Millie Mouse’s great adventures

BY Millie Mouse

First, I have to thank Bill Denney of Little Bill’s cheese emporium in Kansas City (MO) for letting me travel with The Walking Tourists this year. I had a blast! Lisa and Tim took me with the on their trip around the world. At least, it felt like that to me. I’ve seen the childhood home of a great author. I’ve been to the center of the United States. I’ve been to a place called the Twin Cities. Omaha is a beautiful city, with lots to see and do, too.

I’ve been to nine states – starting with my home state of Missouri, I have ventured to Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana and passed through Wyoming. All beautiful states.

I spent a weekend in Red Cloud, Nebraska, where I read a book by Willa Cather. She is perhaps Nebraska’s most famous author, having won a Pulitzer Prize. She lived in Red Cloud for a good portion of her life and even visited as an adult. The community offers a tour of important locations to her. They were often used in her books (under different names, of course).

While we were in Red Cloud, we traveled to the geographic center of the United States in north-central Kansas. Later, we visited the World’s largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City, Kansas.

We visited the childhood home and museum of President Dwight Eisenhower. Did you know he was a famous general? He led the Allied forces to victory in Europe to end World War II. He was elected President a few years later.

The Walking Tourists and I celebrated Independence Day in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It’s known as part of the Twin Cities. We visited several locations, including the Stone Arch Bridge, Gold Flour Mill museum and Target Field, where the Twins play baseball.

My trip to the Badlands in two states was impressive. North Dakota is home to the Roosevelt National Park at Medora. The small town was fun to visit. I thought of staying and becoming a cowgirl.

In Fargo, The Walking Tourists had their picture taken by a wood chipper. No way was I getting near that thing.

In South Dakota, we visited the Badlands there. They look a lot different than they did in North Dakota.

Also, I visited two great monuments. Mount Rushmore has four presidents carved in the side of the mountain.

Crazy Horse is a monument that is built over a long period of time, honoring a great Lakota warrior. Once done, it will be the largest carved memorial in the world. Wow! I could see carving a mouse hole or two at the bottom and living there during the summers.

As summer came to a close, I just kind of kicked back and enjoyed catching up on television shows I had missed. There is a show called the “Mickey Mouse Club.” Whoa! That is one tall piece of cheese.

And Tim from The Walking Tourists screamed at the TV during a football game and called someone a cheesehead. Cheesehead? There are really heads of cheese?

I had my sort of Homecoming during the Fall. We visited Kansas City. I hoped to see Little Bill, but he couldn’t make it to the City Market.

We visited Kauffman Stadium, home of the World Series champions. I met a great Royals player named Eric Hosmer. I am a bit embarrassed to admit I fainted at the site of the hunk, err, bobblehead.

Once I regained my composure, Little Eric Hosmer and I posed for a picture outside the stadium. Apparently, they don’t like mice inside there. Not sure why.

I recognized the view of the city’s skyline when we visited the World War I memorial, near Union Station. I have some rat relatives that live along a section of railroad tracks somewhere down there.

The holiday season brought us to checking out Christmas lights and decorations. They were so beautiful.

As the year winds down, I am so excited to have spent about half of it with The Walking Tourists. While I miss Little Bill and Kansas City, I am excited for 2016. I overheard the Tourists taking about a trip to Seattle to visit their daughter Mallory, Alaska to visit friends and another trip to Minnesota for some convention. I’m sure we’ll have other adventures, too.

I hope everyone has a happy New Year and may 2016 be good to you.