What makes a day blessed in every way?

1. Notice the day is bright and sunny and see on the weather app it will reach 75 degrees.
2. Pick up your favorite Aunt at her apartment at 9:30.
3. Take a drive down to the Missouri River and visit the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center that tells the history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in this area. It was here that the only member of their retinue, Sgt. Floyd, got sick and died. Walk the trail down to the river and see the beauty of the turning leaves in the morning sunlight.
4. Drive down to the Southern Hills Mall and visit with your cousin, who is also your goddaughter, during her morning break at work.
5. Have lunch together at the “Iron Hill Bar and Grill” in the Mall and enjoy a soup, salad and half a sandwich combo as you talk over “old times” and memories of the days when you lived in the area.
6. Drive through the glorious Fall afternoon and the fields of NW Iowa to the town where your Father and Aunt grew up. Drive past the old farm place and marvel how much it has changed in the 59 years since you can remember visiting there.
7. Take a swing past the “old place” where you lived with your Mom and brothers while your Dad was stationed in Vietnam. It’s all farmland now, but allow the memories to come flooding back as you see the place where the lane had been and remember the mornings you walked that lane – through sun, rain, or snow – to catch the school bus into town.
8.  Take a trip through the cemetery in town and find all the relatives graves. Say a prayer of gratitude for these ancestors who gave you a part of who you are today.
9. Drive past the site where the the old school building stood where your Father went to High School and where you went to Middle School for one year when he was in Vietnam. Allow for the sadness that comes with knowing all things change with time.
10. Drive down to the corner by the park where the town is working to make a Veterans Memorial for all those who have served our country.
11. Stop at your cousin’s house, which was also the site of your Aunt’s house, and where you remember many happy gatherings when you lived in the area.
12. Take a side trip to a neighboring town to visit another Aunt who is in an elder care facility. Share stories; laugh and cry together as you remember your Uncle playing his guitar and singing.
13. Rush on to the next town where you meet two more cousins at the “Pizza Ranch” for a buffet dinner. Laugh a lot; tell stories; jokes; and reminiscence about playing together when you were kids and you were visiting them when they lived in Minnesota. Share about your kids and hear about theirs; and their grand kids; share pictures and hear about projects they are working on.
14. Eat too much, but enjoy every bite – not only because it is delicious, but because you have lively and engaging dinner partners with whom you are connected on this branch of the family tree.
15. Drive back to your Aunt’s apartment and your motel in the dark.
16. Say a prayer of gratitude for the blessings of beauty; perfect weather; family; memories; old towns; old farms; history; good food and good fun.

Follow this recipe adding your own visits and relatives and your day will come out blessed in every way! Pack it in memories to enjoy all over again.

We packed out of our lovely Council Bluffs suite where we stayed over the past four days and hit the road. On the docket today was to get to Sioux City to visit my favorite Aunt. The skies were sunny and warming up as we loaded the car. It would eventually get to 75 by the end of the day.

So, along the way, following the Missouri River north, I couldn’t help but notice all the leaves were turning – brilliant yellows and reds. It was beautiful. We saw the bluffs where the Native Americans once met for their councils, hence the name “Council Bluffs.” I guess I had never noticed the bluffs before.We stopped at a rest stop for a comfort stop and saw on the map a sign that advised: “Don’t Just Travel to Get There, Enjoy the Drive.” That’s exactly what we are doing, I thought. My driver agreed. We are enjoying each moment; each landscape; each historical marker; each stop along the way.

Realizing we would get to Sioux City earlier than we had originally planned (since we made some last minute adjustments and skipped a couple of stops) my driver called ahead and changed our Toyota appointment from tomorrow morning to this afternoon. They were happy to accommodate us.

We found a “Chick Fil-A” and grabbed a quick sandwich and cup of soup before dropping the car off for it’s regular service appointment. I walked over to a nearby Wallmart while my driver waited in the customer lobby at Toyota.

