Missouri Loves Company

Obligations.  Those tethers that define adult life and ultimately provide meaning and identity for adult life.

Grant was about to turn 19, an adult, and Grant had obligations back in Missouri.  After a few days back in Texas at the end of the semester, he drove back to Columbia, MO to take possession of his subleased duplex.  He and friend Carson had lined up jobs in town and had arranged to move into 2 rooms vacated over the summer by a couple of coeds.  They had obligations.

With a birthday at the beginning of the month and the Fourth of July holiday thrown into the mix, it was an opportune time for his mother and me to make it a road trip; celebrate his birthday, and haul up some requested supplies.  

On the supply list was:

  1.  A free-standing floor fan (we bought him an new one rather than bring the old dilapidated fan from his room)

  2.  His two TV sets (a flat screen & an old heavy model) [Grant owns twice as many TV monitors as his parents]

  3.  PlayStation 3 controller & cables

  4.  We brought along a pair of shoes he left in the living room and some of his mail.

  5.  The makings for a layered chocolate birthday cake with raspberry filling.
  6.  Birthday gifts [or is it gift - singular?]
  7.  Acoustic Guitar (Actually belongs to his mother - and she was sorry to see it leave, but she reasoned it is an excellent chick magnet and could do her son more good than it was doing in the closet here)

Looking at the weather forecast before we left, it was clear that Missouri was going be misery.  A large high pressure system was sitting over Kansas City, bringing central MO to 106 degrees (F).  Right where we were headed, hot damn.

We pulled into town early evening, having been delayed by a detour caused by the bridge over the Osage River having been washed out.  But, once we found an alternated route over the troubled waters and made it into town, we unloaded the supply wagon, and then said those magic words to a college student, "How about dinner?  I'll buy."  We included his housemate, Carson (from Chicago) and piled into Grant's car as he drove us to his meal of choice, a Greek food/Pizzeria across town.


Grant and Carson's summer residence is just 3 blocks north of their Frosh year dorm, so it was easy to find; once I regained control of the vehicle after careening over the curb of some cockamamie traffic circle obstructing the intersection smack dab in the middle of the Medical District.


We had arrived with all needed additional comforts.  I think Grant was glad to see us in town - for a least a few days.  Missouri loves company, or so I am told.

Looking across College Avenue
at the University of Missouri

Grant on the porch of his Summer Residence Duplex,
Columbia, Missouri