I’m in Missouri. Actually, I should say we are in Missouri: Brent, Hadley, Elle and me. Spring Break finally arrived and with it a chance to spend some time with Morgan and Blaire.  The girls have been missing their cousins, and we have wanted to see what Missouri was all about.  

Well, it is beautiful. Green has arrived in this midwestern area, blossoms on the trees and temperatures in the 70s. Missouri has caves everywhere, so we went spelunking. Not on foot with a lamp strapped to our head, but in a jeep-pulled cart specially designed to navigate the underground caverns that have theatrical lighting throughout.   

Now, when you travel 120 feet under the earth’s surface with a two-year-old you better be ready for more than stalagmites and stalactites. Miss Morgan wanted lights on when lights were out and really wanted to exit the cart at times to explore the beautiful wonders. However, her jabbering got the most attention when she announced she needed to go potty.  Yes, her mom had taken her before we started our descent, but something about the dark, damp environment had her bladder engaged. Luckily, we wrapped her in her little sister’s blanket and the flood was at least contained, much to the relief of the other passengers in the cart.

We finished the tour with our soggy toddler after viewing the 12 signatures of the Springfield Women’s Athletic Club, whose members, ages 14 to 25, explored and mapped the caves in 1867. They were true spelunkers with a candle in a can and adventure in their hearts. We also saw the makeshift stage that was constructed in one of the larger caverns where Buck Owens and other entertainers performed for $1.00 a ticket in the 1950s. It was bring-your-own-crate to sit on and according to our guide they could get between 400 and 500 guests in the “room.” As demonstrated by Miss Morgan, the acoustics must have been amazing.

It’s a Good Life when you experience new places with familiar faces. It doesn’t hurt to have the out-going personality of a two-year-old to bring the group together!