I’m visiting my parents in Kansas this week. It’s been a while since I’ve been been back and the contrast to the Bay Area couldn’t be greater. It’s hot; there are lots of bugs; drivers take their time in making decisions; going out to eat means a trip to Olive Garden. And since I was last here about a year ago, it seems like the population has aged markedly. My brother Mark works on a county board to bring accessible public transit to the masses, and he confirmed. Johnson County is getting old.

This is a picture from the gloriously cluttered house that my parents call home. When I pointed out the irony to my mom, she laughed and said, “Yup. I sure do like to read about it.” (Zoom in or click on the pic to see what she’s talkin’ about.)