"Not all readers become leaders, but all leaders must be readers."

                                                  THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

        We dropped off our Skylark @ 9am this morning for its service appointment. Then, we drove to Independence for a visit to the Truman library and museum. We ate our breakfast in the parking lot and opened our anniversary cards from each of our parents. In the busy excitement of yesterday, we did not get a chance to open Leo & Sonja's!  Mom's card arrived this morning.  Mom and KOA organized the purchase of a restaurant gift certificate and a delivery this morning. "Site 4, Special Delivery" I heard from outside Skylark, and I was given an envelope and a wish for a "Happy Anniversary!"   Coincidentally, as  Mom did not know our plans, the gift certificate is for Pierpont's or Hereford House, one location in Independence! We will redeem the certificate Sunday evening, as Monday will be our driving day. It'll be a treat to not cook or clean dishes the night before travel.   Our gift from Leo & Sonja and Aunt Margaret & Uncle Chuck treated us to Rieger cocktails and Pierpont dinner, Wednesday evening.  We appreciate all the anniversary love: Facebook messages with wedding memories, a poem and a letter from Jess & Marcel, e-mail message from Cousin Leon... it helped to make our anniversary, far more home, really "come home" with memories of Ottawa (Jess & Marcel ;-) and celebrations with our family and our friends who witnessed our day, twenty years ago.

          J & I have now completed our tour of three presidents from 1945-1961. We visited the Roosevelt Library in Hyde Park, New York,  learned about Eisenhower in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and today, a visit with Truman in Independence, Missouri.

This is a photo of Harry S. Truman with Thomas Hart Benton.  I am fascinated by the connections of our travels with artists. We first met Benton through his painting "Hollywood" in New York City.  At the Nelson-Atkins, we saw an exhibit of his black and white drawings. We meet Benton again in Independence, Missouri.