With a fresh oil change, new spark plugs and a tune up we pulled out of Toyota just in time to make our scheduled meeting at my Aunt’s apartment complex. She was sitting by the phone waiting for us to call and was surprised we were already there. Her directions were to go to the “back door” where she would meet us and show us in.

It was so good to see her and hear all about her family and what my cousins are doing. We went to “Culvers,” for dinner (a new place we had never before been to) and I was delighted to find their menu had one of those essential Midwest sandwiches – the pork tenderloin. It was delicious. Can’t get enough of them. Soon we’ll be home and there will be no pork tenderloins in Seattle. We all had ice cream for desert and enjoyed each others company. Since my Aunt no longer drives, we offered to take her anywhere she might want to go. She requested “Dollar Tree” – since everything there is only a dollar – and she wanted to pick up a few items.  I had no problem accompanying her into “Dollar Tree” as I love that place, too.

Back at her apartment we made plans for tomorrow and called a cousin and another Aunt to arrange for possible visits. We shared some pictures and laughed about the last time she had been at our house when she remembered I had made Ruben sandwiches which we took on a picnic to the park by our house.

We parted with plans set to pick her up in the morning at 9:30 to go visit the town where she and my father were born and grew up. We will not just be traveling to get there, but will be enjoying the entire drive; the visit; and the memories we will make together.

We awoke to chilly temps but bright sunshine and leaves turning on the trees as we watched. It was as if Fall had suddenly arrived.  A significant number of the cousins on the Goeser side of the family gathered at cousin L’s house and enjoyed a casual, happy and prolonged reunion. A buffet was spread that would be the envy of any famous brunch establishment. As expected, everything was extraordinarily delicious – and didn’t last long. We ate and talked and laughed and shared our stories about what we were doing and what we planned to do. There was such a comfort to be in the midst of the cousins enjoying themselves. Truly, one of the joys of this trip has been to see everyone again and get reacquainted after the passage of time. Three years have passed since we had seen everyone.About mid afternoon we said our good byes and set out across Western Iowa’s ready to be harvested fields to find DeSoto Bend along the Missouri River. DeSoto Bend is a wildlife refuge and is a major place where migrating birds stop on their travels both North and South. Since it’s not quite the right time of year for migrations, there were only a few Canadian geese along the river today. But, the sun shining, the leaves turning, and the river reflecting the deep blue of the sky, made it a perfect picture post card day. I photographed to my heart’s content.

As the sun began to set we made our way over to Omaha and planned to catch a small bite to eat before visiting cousin PS one last time. We ended up in “Little Italy” and scoped out a tiny place that smelled wonderful, but we rejected because it was “carry out only.” Too bad, as I’m sure it would have been better than what we actually settled on. We found a place in the Old Market area called Chicago Pizza that didn’t seem too crowded and after we began our meal we could understand why. Pasta and salad sounded so good, but was oh, so ordinary and barely lukewarm! Very disappointed, we realized that sometimes we need to acknowledge there are substandard establishments so we can revel when we find an outstanding one.

Back at the assisted living home, we said our farewells to cousin P and made our way back to our Comfort Suites under a clear, chilly, starry sky. I did some sorting of the contents of the car; put in a load of wash; and did a little repacking. We are off to Northwest Iowa tomorrow to see some relatives on my side of the family.

Along the way today we both commented how enjoyable, enlightening, and essential this trip has been for us experiencing it together. So many people have asked us how we can stand each other in the car all day when we travel. Our answer is, “How can we not?” None of this exploring, visiting, or traveling would be worth anything if we could not share it with each other. We love to be together – through thick and thin; through long hours in the car and through new and different places; through family gatherings and old high school reunions; through outstanding dinning experiences and those that seem sub-par; in short, through it all! And that, my friends, is nothing but grace.

