Back in Kansas

(MP) - I flew into Kansas City Intl' yesterday morning to a massive THUD - hands down the hardest landing I have ever experienced. I seriously thought the landing gear struts were going to punch through the undercarriage of the plane. Praise the Lord nothing serious happened and we all walked away merely a little jolted. This was my welcome back to the midwest after a much needed break in training. Later that evening, we crossed into Kansas. The clouds rolled in, the sky grew dark, and the gentle Missouri breeze turned into a chilling headwind that forced a two hour struggle with the wheel as we drove towards Fort Riley for the last few weeks of training. I'm glad it's almost over and I'm thankful for the training. Mostly though, I can't wait until this place is in my rear-view mirror for the last time. Most of the Kansans I've met are nice folks, but boy has this been a tough trip - mostly for reasons outside their control. God bless us all.