You Say Toe-pee-kah, I say Tuh-pee-kah

I'm talking about Topeka, Kansas, of course. In the language of the Kansa People, who originally inhabited the area, Topeka means "to dig good potatoes," referring to the prairie potato, which was a staple of the Plains Indians. Wait a minute... this is Kansas, right? So, how did Idaho become "the Potato State?"

Being from Texas, I have to say my knowledge of Kansas was based on the very limited experience of driving through on family trips and witnessing the monotony of a flat, featureless landscape with nothing to draw attention except an occasional barn. In my mind, it was just a step above the Texas Panhandle in that it did, at least, have grass. Add to that perception the general opinion of the folks of my current home state, Missouri. Their feelings about Kansas is a watered-down antagonism that goes all the way back to pre-Civil War, and is now manifested in college rivalries. So, my own idea about the real Kansas primarily came down to my interaction with the nice folks I knew who lived in Kansas, but worked in Missouri. Hmmmm... that spoke volumes. Does nothing want to stay in Kansas? But, my interpretation was undeniably skewed.

When a fellow history geek friend asked me to join her in an exploration of Topeka, I was skeptical, but did some research. OK, there were a few things that piqued my interest. It seemed worth a 90-minute drive and weekend road trip. Frankly, I had a feeling it would be a semi-sedate two days, with plenty of down time between attractions. Instead, I'm just glad I took comfortable shoes! There is much to see and do in Topeka, believe it or not.

A lot of people probably think it ghoulish, but I happen to love walking through old cemeteries, looking at the different styles of monuments, from the garish to the nondescript, and speculating what it represents for each individual person and his or her family. The Topeka Cemetery was full of interest! For instance, a mausoleum which had a carving representative of the Egyptian god Horus on the lintel and a stained glass window with the emblem of the Knights Templar. What was the connection? There are several unique monuments, old intermingled with new, and a row of crypts dating back to 1890.

Next stop was Old Prairie Town, revealed to us by the adorable Mable, our tour guide. We saw a one-room schoolhouse that was in operation from the 1890s to the 1950s. The high point of the tour was the Ward log cabin, original to the site, built by the first settlers of Topeka and located right next door to the newer Ward-Meade residential mansion, with its beautiful gardens. And, the tour was topped off with a Green River drink served at the period drug store. Don't ask, just enjoy!!

The Brown vs. Board of Education is a must see for anyone visiting Topeka. It is a comprehensive look at the landmark Supreme Court case that was the catalyst for change in America's perception and laws regarding segregation and the Civil Rights Movement.

The Kansas Museum of History is chock full of all things Kansas, from the time of the Ancient People, right up to modern day.

And, you must make a stop at Lecompton, Kansas, about 20 minutes east of Topeka on I70. It was the territorial capital of Kansas. Constitution Hall, the original government building for the Kansas Territory, offers a thorough explanation of how important Kansas was to the election of Abraham Lincoln and, ultimately, the Civil War. And, the old Lane University, which was built to be the Territorial Capital Building, is wall to ceiling full of artifacts from the 1800s, including Civil War ordinance, farm implements and household items.

If you haven't visited Topeka... GO!! There's so much to see. I highly recommend the Fairfield Inn off Hwy. 470 and Wannamaker. It's very affordable, the staff were extremely guest conscious and the beds were to die for!! It is in a convenient location and even has an indoor pool and health room. Breakfast and WiFi are included in the price of the room.

"The Widow of the South" by Robert Hicks

This historical fiction pulls you in slowly, but inescapably. Hicks' style of prose reminds me of Charles Dickens. He uses a lot of detail and verbose descriptions and, while I was reading, I couldn't help but think that no one really analyzes their own feelings in that way. Yet, the minute details are absolutely essential to convey the depth of feelings of these real-life characters. And, that is what this book is about... the sentiments and emotions ravaged by life and conflict, especially during the time of our nation's internal rage against itself... the Civil War.

It tells the story of how a senseless and bloody battle which sealed the fate of the Confederacy just may have helped a woman already damaged by irreconcilable loss to find her sanity and her destiny. The true story of how Carnton, her plantation home, became the largest privately held Confederate Cemetery in the U.S. and the final resting place for 1,500 casualties from the Battle of Franklin, is one of determination, honor and redemption, told from a viewpoint of feelings and thoughts of Carrie MaGavock and the people who made up her world. Thought to be insane, unable to find meaning of her life, Carrie begins a painful journey of understanding the mysterious fragility of life by recognizing the unexplainable inevitability of death.

Before delving into the book, I recommend reading a synopsis of the history of the Battle of Franklin, a conflict fraught with failure from the firing of the first shot to the unimaginable number of casulaties at the conclusion. It will help set the scene and the mood of the entire story, while every character searches for the reasons for survival. Is it truly just luck, or is it destiny?