The chilly, rainy and foggy day didn’t promise much in the way of sightseeing. We had plans, but had to make adjustments. A phone call from cousins helped decide the direction we would go. We returned to the assisted living complex where cousin PS lives. His daughter and her daughter were coming by to visit. It was fun to connect with more of the family and see how much the little one has grown. After a good visit, we left to give them some family time.

We had about three hours before we had to be at the next reunion. So, we decided to look for some shoes for my driver. He hates shoes and wears Birkenstocks almost exclusively. Yet, in winter, and especially in the Midwest, I thought it might be a nice idea for him to have some real shoes. Not only that, but here in the Midwest I thought we might actually be able to find some WIDE shoes that would possibly fit him.

Duluth Trading Co. boasts their “big ass pants,” so when we walked into the store in Omaha and the greeter asked if he could help us find something I said, “We’re looking for some ‘big ass shoes.'” He actually laughed, but guided us to the right spot where there were, indeed, some ‘big ass shoes.’ In the process of shopping, my driver realized he probably has never had the correct size shoes before. As long as I’ve known him he’s worn a size 12 or sometimes a 13 shoe. Today we walked away with a size 14 Wide!  No wonder he hated shoes. Certainly we’ve never been anywhere before that had such a selection of large sizes.

Red Wing Shoes was located nearby and I found a pair of oxfords on sale. I’ve always loved Red Wing shoes and I sometimes have trouble finding my unusually large and narrow size. I was so happy to find a pair that fit. We are set for the season now.

I had about 30 minutes before we had to head out to the next reunion, so I took the opportunity to walk through the local Michael’s store. We’ve been so occupied with our travels it was a bit of a shock to see all the Halloween AND Christmas fixings in the craft department. The Fall is slipping away.

Crossing back into Iowa, we found our way to my driver’s 45th high school reunion at the Keg Creek Brewery in Glenwood. It wasn’t actually the “official” reunion, as that had taken place in August. But since there was a slim turnout and my driver would be in the area this weekend, a supplementary reunion was planned. About 12 classmates (out of 44) and their spouses gathered at the brewery owned and operated by one of them. A tour of the brewery was first on the agenda, along with tastings of the different beers they produce. Following that, we all met at the Buck Snort Tavern for dinner and more conversation and reminiscing. When we finished dinner, we moved back to the tasting room at the Keg Creek Brewery for more mixing and reuniting.  All in all, it was quite a pleasant group and gathering. Neither of us had ever been to a class reunion before!

We awoke to gray skies and cooler temps that remained throughout the day. There were many attractions on our list today and we could hardly prioritize how we wanted to see them. But, what made it to the first spot on the day’s activities was the site of the church in Omaha where my driver was baptized when he was only two weeks old. When we were in Kentucky I had called ahead just to make sure someone would be on site who would allow us to enter the church.

We drove into the old Omaha neighborhood and easily found the impressive stone structure that is Sacred Heart Parish Church. The woman I had spoken with on the phone answered the office door and kindly looked up the baptismal information we were seeking. She brought out the old musty, over-sized book and showed us the line where my driver’s information had been recorded. I couldn’t help myself and had to take a picture.

Then the parish DRE (Director of Religious Education) kindly took us over to the church and allowed us to see the newly renovated space and take some pictures. For me, no matter what church we are visiting or whose relatives were once members, there is always a deep sense of the Communion of Saints and all the souls who have gone before us marked with the sign of our faith. I can’t help it; I’ve always loved the concept of the Communion of Saints – living and dead – who make up the Body of Christ. A parish church is one place where this feeling is prominent, but certainly not the only place.

From the church we went down the street about three blocks where the house once stood that my driver first lived in with his mother and grandmother, aunt, uncle, and cousins. The original house no longer stands on the property, there is a new one in it’s place . . . but the place remains the same. We have a picture of his father standing proudly by his car in that same street shortly after WWII; maybe 1949 or 50. So, I took a picture of my driver standing proudly by his hybrid car in 2017 – in the very same spot where his father had stood. The emotions that surface are both deeply sad and strangely comforting. The father that he never knew was right here where we are now – separated only by  the passage of seven decades.

