The weather warmed up just in time for me to develop a cough and sore throat. Monday and Tuesday were rough at work and not just because of my annual disposition to not adjust to daylight savings time right away. My son came down with an even more severe sickness, and this became another lesson in what it means to be an adult. Another gross, sticky lesson I didn’t want to learn.
I made plans for the family to attend the Sporting Kansas City home opener on Sunday, always a tall task with a young kid but one my wife and I were anticipating with excitement. We’ve shared many sporting events together and want to do so with Cale, as well.
That challenge increases when you have a secretly sick child.
I stopped at the office less than 2 hours before kickoff to print the tickets — second row at the always beautiful Sporting Park. While I went inside, Cale projectile vomited all over the backseat, his carseat and most noticeably himself.
Folks, this was a mess of pretty epic proportions.
We possessed no change of clothes and no real backup plan. We briefly considered just being out the money and returning home, but thank goodness for my mother, who didn’t mind the chance to care for an ailing grandchild.
So we went anyway.
My wife and I don’t venture out solo much these days, and I have to admit that going without Cale felt a bit like not having a limb attached.
Something was missing the whole time.
Anyway, we enjoyed the game — a 1-1 tie — and returned to retrieve the sick baby. Making it back home seemed like it would be a welcome reprieve even it was getting late with work looming the next day.
I’m guessing my mom is glad he didn’t stay.
Let’s just say the bedroom routine didn’t go as planned. There was a mess in the tub and then the bathroom floor and then the floor of his room. My wife’s background in the nursing profession saved me from most of the up-close details.
I am truly thankful for that.
As of deadline, Cale is still suffering the effects of what I assume to be the flu. No more major cleanups have been necessary, although I expect this story to continue to develop.
***
Speaking of Sporting KC, I noticed a bit of a jab toward Platte County from the Dairy Farmers of America.
Well, I took it that way but probably no one else in attendance.
The DFA showed up as one of the main scoreboard sponsors during game play. Caught my attention since the group announced last month plans to build a $30 million headquarters in Kansas City, Kan.
Yes, this fancy new building will be located not far from Sporting Park, so I guess this a move on their part to up their profile.
Of course, this comes after the DFA chose to abandon Platte County, which it called home since its inception in 1998. Most recently, DFA leased 72,000 square feet of space in a building visibly located next to Interstate 29 that houses more than 300 employees.
That existence could be mostly anonymous but very important to this area, but I guess with a new location to tout, the DFA has decided that big-time advertising money at Sporting Park is the way to go. Heck, maybe it had been there in previous years, and I just didn’t notice.
I’m certainly paying attention now.
***
How about some positive news?
Didn’t make it to this last week, but The Wall Street Journal listed Park University in Parkville, Mo. as tied for No. 5 among the “Best Private Colleges for Returns on Investment” in a list published earlier this month. The ranking came based on the 2014 PayScale College ROI Report.
Park is the only school in Missouri or Kansas on that list, while Missouri University Science and Technology in Rolla, Mo. tied for fifth on the public schools list. Park ranked higher than prestigious universities MIT, Stanford, Princeton, Rice and Harvard. I’m not sure exactly how to take this or what exactly it means, and I won’t bore you with the detailed formula.
But hey, Wall Street Journal and prestige.
Park continues to be the little jewel not enough people in the area talk about.
Ross Martin is publisher of The Citizen. He may be reached via email at editor@plattecountycitizen.com. Follow him on Twitter: @Citizen_Ross.