St. Louis...Remembering

Just Got Back

I was on a trip to St. Louis with Beth's family.  This was a trip to remember Beth's Mom and the city she adored.   Somewhere in this city is the store where Nancy bought me years ago...and gave me to Beth, even though she was an adult and much too old for toys. 

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Sitting on the Arch

Nancy grew up in St. Louis, long before the arch was built.  But the arch was there when she moved back in 1975 and she loved taking  her family there.  She didn't act embarrassed 37 years ago, when her kids wanted to lie down on the ground so they could "sit on the arch" for a little viewing.

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Curious Views

Beth's mom was always game for a little something silly.  She would have liked it that just the other day, some of her kids and grandkids, got down on the ground and enjoyed some fun arch views.  I did too.

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Down on the Levee

It was early morning when Beth walked down by the Mississippi to view the arch.  She set me on the granite cobblestone so I could see the morning light on the arch.

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Treasures

Nancy used to love finding "treasures" along the river... stones, driftwood, and worn pieces of glass.  She would have loved this old rusty chain.

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 Two Views

From my spot on the old rusty chain, I could look up at the arch...

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Or, I could look back towards the Mississippi!

And remember stories Beth has shared about her mom's memories of the river and the historic Eads bridge and parties aboard the old "Admiral".

University City

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There just wasn't enough time to see everything, since  Beth's family was headed for a service in Springfield.  But we did stop in the University City area where Nancy grew up.  There's a sidewalk on Delmar Blvd which honors some special folks who also called St. Louis their home. Tennessee Williams was one of Nancy's favorites.   As a writer herself, she always admired his work.  But we admire Nancy.  She was a star in her family.  I so wish I'd had some chalk. I would have made a star for her on that Delmar sidewalk!

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