Saturday, May 22, 2010

. . . met a friend




My internet friend Miki Willa e-mailed me a few weeks ago to tell me she was going to be in Kansas City last weekend for a wedding. We met for lunch and a photo outing last Sunday, and had a great time. It was so good to visit with a fellow artist whose taste for pictures runs similar to mine. As it turns out, the bride, a relative of sorts to Miki, married a young man whose great-grandparents lived in my hometown. His great-grandfather was the mayor for almost all the years I grew up there, and we were all members of the same church. They lived a block from my parent's house. I knew the groom's grandparents and played with his father when we were both young. Small world, indeed.






I took Miki to all my favorite photo places. The first place was River Market, where we found a brick building being demolished. Lots and lots of photo ops there. . .






then we went to the West Bottoms. We didn't cover much territory there, because each site was just ripe for rusty decaying photos. . .






Miki and her family stayed on the Country Club Plaza, absolutely the most iconic place in Kansas City and a lovely location. I told her that I would take her to see all the lowlights of this city, and I think I lived up to that promise. We ate lunch at Ponacks, one of the best Mexican restaurants here, on Southwest Boulevard, and took pictures of the old brewery behind it and underneath Interstate I-35 and then, a bit further down the street, the old grain elevator.







The day was rainy and gloomy and I was driving my daughter's gigantic Tahoe, very unfamiliar and different from my little car, which was being repaired. After I dropped Miki off at the hotel, I misjudged the distance between two other SUVs and ripped the mirror off one and scraped Stephanie and Andy's car down the passenger side. Just another blip on the radar screen of my life.


These are just the black-and-white pictures I took. There are dozens. I can't wait to see what pictures Miki came up with. . . probably the same things. Thanks, Miki, for being my snooping-around-KC friend. And if anyone else wants to visit, be sure to call. I'm available as a tour guide.

7 comments:

Leslie Avon Miller said...

What fun! If time and money were no object we could put together a big bloggers get together some where...

Anna said...

I'll come right now!

Miki Willa said...

I had a wonderful time on our photo safari. I have been so busy since I got back, I haven't had time to look at my photos or post them. Tom and I looked at them Sunday evening, and he really liked many of them. I can't wait to share. Thank you so much for taking me to your favorite places. One day, I hope I can return the favor.

RosieK said...

the passion for your photography is really telling in this post and I just love those photos you took - it is great to share favorite places with like minded friends which is why I like blogging so much - doesn't take the place of a day like this though! thank you Mary

Martha Marshall said...

Wouldn't that be fabulous? Glad you had a fun day with your internet buddy. The pictures are stunning!

Jala Pfaff said...

I really love your artistic minimalism.

layers said...

you sure have a way with a camera-- love your top image-- that black shape with the stairs creating those stark lines- sublime.. and the textures in your other images are turn ons... how nice to get together with a fellow artist.