Along the way to our next stop we drove past the site where Malcom X was born. Then found a Best Buy where we could purchase a new cord for my driver’s cousin’s Play Station. That was easily accomplished, so we next drove through a Starbucks to supply my driver and his cousin with coffee for their mid-morning pick-me-up. Since cousin PS’s recent move to an assisted living facility, he has had little chance to get out or get things fixed that would make his entertainment system easily functional for him. We were happy to help.

We visited and told stories until the day prompted us to move along. We wanted to see some cemeteries before it got dark. Driving away from the facility we saw a Godfather’s Pizza. Both of us were surprised to see a Godfather’s Pizza still open and functioning. Years ago we used to frequent Godfather’s and loved their pizza. There are no longer any stores in our part of the world. Just for “old time’s sake” we pulled in and had a tiny pizza and a salad bar. Our tastes have changed over the years and we no longer prefer that style of pizza, but it was a wonderful “blast from the past” to taste and re-live the experience of a pipping hot and cheesy Godfather’s pizza.

With full bellies we skirted up the freeway into Iowa and found the Dunlap cemetery where some relation of my Underhill ancestors are buried. It was a huge cemetery and at first we had difficulty determining HOW we would go about even looking. Then, we realized there was a map and each section was clearly marked – which made finding graves so much easier! As we walked the grounds the daylight softened and a tiny strip of pink was visible in the Western sky – the first sign of sunshine all day. It glowed over the corn fields and made the landscape beautiful.

The next cemetery was St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Earling where my driver’s Langenfeld ancestors are buried. There was very little remaining light in the day, but the tiny strip of orange still illuminated the horizon. We found the grave sites and took pictures before jumping back in the car to warm up for the next part of our adventures.

An Iowa delicacy from my driver’s youth that remains a personal favorite is Denison mustard. We can never visit Iowa without bringing home at least a case. He had called ahead to make sure the Hy Vee store would have enough to satisfy him and they were happy to arrange to have the amount he would like. So, we had to go to Harlan to the Hy Vee to pick up our order of two cases of Denison Mustard. I’m not a mustard fan, but each of our kids has also developed a liking for this particular mustard – so we could not go home without it.

For me, Hy Vee brings back memories of Iowa State University and studying late into the night with a package of Hy Vee potato chips and a diet Pepsi. I don’t eat either much any more, but I must confess, I did buy a bag of Hy Vee potato chips to go with our mustard. And, they still remain the winner of the best tasting potato chip around. You may not believe it, but if you’ve never had a Hy Vee potato chip, you can’t possibly know.

We drove back to the motel in darkness discussing all the nostalgic events of the day. We both have so many, many memories of our days in Iowa. It is where we met; where we were married; where we held our first jobs; and where we happily left, only to visit now from time to time. It’s good to remember and to experience the grace of such a nostalgic place.

The morning was overcast and chilly, but we packed the car and said our grateful “good byes” before hitting the road for Omaha. The fog was so thick in places we thought we might be home in Seattle on a winter day. The corn fields were barely visible, but we could make out the fields that had been harvested and those that had not.

When we made it to Nebraska City, (“The City the State was Named After,” so they say) we stopped at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. It is a beautiful place, along the Missouri River and hosts interactive displays and equipment that Lewis and Clark may have carried with them on their exploration. We wanted to go down and explore along the river, but the wind was whipping so fiercely – and was COLD – so, we traveled on.

The day started to brighten up and get warmer as we stopped for a quick bite of lunch at Arby’s along Highway 75 North. We had an appointment to keep and I was very intent on getting there on time. Before we left home, I had been in contact with a Public Affairs representative from the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base.  He invited me to contact him again when we were closer to Omaha, which we did. He kindly offered to meet us at the Offutt gate and accompany us on base so we could see and photograph their B-17, “Homesick Angel.”

