They asked me about my trip last week to a Mississippi hospital where I did a staff training and we talked about how hospital policies can vary vastly based on an institution's (or staff member's) ideas, attitudes and backgrounds. Sometimes the variance in a policy has nothing to do with evidence or scientific reasoning, but is system-centered or based on the convenience of the staff; sort of the "we've always done it like this in the past" way of thinking. This particular hospital had some policies that were very outdated; I don't often see the extremely restrictive visitation policies or ideas on when parents can hold their babies like in this particular hospital. Is it because it's in the South? Is this typical Mississippi? It's so easy to generalize and lump everyone into the same bucket, but I've trained staff at hospitals in Florida, Texas, Georgia, Birmingham and Huntsville, and I know it doesn't have to be like this.
That conversation got me thinking about how I'm perceived as a Kansan when I travel. People think they know who you are when you say you're from Kansas. They assume things about you. Dorothy and ruby slippers almost always slip into the conversation. I usually am asked if I own a horse. I once had someone say they had expected me to be wearing fringe. What does that even mean? Someone else told me I was dressed very cosmopolitan for being from the midwest. Awesome. Every once in a while, when I say I'm from Kansas City, I may be asked "Kansas or Missouri" so I know all is not lost.
Some of the most condescending conversations have been with people who have only seen my State from 30,000 feet. What they "know" about my Kansas is a patchwork quilt of greens, yellows and golds, a blurred vision from a hurried glance out of a tiny, smudged window before quickly looking back to their magazine. They have no connection to the people or the land or to the history of the plains.
This past week, you may have seen the article that made national news proclaiming Kansas as the least scenic State in the nation. I'm not exactly sure how the data was collected, but I'm wondering if those who completed the survey had ever been in the State of Kansas, or were they just making an assumption of what they thought Kansas looked like. The ensuing photographs of the rolling Flint hills, golden wheat fields, endless sunflowers and green pastures flooded social media from those who think Kansas is full of beautiful scenery. I really enjoyed seeing so many photographs of my home State, many of which I had never seen before. Where are those chalky rock formations? Kansas has water falls? ...huh. (On a side note, my parent's 54th wedding anniversary is today and they just happen to be in Cottonwood Falls for the night - I hope they bring me back a photograph of the water fall!)
So, a couple of nights ago on my bike ride, I took some photos at Shawnee Mission Park in my beautiful State of Kansas. Below are three. I have always thought Kansas is beautiful.
 |
| I'm not sure why I love this tree so much, but we have pictures of it through the years and through three seasons. This winter, I'm hoping for a beautiful snow fall to capture this in white! |
