Proud to call Topeka home...

According to reports Blue gets from family members who still live here and stories he gets from his favorite left-wing websites, things here in my hometown of Topeka, Kansas can't get much worse.

I disagree.

I suppose if you judge everything in terms of what the government has to offer, well, maybe we do fall short.

I don't know.

What I do know is that I've traveled this country from one end to the other.

I've been in almost every state and major city America has to offer.

And I've met the people.

For the most part the people I deal with are just like I am. Working class stiffs who get up every day and do the best they can to provide for their families regardless of what the politicians do or don't do.

Topeka's no different.

Do we have our problems?

Of course we do.

Just like any other city in America it's almost all drug and gang related.

Blue likes to point out that we have Fred Phelps' clan to deal with.

True. But what he doesn't mention is that for the most part their particular brand of hatred is routinely rejected every time they make an appearance.

He also leaves out the fact that Fred Phelps was a democrat.

But I digress.

He loves to point out how our downtown is all but abandoned.

Yeah, well, that was a self inflicted wound when the city chose to develop the wildly successful Wanamaker corridor.

So, what's so great about my hometown anyway?

Glad you asked.

Hungry?

Just like any other city in America, we have every chain restaurant there is.

We have everything from Larry's Short Stop to Cracker Barrel and everything in between.

I specifically mentioned Cracker Barrel because for some reason, Blue really hates the place.

I guess the thought of families going out to eat together after church on a Sunday afternoon really upsets him.

Looking for a micro brewery?

We got em.

Want to go to see a play?

Look no farther than the Helen Hocker Theater or TPAC.

Maybe you're looking for something to do outside.

Lake Shawnee is second to none.

Gage Park and The Topeka Zoo has been a favorite kid's destination for decades.

Maybe diversity is your thing.

Then the annual Mexican Fiesta is where you'll want to be.

Looking for a gun show, lawn and garden show, boat and RV show, monster truck show, moto cross race, arena football game, or some politician speak?

There's no better place to be than The Kansas Expo Center.

Like history?

I'm a big museum fan and The Kansas Museum of History has always been one of my favorites.

Looking for a place to stay while you're visiting our fair city?

We have everything from the very top of the line to crappy little motels you can imagine.

Health care?

Yes, Topeka offers world class healthcare.

Education?

Topeka offers up a variety of choices. Everything from public education to private schools to a top-notch Vo-Tech school and Washburn University.

I could go on and on.

Everything I've mentioned is just stuff.

Things to do.

Distractions form everyday life.

For me, Topeka is home.

You see, because of circumstances way beyond my control, my childhood involved constantly moving from one house and one town to another.

So when I say Topeka's home, it's more than where my house is.

Yeah, we bought our house 25 years ago but it took time to truly turn it into a home.

It's the same home my kids grew up in.

It's the same home where daily after school football games took place.

It's the same home where weekend sleep overs were routine.

It's the same home where birthday celebrations took place.

It's the same home where graduation and wedding parties happened.

It's also the same home where life's little victories were celebrated and major disappointments were dealt with.

We've laughed together, cried together, and yelled at each other.

Nowadays it's grandma and grandpa's house.

We have the same birthday parties and backyard cookouts we've always had but with three grown kids, two daughter in laws, one son in law, and 7 grand kids it's a hell of a lot more work.

It's also where my little dog, Buster Brown is buried.

I'm not going anywhere.

My roots run deep and I wouldn't trade it for anywhere in the world.

So Blue, you can go about judging us based on government statistics and left-wing website all you want.

You can even stick with reports you get from your relatives that things can't get much worse.

But speaking strictly for myself.

Things in my world can't get much better...



Kevin McGinty