Airbnb in Joplin,Missouri

September 14th, The Creative Cottage

We left the McCluskey house and drove to our lodging for our time in Joplin for the wedding.  A few months back we had heard about an online lodging

community called Airbnb (see suggested links on right side bar of this blog) and began to look into using that for some of our needs on this trip.  In Joplin, we were to stay at a lovely ‘arts and crafts bungalow’ owned by
Ann Leach whom we found on airbnb.com.  This would be our first airbnb reservation and we really looked forward to meeting our hostess and learning a bit more about the local flavor of this town.  

The drive from Monett to Joplin is about an hour on many secondary highways in very rural surroundings.  Even though the roads were unfamiliar and dark, Ann was keeping a watchful eye out for us and only a phone call away.  We worried about the lateness of the hour but our concerns were unfounded when we pulled up in front of the house and she was already on the porch with a warm smile and hug hello.   We felt like we had dropped in to visit extended family in the way Ann and Karl made us feel

right at home.   Our accommodations were a two bedroom apartment in the upper floor of her bungalow, a separate dwelling with separate entrance from their downstairs home.  It was so quaint and lovely touches throughout the apartment gave it personality and charm.  Ann opened up a bottle of wine to complete the warm welcome after we had our tour and we settled into chatting and getting to know each other as easily as old friends.  It was especially nice to hear that the town of Joplin was rebuilding and rejuvenating after the disastrous F-5 tornado that destroyed so much about 2 ½ years ago. 

Aside from being a host on Airbnb, Ann now uses her extensive experience in cancer and HIV support and counseling to create a private counseling enterprise focusing on support for those in the grief process.  (See suggested link Life Preservers Grief Support)  In only a short time I can see how Ann would be an excellent facilitator for this kind of specialized counseling.  She has such a positive outlook that not only strengthens her from within but she propels this force outwardly to others and the community she lives in much like ripples in a pond.   Ann is a great example of ‘you get back what you give’.  It has been a leading force in creating such a beautiful space for travelers needing a haven to rest and recuperate as well as for those people in need of deeper solace and healing.