Tim kindly drove us through the check point and took us directly to the plane. Amazingly, the day had turned into a beautiful Fall day and the sun warmed us and everything else in sight. The plane stood regally on her hardstand in an impressive display.  She had been recently refurbished and looked smart amid the wide expanse of field she was given as a home. I took several photographs and thanked Tim profusely. We got back in his car and he took us on an informative tour of the entire base. It was like old home week for me! Offutt started out as Fort Crook Army Post in the 1890’s and was converted to Air Force after 1947. It was named Offutt after the first airman to be killed in action in WWI. He was from this area. While there was much of that familiar Army Post look, there was also a good deal of current state of the art building and equipment that makes Offutt one of the largest Air Force installations in the world.

Thrilled to have been able to see my 24th B-17, we went on to Omaha where we met with another cousin of my driver.  We had a good, if short, visit and promised to return tomorrow. We were beginning to drag and needed some “down time” for ourselves.

Finding our motel, it was difficult to think about going out again. So, we ordered Chinese to be delivered and ate “in house.” It was not only the perfect arrangement, it was delicious food – the first Chinese of this trip. Usually we are a little wary of Chinese while on the road. One never knows! But, this was excellent in every way.

A quiet evening was in order and I caught up on the reports I had failed to enter while we were staying with family.

Our wonderful hosts provided homemade pumpkin muffins and fruit for breakfast and shortly after we were taken on a tour of Kansas City. The day started out a little foggy, but we pressed on, nonetheless. They gave us a tour of the “back roads” into the city and of the “Plaza area” that was constructed to be a look alike to a sister city in Spain. There were numerous fountains and sculptures, as well as tile mosaics and flowering baskets everywhere. Truly lovely.

Our destination was the National World War One Memorial and Museum. It is housed on a large park-like field with a tower that reaches (as I’m remembering) about 237 feet into the sky. It is quite impressive.

I know very little about the First World War, so almost everything in the museum was an interesting item or fact. As we watched the introductory film the narrator said there were so many disagreements and conflicts between nations before the war that there was no ONE reason for the start of the war, and perhaps that was the reason war broke out. This whole concept fascinated me in light of the conflicts and disagreements we seem to be experiencing today in our country.

The museum held numerous artifacts that seemed to be in pristine condition. The displays were evocative and moving. There was a sound booth where I listened to a dramatic reading of “In Flanders Field,” and a section of “All Quiet on the Western Front,” as well as a recording of “Over There” from the original period recording. The experience was very moving. There were sounds and flashes and “readings” from letters home throughout the displays. The place was packed full of things to read and see and hear that helped to explain and describe the awful experience of that war.

When we were done with the exhibits, we passed the Canteen where we were invited to “eat like they did in the trenches.” It smelled so wonderful, we were lured in. The signature items were “Creamed chipped beef on toast;” “Trench stew;” and “Goulash.” Served on Army tin plates we ate under the flags of the nations of the world. Amazingly, for museum fare, it was quite good. I broke camp and ordered the Ruben sandwich, made with the same corned beef as the others items. I think it was the best Ruben sandwich I’ve ever eaten!

Having fortified ourselves, we went outside to the exterior exhibits and traveled up to the top of the obelisk overlooking Kansas City. The day had miraculously turned sunny and warmer and we had an extraordinary view of the city and beyond.

Returning to Lee’s Summit during rush hour, we were all happy to enjoy the comforts of home again and relax after a day of walking and sightseeing. Our cousin grilled hamburgers and we had a fun evening of talking and telling family stories while we looked at pictures and read about our ancestors from history books our cousin has collected.

We set out early from the cousins’ home in Lee’s Summit, MO to make a pilgrimage into the past. Sixty-seven years ago, my driver’s mother had lived and worked in Topeka, Kansas. We went in search of information . . . or maybe even only a feeling . . . of what her life might have been like all those years ago.

