From the Far East to the Midwest

Mom and I were bobbing around 28,000 feet in the air last night in an airplane, counting how many airplanes we've been on this year. I've been on 17 airplanes since the year began, but Mom has me beat--20 airplanes. I think I win for miles, though.

So last night I was on my 16th and 17th airplanes as we returned back to Kansas from a wonderful visit to upstate New York, where my grandparents live. I'm pretty sure I have the cutest grandparents in the world. We had such a nice relaxing time, even as that part of the country was going through an intense heat wave--it was still cooler than Nanchang and Topeka, though.

I have to say that Rochester, NY is a very cultured place with a lot of educated people. It's like being in a different culture again. One of my favorite parts of our trip was going to an old theater, called the Dryden Theater. The theater was several decades old, but had been restored. It played an old 1930s movie with Cary Grant, "Topper," to a crowded, cozy theater. I always felt like I was born in the wrong decade.

We also helped Grandma and Grandpa clean and organize, and we just spent a lot of good quality time together. I also got to learn more about how Grandma's parents came from Lithuania, and the people and lives they left behind.

On Thursday we took a day trip up to Ontario, Canada. I've been there a good several times by now, but it's always a pleasant little journey, especially on the back roads and little highways. We stopped at a cute little town called Niagara-on-the-lake, and also Niagara Falls. I've been to Niagara Falls a few times, but each time is like seeing it for the first time! I'm amazed at God's power and creativity.

And now I'm back in Kansas. Late last night Mom and I were standing on the curb at the Kansas City airport waiting for the shuttle bus. I felt happy to be back under the big Midwestern sky, but also a little confused with the amount of Chinese people we saw right there. A Chinese family was getting into a car and talking in Mandarin, which I could understand. Then to the right of us was a man squatting on the sidewalk by his suitcase, probably waiting for someone. He was also definitely Chinese. I could recognize that Chinese way of sitting anywhere. So it seems that the Far East has followed me to the Midwest...


Fairport, where my grandparents live.


Grandpa!


Lunch with Grandma.


Niagara Falls.