September 8, 2026

Tuesday

Kansas City, Missouri

Slept well. Took the streetcar for the morning ride down to Messenger’s Coffee for the morning cappuccino and brioche. This morning, I chose two different pastries to take to Mary. A “standard” coffee cake, and a what looked like a blueberry coffee cake.

Then it was off to do my “chores”. Knives to be sharpened at the shop on Main near Union Hill, and Mary’s package to Post Office. It begins with a walk to Harry & Rochelle’s. There I looked for some tape to seal up Mary’s package and wrapped the knives so I could carry them without them banging against one another. Didn’t find any tape.

The post office usually has small rolls of tape for sale. I headed to the post office on Main at 50th. Oops, it doesn’t open until noon. Ok, CVS down towards the Plaza will have some tape. Got to CVS, found packaging tape. Continued walking down to the Plaza. Stopped at Diebel’s for a cigar. Did my Italian in the cigar shop.

Headed to the streetcar. It was reportedly 100 degrees out side. I was suffering. So, rather than just go jump on the streetcar and head to the knife shop, I headed back to the AirB&B to cool off and rest up first. I took an hour nap. Sealed up Mary’s package. A shower and got myself ready for the next part of the chores.

Down to the streetcar, take the streetcar to Union Hill. Walk down Union Hill to the knife shop. Drop off the knives. Walk back up Union Hill to the streetcar station. Take the streetcar to 50th Street, Whole Foods or UMKC stop. Walk up the hill to the post office. Drop off Mary’s package and head towards Harry & Rochelle’s.

Just about then, Mary called. She had spent her day making spaghetti sauce for tonight’s dinner and need two pounds of 80/20 ground round and a carrot. So, it back down the hill to Whole Foods. Then another text, subtract carrot, she found them, add grating cheese. Texted back and asked if 1/3 a pound was a good amount? Once we settled on everything that was needed, I headed back up the hill to Harry & Rochelle’s house.

It had just gone 14:30. About this time I checked my watch to see how many steps I had for the day. It was feeling like I might have accomplished my 10,000 step goal. Well, it was a surprise but I had made over 12,000 steps already. That at least makes up for the few days when I didn’t get to my 10,000.  It also very much felt like I had walked the city.

Oliver and George came home from school about 15:30. They are very excited about having spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.  Oliver asked me to walk back down to Whole Foods and get three baguettes for dinner. I told him he should walk down, I wasn’t moving off the couch. Harry IV eventually agreed to walk down to Whole Foods and get the baguettes; which as it turns out Whole Foods was out of. So got a couple loves of French bread.

The boys headed off to practice about 16:00. I don’t think I moved from the couch; I have been binge watching Star Wars. The boys returned about 19:45 and Mary and Rochelle served them up big plates of spaghetti and meatballs.

Once dinner was done, Harry IV drove Mary and I headed back to the AirB&B. We played a game of cards. It was a long day. Step count 12,862, 9.7km. The best since July 27.

Buonanotte and Ciao,

Enrico and Maria