The Queens of Quinter Kansas

Last week my family took a trip during spring break. It wasn't to one of those glamorous spring break destinations--snow boarding in CO or a beach in FL. It wasn't a cruise or tour. It wasn't to a playground of the rich and famous. We went to Quinter, KS.

Where is Quinter, KS? Well, you fly into Kansas City and then drive west. Way west. For about 5 hours. Drive until there are hardly any trees and you can see flat fields for miles and miles and miles. When you get there, you're in Quinter, KS.

Barry Googled "Fun Things to Do in Quinter, KS" right before we left. Let's just say it was a very short list of results. There were reviews for the one hotel in town, The "Q" Inn. The nicest reviewer said, "It's better than it looks."

But I have to tell you that I love Quinter. It's a town of 953 people. We increased the population to 957 people for a week and were happy to be there. We went to Castle Rock, the DQ about 10 times, The "Q" every day for lunch and visited with family I hadn't seen in years. Where else could I go into a restaurant only to be identified by my family of origin by a cousin that I've never met before. It's a wonderful thing to fit in somewhere!

The best thing about being in Quinter was staying with one of its queens, my Grandma Dohm. She and her sister Jeannie are both "seasoned" women. (My grandma is 93!) They both live in their own homes, are doted on by everyone in town and live the life of reilly as far as I can see.

Grandma spends her mornings fixin' up (she's still such a beautiful woman) to go to lunch at The Q every day. Thursday is hair day, and it's a big day. The hair appointment is preceded by lunch and followed by a trip to Dollar General and a drink to sip on the way home. Jeannie and Grandma let my Aunt LeaAnna and I know that sometimes they also get treated to ice cream. Let the record show that LeaAnna and I bought them a drink AND a cookie.

I'm thinking that it's good to be one of the Queens of Quinter. It's a life I'd love to have when I'm 93.

One last note. Today Barry and I are celebrating our 20th wedding anniversery. There are so many things I love about being married to Barry. These are just a few (I wanted to write 20, but I'm just not that creative!):

• He makes me laugh every day. He's seriously not right, and I love that.
• He challenges me spiritually. Whenever I feel snotty about the fact that I've filled in more blanks in Bible study books than he has, he lives out his faith in ways that put me to shame.
• He's really, really cute. I don't want you all checking him out, but he has gorgeous blue eyes.
• He's a great dad. On hair day in Quinter, Barry and the boys opted out and had so much fun on their own.
• He's reverent about God, but everything else is fair game. My best friend in college told me that he'd keep me off my high horse (how could she say that about me!). She was right. It's a very good thing. It's also the thing that makes this rule-following girl break out in a cold sweat sometimes when we're in public. (I always just laugh hysterically in private!)
• He loves me unconditionally. This is witnessed by the fact that he still gave me the traditional M & Ms this morning even though I'm busting out of my pants. He loves me thin and fluffy.

I hope you all don't mind this list. I'm cheering for all of you that think you have the best husband, too. It's sad that you're so deceived, but I'm still cheering for you. :)