From Kansas

Haven't the energy to try to mess with the pictures so it is back to the list. .

1. Our trunk. Notice that it is loaded like a jigsaw puzzle. We are good and can get loaded up in just a couple of minutes.

2. -5. Pictures from the Greyhound Museum which is across the street from the Eisenhower Center. It is like a museum devoted to horse racing only this is dogs. Since dog racing is not legal in California this seemed rather odd to us.

6. Gift to President Eisenhower. A carved elephant tusk from Thailand (I think)

7. Gift of a Grandma Moses painting of the Eisenhower farm in Gettysburg

8. The stove Ike cooked on at the White House. He had an apron which said "Hail to the Chef"

9. One of the many displays of the Eisenhower military career

10. A gift of a complete set of first lady dolls made by one person

11. A parachute dummy which was dropped behind the German lines during the invasion of Normandy. When they would land they would bark out some orders and then explode leaving only the parachute with the idea if it was found by the Germans that the paratrooper had landed and gotten away.

12. A couple of Mamie's bed jackets. She conducted much of her business in the mornings from her bed.

13. The Eisenhower house in Abilene Kansas where Ike and his 5 brothers were raised

14. His parents' bed room. Notice the beautiful quilts made by Mother Eisenhower

15. Chapel where Ike and Mamie are buried

16. The Kirby House where we feasted on a Kansas raised beef. Here I go again. Yummm-O!

As we loaded up the car in Belleville this morning I insisted that we have a record of how we do this. Considering we have been repeating this process since the 25th of August, I felt we needed a photographic record. Of course I chose the coldest morning to do this so I snapped quickly and we finished the job in record time and record cold (about 30 degrees--Brrrrr!) When we looked at the pictures tonight I had the progression from empty trunk to fully packed. We were screaming with laughter at how ridiculous it looks as a rather fast moving slide show. Sorry to only include the finale.

We drove a little over a hundred miles to Abilene, Kansas and arrived at the Eisenhower Center about 10:30 and we left about 4:15. It was a full day starting with the house which is on the original site where Ike and his 5 brothers grew up. The Eisenhower Foundation bought up the surrounding area to build the Center. The house is very modest and hard to see how 6 boys grew up in such cramped quarters and go on to success for each of them. Mother Eisenhower lived there until her death when the property was turned over to the National Archives who administer it now. Ike and Mamie are buried on the property in a small meditation chapel that is very serene and the research library is also on the grounds.

The museum is chock-a-block with stuff and the pictures are only the tip of the iceberg. The Eisenhower war years are a major part of the exhibits, and there is very little sign of Richard Nixon. Whether this is intentional or not I don't know. This is the last presidential library for the trip. The most impressive I guess would be the Clinton Library, but I loved the Carter and we all three agree that the Roosevelt Library was a big favorite also. Will look forward to going to the Reagan Library when we get home.

We hadn't eaten since a very sparse breakfast and were famished. Since it was a bit early for the place that was recommended to us, we stopped at the Greyhound Museum. Guess we just aren't into Greyhound racing as it seemed a bit odd to us. But it killed a little time and then we proceeded on to the Kirby House for a fabulous steak with all the trimmings. As our days of denying ourselves nothing is coming to an end we intend to make the most of our last meals and tonight was one of those occasions. As we were enjoying our coffee after dinner we had a discussion on how we could get to the motel and sleep in our clothes so we wouldn't have to unpack anything from the car. The other patrons must have thought we were a little crazy.

We drove the 35 miles from Abilene to Selina and checked into another Hampton Inn. We did unpack a little but got to the room in record time and threw on our night clothes and now Judi and Lee are asleep and I'm not far behind. On to Oklahoma, City tomorrow to see the memorial and perhaps a couple of other stops. Next is Amarillo and then Albequerque.

How did this time pass so quickly? We are sick of our clothes, I hate my black hang up bag with toiletries, we're cold but have virtually nothing warm enough, so we just don't care any more what people think of or appearance, we put on all the layers we have and then get in a warm car and sweat, and continue to marvel at all the things we have seen and experienced. Today during the movie at the Eisenhower museum, pictures of West Point came on the screen and Lee and I both leaned toward Judi who was sitting in the middle and said, "We've been there!"

Off to dreamland. Love and hugs from the Gotta Go Girls