THE BROWN BOOBY

I don’t know if you’ve heard, but the World Cup is happening right now and Kansas City is hosting four games, plus a round of 32 (whatever that means) and a quarterfinal game. The first game between Argentina and Algeria happened on Tuesday and this city has been lit with football (or soccer) fever. It is very exciting and joyful. In keeping with our theme of Vacation Saturdays, Michael and I rode the streetcar to the City Market for lunch last weekend. We stepped into an empty car and then marveled with how the car filled with people at each stop along our way. The popular destination for most is at FanFest being hosted at the World War I Memorial. This is a free space with food trucks and giant screens for fans to gather and watch games. So a lot of people did exit the streetcar there, but we picked up more people who were also heading to City Market like us.

The streetcar was packed to the gills when Michael and I headed back to our car, which might be disconcerting to some, but Michael and I couldn’t help but grin at each other over heads of people while we jostled along the streetcar line. Americans are very spoiled when it comes to space, particularly in the midwest. Packed streetcars and subways and buses is the norm for most big cities and most other countries. Michael and I are in agreement that having a packed to the gills streetcar is a good thing and a win for this city. It validates this mode of public transportation and will encourage the expansion of the streetcar line. There were several times where the car was so crowded that we didn’t have anything to hold onto but each other and those around us. Every person riding the car met the challenge of balancing themselves and each other with joy and enthusiasm. Being crammed in like sardines fostered community as we were all looking out for each other.

There are people from all over the world visiting this city right now. Three super fans from Argentina even rode their bicycles almost 11,000 miles to be here to cheer on their team. And then, a female seabird called a brown booby showed up at the pond at the Kauffman Foundation. This bird is normally found in tropical southern areas like the Caribbean. Needless to say, the local birding community has lost their minds. People have been hanging out around the pond to capture pictures all week. When I walked over there on Tuesday, there were two guys with giant camera lens camped out. I plopped down next them with my regular old zoom lens. The guy sitting next to me was so busy talking about gear with the other guy that they both missed the moment the bird opened up and stretched her wings.

Just a reminder that it’s not the camera that takes the good picture.

Many people are saying that the bird flew in to watch Curacao’s match with Ecuador this Saturday. Most likely she was blown off course. Brown Boobies (teehee) have been moving further north due to climate change, but we all like the idea that she’s here for the World Cup. The city is vibrating with excitement and it is infectious. It’s almost impossible not to get swept up with all the celebrating, even if you’re not a sports ball person. I think it’s pretty cool that Kansas City has this opportunity to be part of this event. All the different countries that are visiting here bring with them part of their cultures to share with us. Every where you look, there are groups of people wearing team colors, smiling and bouncing with joy.

And I am so grateful that I live here and get to experience all of this joy and excitement.