence the two hours of gift unwrapping).
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| See JFK and Jackie plate, second from right, at the Country Cookin Cafe. |
One of the many highlights was Sunday breakfast at the Country Cookin Cafe in Platte City. This is as down home as still exists. The front room allows smoking-- and it was well populated. We were ushered to the back, decorated in 1960s military and John Kennedy. Our troupe was eyed suspiciously as we made our way through. Our waitress was all sass. Rather than ask if the milk on the menu was fat free I
round-about inquired if they had any variety other than whole milk. Said
she sweetly, "We have chocy milky." She did follow up that she could get some
2% from the cow out back. The glass I was delivered was about half a
quart.
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| The breakfast club at Country Cookin Cafe, with unnamed but charismatic waitress. |
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| Megan and Laura |
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| Sunday afternoon at Francis "Pank" Sims and family, awaiting the Yankee Swap. |
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| Greg Hall took home one of the special Yankee Swap finds. |
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| Santa made an early entry in Prairie Village to help give out the gifts Christmas Eve. |
A top from Guatemala for Martha. Santa's helper Megan made the delivery.
Megan, wearing a just-opened sweater, looking over the book created from her Guatemala Peace Corps blog posts.
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| Kathy kept her presents close by, least any giver change their mind. |
Though we didn't get around to any barbecue on this trip, I did get to Winstead's (in Overland Park) for a double cheeseburger and a butterscotch shake so thick that the straw was useless. We also made it to the Sonic drive-in before it shut down early on Christmas Eve.
I've said for years that Kansas City would be the ideal place to live--if it were close to the Atlantic Ocean. But I guess then it would be Philadelphia.
Thanks sisters-and brothers- in- law for a good week.
