Most people think of geographic Kansas as a flat, barren state. As the saying goes, nothing could be further from the truth. Western Kansas is indeed fairly flat -- miles and miles of wheat is grown. Trees become more abundant in the central section of the state, where you will find the gentle, rolling Flint Hills. While still quite dry, you will begin to see a few more creeks -- some call them rivers, but they are not really rivers compared to what you will find in the eastern part of the state. These rivers are not the Mississippi by any means, but they are good, deep rivers plentiful with catfish and surrounded by loads of trees and more hills. 

Those rivers and trees are a big memory of where I grew up, in the very eastern part of the state, about 1 1/2 miles from the Missouri state line. The rivers were the place where we fished and swam -- you just had to stay away from the areas where the leaches thrived. In the hot summer, we went into shade of the timber to keep cool. Barefoot, we were so acclimated to the poisin ivy and and oak we became immune to it and stay so today. 

Last week while visiting my brother, who still lives on the family farm, I drove down the road to the creek where we constantly waded. The dense trees on each side of the road form a wonderful canopy over the gravel road. It is one of my very favorite places to go and always brings back those wonderful memories of long summer days. It truly is home, sweet home.