Hosted by my driver’s half-sister’s half-brothers (or, as we have affectionately designated them our “quarter brothers”) we toured the surrounding areas where we knew she had worked and perhaps enjoyed an evening out. They took us to the Veterans’ Hospital in Topeka where she once worked and my driver spoke with records to see if he could gain any information about her time there.

After driving through the area and locating points of interest, our “quarter-brother” guides treated us to a lovely buffet lunch at “Green Acres.” I had to pass up the buffet in favor of one of those signature Midwest pork tenderloin sandwiches. Each time I have one I can never figure why they are not available in our part of the world. They are fantastically delicious.

In the 1940’s there was a popular lunch spot and dance hall in Osage City named “Snappy Lunch” where my driver’s mother most likely enjoyed a good lunch, a good dance and certainly, many friends. We toured the spot and went inside. It was not difficult to imagine the place filled with couples dancing and having a lively time. Like so many previous places we have visited, just being in the locale where our ancestors once were brings a feeling of closeness and connection. It is an encounter with a time and a place that brings some understanding to what our ancestors might have been like and what they may have enjoyed. While we found no definitive information about my driver’s mother, just encountering the place gives us a new appreciation of who she was. The feeling associated with standing in a spot where she was long before we were born is priceless.

Our “quarter brothers” and their wives were beyond gracious and we so enjoyed the time spent with them. The conversations flowed easily and we felt so fortunate to have met these wonderful people.

As the afternoon turned gray and cold, we stopped in Lawrence to visit my driver’s father’s grave site. It was the second time we had visited and the sadness it evoked is beyond description. Never having known his father, all we can do is imagine what life might have been like had they had the opportunity to known each other.

We returned to the Lee’s Summit cousins’ home and enjoyed another home cooked meal and evening of conversation. It was fun to talk “ancestry” and look through family picture books and family history books associated with home towns in Iowa.

We left Cahokia, IL in route for Kansas City, MO and could hardly see the beautiful Arch we had seen the day before. It was almost totally obstructed by the morning fog.

We spent most of the day driving on Interstate 70 across Missouri. Fortunately, about thirty minutes before we reached the outskirts of Independence, we happened upon a Mexican Restaurant called “Mooches.”  It just sounded like the very best thing for the moment. And, it was.

The place was small and almost looked deserted. As we drove up we were fearful it might be closed. But, a cheerful hostess greeted us and explained it was so empty because it was a holiday and their usual lunch crowd was at home. We ordered lunch plates that were pipping hot and very  tasty, piled high with fresh greens and homemade guacamole. We decided it was the perfect lunch.

Back in the car, we soon found Harry Truman’s home and Visitor Center in Independence. Watching the film we learned many interesting facts about this under appreciated man. Since we learned so many things we didn’t know, we decided to buy the audio book about him by David McCullough to listen to on our way home. The Truman home remains a jewel for the people of Independence and they are also proud to host his Presidential Library as well. We drove over to the library, but chose not to go through the museum as it was getting late in the day and we had a schedule to keep.

A high school classmate of my driver’s had contacted him and made arrangements with us to meet near her home in Lee’s Summit, MO. She had requested a reunion at a Starbucks, which was not difficult to find. Interestingly,  this woman somehow recognized my driver immediately. I’m not sure I would recognize anyone I went to high school with!

We conversed for about an hour, trying to fit the passage of 45 years into the little time we had allotted. It’s interesting how even with the passage of time, there is so much that changes, yet so much that remains the same.

After leaving the Starbucks, we made our way to the home of cousins who were looking forward to our visit. They had the table set and a roast cooking in the oven. After being on the road for so many days, the warmth and aroma of a home cooked meal felt and smelt wonderful.

