Water water everywhere falling from the sky

We're spending the later afternoon in. It's POURING outside. It's also thundering. Then the sun comes out. Then it starts all over again. Kansas City streets are flooded, there are tornado warnings flashing on the tv, and it's downright cold out there. There's a small sign on the office door in the RV park we're in that says something about where their "tornado shelter" is located. I probably should have read it...but I'm from New Mexico and I don't think about tornados. Winds, yes; tornados, no.

We're located in the historical part of Independence, MO. The neighborhood around us is full of beautiful Victorian homes, many restored, and many with signs stating their lineage. The Truman Library and Museum and Truman home are within walking distance.

We began our day with a visit to the National Frontier Trails Museum. This was one of the starting points for the Santa Fe, California, and Oregon Trails. It's a wonderful museum that explains what it took to do the 19th Century version of "hitting the road." These were visionary, brave, courageous people who traveled the trail for a variety of reasons - everything from starting businesses and finding gold to drawing and painting pictures. The railroads ended the trails, but more than 400,000 people migrated via the trails.

Did I recognize this location? You betcha I did. There's the cathedral and the Palace of the Governors in Santa Fe. But where is the band shell...? and the tourist shops...?

Ed met a friend today. And he was all smiles.

We visited the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. We each had own personal reaction.

For Ed, it was very special. Truman was instrumental in the birth of the State of Israel. He made the decision to recognize Israel on the day it was announced that the Jewish state had been established. It was a politically difficult decision on Truman's part. The concern: Arab oil. (Does anything ever change?)

For me, who never enjoyed studying history, so much ties together in visiting these institutions. I know all the events and now the reasons and surrounding events make so much more sense. Truman made so many huge decisions during his presidency - the bomb ending WWII, the war in Korea, the Cold War, McCarthy-ism. Though we say times were simpler...maybe we're just more open today. Looking at the exhibits of life - I relived so much of my childhood. (Damn! I'm REALLY old.)

This beautiful mural by Thomas Hart Benton is in the lobby of the Library.

As with most Benton murals, it requires a lot of looking......there's so much in it.

The Oval Office that Harry worked in. So much simpler than Bill Clinton's. Catch the tv on the right. No flat screen here.

Last stop was the Truman home. It's a National Park Historic Site. We walked through the first floor. Everything inside is original. They lived simply. The Missour-ites are very proud that Harry and Bess returned to their home when he finished his seven years in the White House.

We're planning to leave for Iowa in the morning. Weather might delay us for a day.