Post by Bruce Tackett on Jun 7, 2021 0:14:29 GMT
As I sit on my front porch looking out at Main Street, seeing all the houses up and down the block, and all the kids out playing, I could be in Anytown, USA. Yesterday I ventured into real Kansas, the way half the people in this state live. We were invited to a Birthday party in Byers, Kansas, population 30, ten miles west of the highway.
I wish I’d brought a camera.
Next time I visit, I will. The party was hosted buy a guy who lives in Byers, a friend two houses away from the Birthday guy, When I say two houses away, we’re talking close to a half a mile, as all the houses are on multiple acres with lush tree lines in between. Looking around, you feel like you’re in a forest. All the roads are dirt except for “Main Street”, which is paved.
There were a gazillion people there. I only knew the Birthday guy, his wife, his daughter, and her children. But by the time the party wrapped up, I was friends with just about everyone because Kansas folk are friendly, down-home folk. There were a gazillion boys and girls there, ranging from a newborn to a load of teeny-boppers.
The guy who hosted the party (Kyle) has the most beautiful property – acres of lawn surrounded by trees, and a large fishing pond. At the corner of his property at the dirt road is an immense steel building. I initially thought it was some sort of city or state utility building. Turns out it is Kyle’s “Man Cave”. In it he had umpteen off-road vehicles, motorcycles, go carts, and a boat. He works on these things – repairs them, refurbishes and sells them. The teeny boppers were all piled into these vehicles, zipping all around Byers.
Kyle drove a large tractor into the back where the cookout was going on, and in the “basket” (I don’t know what it’s called, the big scoop on the front), way up high, rode three of the teens. When the tractor stopped, two of the teens jumped down, and a rope was handed up to the remaining teen (Tyler), attached to a pinata. Tyler suspended the pinata from the basket, and the Birthday guy (Pat), was handed a bat. The pinata was filled with candies and little bottles of liqueur. Some great stuff!
Anyway, it was all so rural and pleasant out there, and I enjoyed everyone's company so much. Pat’s daughter (Jaime) lives in Byers with her kids. She told me Byers is her happy place.
I wish I’d brought a camera.
Next time I visit, I will. The party was hosted buy a guy who lives in Byers, a friend two houses away from the Birthday guy, When I say two houses away, we’re talking close to a half a mile, as all the houses are on multiple acres with lush tree lines in between. Looking around, you feel like you’re in a forest. All the roads are dirt except for “Main Street”, which is paved.
There were a gazillion people there. I only knew the Birthday guy, his wife, his daughter, and her children. But by the time the party wrapped up, I was friends with just about everyone because Kansas folk are friendly, down-home folk. There were a gazillion boys and girls there, ranging from a newborn to a load of teeny-boppers.
The guy who hosted the party (Kyle) has the most beautiful property – acres of lawn surrounded by trees, and a large fishing pond. At the corner of his property at the dirt road is an immense steel building. I initially thought it was some sort of city or state utility building. Turns out it is Kyle’s “Man Cave”. In it he had umpteen off-road vehicles, motorcycles, go carts, and a boat. He works on these things – repairs them, refurbishes and sells them. The teeny boppers were all piled into these vehicles, zipping all around Byers.
Kyle drove a large tractor into the back where the cookout was going on, and in the “basket” (I don’t know what it’s called, the big scoop on the front), way up high, rode three of the teens. When the tractor stopped, two of the teens jumped down, and a rope was handed up to the remaining teen (Tyler), attached to a pinata. Tyler suspended the pinata from the basket, and the Birthday guy (Pat), was handed a bat. The pinata was filled with candies and little bottles of liqueur. Some great stuff!
Anyway, it was all so rural and pleasant out there, and I enjoyed everyone's company so much. Pat’s daughter (Jaime) lives in Byers with her kids. She told me Byers is her happy place.