We had a lovely evening with these relatives and were very grateful for their gracious hospitality. They put us up in their guest room and after such a delicious meal and spirited reunion, we slept like babies.

The day began foggy and humid with temps already in the 70’s. By the time we got moving, however, the fog was mostly gone and the sun was shinning brightly. We gassed up our little Prius (9.2 gallons!) and headed toward Missouri and the Grant Family Farm.

Ulysses Grant was stationed at Jefferson Barracks, MO right after he graduated from West Point. (We passed Jefferson Barracks – which is now a state park – but did not stop.) It was while he was at Jefferson Barracks that Grant met his West Point roommate’s sister, Julia, who lived in St. Louis. She later became his wife and for a time after they were married, they lived on her family’s farm there named “White Haven.”

Interestingly, “White Haven” is now “Paris Green,” restored to the color it historically was when the Grants lived there. It was a large house for it’s day, and Julia’s father had made it into a working plantation. Since Grant always wanted to farm, the couple loved the place and always thought of it as “home.”

Some of the out buildings remain and the horse stables that Grant designed and built now houses a beautiful, informative museum dedicated to the memory of this amazingly brilliant soldier and leader. We ended up spending almost three hours there. It was a wonderful experience to be in this place I had read so much about and it was easy to understand why the Grants loved it so much.

From there we set out for downtown St. Louis and the Westward Expansion Memorial, or more popularly known as the St. Louis Arch. But, first, we stopped at a Texas Roadhouse for a Sunday dinner. It was delicious, as always.

There seemed to be little traffic on the way downtown and we found our way easily. We parked on 4th Avenue and walked to the Old Courthouse where I had seen a sign saying tickets to the Arch were available there.

The courthouse itself was filled with history. It was in a courtroom there that Dred Scott first won and later lost his freedom.  And another courtroom was where Louis Brandeis, the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice, argued his first cases.

While standing in the ticket line to see about tickets to go up the Arch, we made the decision we didn’t necessarily need to go UP the Arch, we’d just like to go IN and see it from the ground. Good thing, as the little cars that take up five people at a time would have hardly accommodated my driver! We took our pictures from the steps of the courthouse and then walked over to the Arch. On the way we passed the St. Louis Cathedral. Forty years ago last spring we had gone to St. Louis Cathedral – just to visit –  and never in a hundred years thought we would be right back at the very same place 40 years later!

There were hundreds of people lining up to go up the Arch, but we walked ahead of them, interested only in the informative film available for free for holders of a National Park’s Pass. Unfortunately, as with so many places today, we all had to go through an “airport-like security.” It just takes something away from the grandeur of the place when such a security check becomes a requirement. Necessary, maybe, but so unfortunate.

We watched the National Parks film describing the history and construction techniques used in creating such a massive arch to give memorial to the Westward expansion of our country. The film was actual documentation of the workers at their jobs as the arch was being built. Afterward, we knew for CERTAIN we did not want to go UP in the arch. We would admire it from the ground and marvel at all the work it took to make it.

I stopped to take a picture of the line of visitors getting ready to wedge themselves into one of those tiny cars to travel up the Arch and two of the hosts who were helping called out to me. “Oh, did you want to take our picture?” I laughed and said, “Sure. You’ll go home to Seattle along with our travel memories of this fantastic 6000 mile trip so far.” They laughed and posed and were happy to hear we were having such a good time visiting St. Louis on our trip.

The sun was beginning to set as we came out of the Arch and we could see it’s shadow in the Mississippi River. It was a gorgeous Fall afternoon and people were out with their friends, lovers, and children walking the paths along the river. We had some fun with cameras and then found our way to the car.

It was only a ten minute drive back to our motel and we were grateful for the air conditioning upon our arrival. We are just relaxing this evening and preparing for the next few stops with family.

I may not be able to reflect for the next three nights as we will be staying with relatives and I don’t want to appear unsociable because I need to go and do my writing. I’ll be sure and catch up when I can.