Kansas City

From San Francisco I flew back to Kansas City for a week to visit family and friends before heading back to Turkey. And one little note I forgot to mention - the muffalata sandwich I had at Boccalone (Google it) in the ferry building - more of that fatty delicious pork meat with green olive paste that you find in New Orleans. Sorry for the side track!

When I was growing up I couldn't wait to leave Missouri. I'd been planning to leave since I was in First Grade. I didn't know what Greenwich Village was but that's where I planned on going. I also remember standing in my room and saying to myself I was never having children, I'm never getting married and I know I must be weird. I lived in what I call Podunkville. As my Los Angeles cousin, Martin, recalls when he came to visit, I laid down in the middle of the highway and said, "I can lay here all night and not get hit." That would have been the truth.

But you know what? KC ain't so bad. It's not Podunkville (although now Podunkville has Justus Drugstore a restaurant - Google it). I like KC. In fact, I think it's cool. My very hip friend Rod Parks lives here and he's about the hippest person I know. (He owns Retro Inferno and is totally into the art and music scene. If there's anything important going on in KC he knows about it. He also knows New York City like the back of his hand.) There's fabulous architecture, fountains everywhere, lots of Missouri limestone, rolling hills and the foliage is lush green. There are huge yards and gigantic houses. I also have two super lesbian cousins and their equally cool partners that live here and love it. That means something! There's an artistic culture that's swings to the left - Obama stickers are common. I rarely saw a McCain sticker. I mean rarely!

Oh there's conservative people. I have old friends, old friends I haven't heard from since high school. They have suddenly shown up on Facebook as my buddies. Friends who tried to put gum in my hair and empty beer bottles under my car tires. They are now telling me how to run my life. They're not happy that I'm going back to see Emino.

Emino did me wrong, they say. Did me wrong? Yes he lied to get me back but if you read what I had to say about myself I was no better. Hey how stupid do you think I am? Do you think I expect a relationship with someone 25 years younger? I am having fun and Rod, my dear friend says, "Think of the source." Are they jealous that I can attract someone that much younger than me? He says and I agree, "Why do people think they have to act a certain age and what age is that?" I guess they are saving up to retire to what - go on a cruise with a bunch of other fogies. Is that what you wait your whole life for?

I'm getting off track. I'm trying to saying how cool KC is but it's the surrounding area that I can't deal with - that narrow minded stogy, act your age group. Are they happy? What gives them the right to give me advice? Because they are so happy that they have no life?

You see none of my San Francisco friends had any qualms. My 87 yr old friend Gino in San Francisco didn't blink an eye when I told him my situation. "You look good," he said. "I was 20 yrs older than my wife and that didn't last long but it was worth it." Thank you Gino.

I'm leaving Thurs. I'll be flying to London first to see my niece Sierra, who works for Google. I'm hoping to get there in time for the world reknown lunch spread that Google puts on for its employees on Fridays. Yes I leave Thurs. but arrive Fri in time for lunch - I hope!

Then Emino is picking me up Mon. from the bus station in Izmir, Turkey.

Of course I'll fill you in.
Don't judge me
Rose