Thursday:
By the time East High's 50th reunion committee picked a date for a reunion, Tom and I already had reservations with our friends in New Hampshire. I talked to Cindy and Doug and Cheryl, asking them if we could have a mini reunion at Cindy's. I left my hometown for college for 1-1/2 years, returned for 2, and then left for good. These three are basically the only classmates I've corresponded with. Doug was in the Navy and he and Cindy were married November 1968, the same weekend as my sister, Linda, and Bob. I was Maid of Honor for both of them. Cindy and I had spent many evenings together, missing our fiancés, since Tom was away with the Air Force. Tom and Doug saw each other one day in Vietnam! Later, we were stationed at Andrews AFB, MD. and Doug was stationed at Camp David, so we visited.
We saw Cheryl and her husband in San Diego about 12 years ago, but hadn't seen Doug and Cindy for 27 years-on the same trip that we saw the Bossarts in Illinois. These two couples basically live on either side of St. Louis.
We've been so anxious to see each other. On January 1, 2014, Cheryl's husband, Bruce, fell off the roof of their home and died later that day.
It was only about an hour's drive from Collinsville to Pacific. We drove onto the McGraws' beautiful 6 acres and Cindy came out for hugs. Doug is working part-time in his pastoral counseling firm and was at work. We visited and looked at all of Cindy's quilting projects while waiting for Cheryl to arrive from outside of Nashville. Oh, what hugs there were then! Doug came home and Cheryl, Tom, and I met him in the living room. Pastor Doug had told us to be prepared to drink lots of beer, wine, and hard stuff these 5 days, so we showed him we were ready!
Lots of visiting until we finally had to give in to go to bed.
Friday:
We drove to a small town on the Missouri River called St. Charles. It has houses dating back to the late 1700's, a church from the 1789, and lots of cute shops and restaurants. I've never seen such adorable Halloween items anywhere as several stores sold. We all found several cute things to buy and had lunch at the haunted Mother-in-Law restaurant.
More visiting all afternoon, then Doug made a great dinner and Tom sang and played guitar for them.
Saturday
After Doug cooked breakfast, we drove down to Busch Stadium-home of the Cardinals.
Then onto the railroad Union Station:
We ate pizza at their favorite place and then we spent the evening with us teaching them how to play Golf and 5 Crowns card games.
Sunday
We attended McGraw's beautiful church and enjoyed the whole service. Then he showed us his firm's pastoral counseling office across the street. It is in a very nice 1920's home that was a convent at one time. We visited Cindy's mom, who is 99. We hadn't seen her since 1969. She said I look like my mom used to. They worked in the same department store in our hometown in Iowa.
Cheryl kidded Cindy about wanting fried chicken, so I cooked an old fashioned fried chicken dinner, with mashed potatoes and milk gravy. Cindy fixed green beans with bacon grease. We acted silly and all had to wear aprons with chickens on them. They thought they'd get some credit for fixing the dinner-wrong!
Monday
We watched a doe and her fawn in their yard. Had a relaxing day and then their kids and grandkids came to meet us. A brother and sister-4 and almost 3-sang a song in Spanish and another one in Chinese! For those of you out of the loop, these are the languages parents now want their children to learn and they are teaching them in preschool and kindergarten.
Tuesday
Well, hello, huge daddy long leg spider on my car seat. Sure glad he was visible before we drove off. Hadn't seen one in many years. Lots of hugs and promises to get together again in just a few years.
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