Thursday, July 16, 2015

Really Random Thursday, 7/16/15: The Western Kansas Edition

Two weeks ago today, Mark and I took a trip to western Kansas. We had spent the first five years of our marriage in the small town of Scott City. Mark taught P.E. in the grade school for the first four years, and then made the transition to the high school, coaching all five years, including being head girls basketball coach and head coach of the football team his last year there.
We get our last name misspelled a lot. :(

As we had always done when we lived there, we flew into Denver. Scott City is about midway between Denver and Wichita, but connections are always better in and out of Denver. This is something you don't see in California airports.
 Also spotted in the Denver airport. No comment.
We stayed with our very close friends, Don and Trudy. When we lived in Scott City, we were both far from our own families--Mark's family was in Minnesota and mine was in California. We usually didn't have the time (because of Mark's coaching schedule) nor money to go home for holidays. So Don and Trudy, and Trudy's brother Bill and his wife Sue, made us feel like we belonged. Staying with Don and Trudy is also extra special as they spent years rehabilitating this beautiful home. It's like staying in an upscale B&B.
It sits on kind of a triangle-shaped piece of land that they have beautifully landscaped  so that it looks like a park.
Part of the back yard
Don is building Trudy a sewing studio. His friends tease him about building a "hen house," but it is going to be a really great studio. I can hardly wait to go back for a sewing weekend.
Every five years, the high school holds an all-school reunion.
They honor a different set of teachers each year. This time it was past and present coaches.


On Friday, we got to tour the high school, which has changed dramatically since our time there.
I think it would rival many junior colleges, with computer labs, beautiful classrooms, including amazing art, music, woodworking, etc., classrooms.
   These were our tour guides. They were fabulous.
The school has their own TV station, so while Mark was sitting with the green background behind him, on the TV monitor he appeared to be sitting behind a desk.
The school mascot is the Beaver.

Mark even found a fellow Vikings fan.
 On Saturday, he was part of a parade.
 
 
 
We had lunch.
 
And then there was a special ceremony where all the attending coaches were introduced, and the former head coaches were able to say a few words.
Mark really enjoyed spending some time catching up with former students. He remembered them as mostly 18-year-olds so it was kind of weird to realize they were in their 50s now! Time flies...
That night there was a reunion dinner. Scott City is a community where wheat and cattle are a large part of the economy. So the dinner was held in the indoor arena, catered by people wearing these t-shirts. Alrighty then...

 Yes, that is a dirt floor...
Trudy had taken me shopping in the afternoon, to a little shop that sells vintage and shabby chic items. The town has been replacing all the street signs. We bought our first house in Scott City, and I was able to buy the sign from the street that we lived on--and it was only $4!

It was SUCH a great weekend. It was July 4th weekend and we sat outside each evening and watched fireworks--they are allowed to shoot off fireworks from June 30 through the 4th.
Sue, Bill, Trudy, and Don
These four will always be among our very closest friends. We have been fortunate to see each other every few years and always seem to pick up right where we left off.

We drove back to Denver on Monday. My friend, Anne, and her husband, who live about 45 minutes from the airport, came and had dinner with us.
The next day, Mark flew home to Fresno, and I continued on to Minnesota to my annual quilting retreat. More about that coming up next time.

What's happening in your world?


9 comments:

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Val's Quilting Studio said... #

Oh how very cool for Mark. I'm in my down time...so just enjoying the quiet of summer and being home sewing.

Leanne said... #

What a lovely trip and it sounds like you had a lot of fun living there too.

Anne / Springleaf Studios said... #

So special to still have friends like that after years away. We were thrilled to have dinner with the two of you. Now you and I just need to make a mini retreat.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said... #

I loved your pictures of Scott City and the reunion. Our youngest son has lived in western Kansas (Colby/Goodland area) for about 6 years, and is the editor of the newspaper there. He covers the sports and we have attended games he was covering against Scott City. We are very found of western Kansas. Your friends' home, especially the new quilting studio, looks fabulous!

Beth said... #

What a great weekend! Love how the school honors different people each time. Very cool!

Vera said... #

Sounds like fun!

Katy Cameron said... #

Sounds like such a fun holiday!

gwenyth said... #

I live in England with no prospect of visiting America so it is fabulous when people such as yourself post your travels which brings it alive for me, so a huge thank you.

Celtic Thistle said... #

Sounds like a wonderful weekend Cindy, I like the sound of that "hen house" too :)