September 5, 2026

Saturday

Kansas City, Missouri

Again, one day seems like another. The day starts with a streetcar ride down to Messenger’s Coffee for the morning cappuccino and brioche. Mary got a blueberry muffin this morning. The air was hot already this morning, and there seemed to be a bit more humidity in it. The old arthritis is acting up a bit.

The KC Street Car on Main

Upon returning to the AirB&B I made Mary’s coffee. While she was getting dressed, I put my head down on the pillow. The next thing I knew it was 11. We have noon appointments at CVS for our annual flu and COVID shots. We waited until we were here to get the most up-to-date COVID shot. Apparently the 2026-2027 version arrived in the store on Wednesday. We walked down to the streetcar stop and took the streetcar to 51st Street, then walked the couple blocks uphill to the CVS store at Main and 51st Street.

Compared to the CVS store in San Carlos this place is very unorganized. First, I get a text saying to check-in. I follow the link. The link simply goes to the CVS website. No where can I “check-in” for an appointment. We get to the store. We are directed to the automated terminal at the counter. I go to check-in. It says there is only the flu shot not the COVID shot.

The clerk says to go the drop-off window, and someone will be with you. I explain what I had done so far, and that I had an appointment for both the flu and COVID shot. He said the insurance wouldn’t pay for the COVID shot. I explained I was on Medicare, and Medicare covers COVID shots. He said he would check again. Guess what? The shot is covered.

We then spent another five minutes going over all the questions I answered in order to get the appointment in the first place. By now the line behind us was five or six people. He told me to go sit in the screened off area where they give the shorts, while he went and prepared the shots. What? You weren’t ready?

Finally, he arrives in the screened off area. Oops! He forgot the alcohol swabs. Twenty minutes after arriving I get my shots. OK, now we go though the whole same process for Mary. Forty-five minutes after arriving we are finally finished. Something, which without the AI and computer screens would probably have taken ten minutes.   

Rochelle and Grace were at the CVS at 12:30 to take us to have lunch with Serra, Pietro and the Girls at Penny’s In The Village. The village being the town on Prairie Village, Kansas. Remember that Kansas City is on the west side of Missouri and they share not only the name Kansas City with Kansas City in Kansas and Missouri, but a single street between them called State Line Road. It’s not more than a couple miles from IV’s house.

Penny’s serves Thai food, a family favorite. There were chicken satay for the girls and nonna. Nonna got a chicken lettuce wrap. I chose the Thai basil beef stir fry. Basil, ground beef, bell peppers and bamboo schools in a rich brown sauce made from soy sauce, rick stock, garlic, herbs and spices. I asked for, and got Thai spicy. There were beads of sweat forming on my brow by the time I was finished.

Having the girls with us really made the meal rather cahotic. I couldn’t get any good photos of every dish or even remember what they were. However, if you like Thai food this seems to be a good place to have it. After lunch Nonna went to Serra’s AirB&B to help with the girls. I returned to IV’s and watched TV and relaxed. Somehow it is hotter today than yesterday, and there is definitely more humidity in the air.

The family at the dinner table, more or less

Grace and Luisa doing big girl make up

The boys got back from practice, and we had an easy informal dinner of cold cuts. Serra did make a fresh tomatoe sauce and spaghetti dish. After dinner Nonna and I walked down to the streetcar and rode back to the Plaza and walked to our AirB&B. We played a game of cards and settled in for the night.

Buonanotte and Ciao,

Enrico and Maris