A Swell of Memories -- And Aren't Memories are Swell?

I've been in a nostalgic mood lately.

Now that my granddaughter is spending a month studying with her college overseas, or "studying abroad" as she puts it, memories of living overseas with my husband and children for three years during the 1980s and working in Germany come flooding back.

My granddaughter has been studying in Europe for about ten days now, and over the weekend she went on an excursion to the German city of Berlin. She has called and texted and posted on Facebook about her excursion, which was filled with trips to landmarks, museums, and a concentration camp.

One site her group visited was The Berlin Wall, which was still intact when we lived in Germany during the 1980s, but is now a tourist destination. Although, she noted, she also visited another famous tourist-destination wall, the graffiti-decorated John Lennon Wall.

Back in the 1980s, my daughter (my granddaughter's mom) also traveled to what was then called West Berlin. At that time, my daughter was a high school freshman and an amazing athlete -- she ran track and played softball -- and her American high school was invited to play in a softball tournament against another American high school in West Berlin. And she made the trip with her team.

During the 80s, Americans working in Germany needed special permission for themselves or family members to travel from West Germany, where we worked, to East Germany, which had to be traveled through to get to West Berlin. My husband had to get a "flag" letter signed by a General Officer from his work authorizing our daughter to go with her school team.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to accompany her to Berlin, so I don't have photos, but when she returned, she had a wealth of memories. She told stories, not so much about the softball tournament, but of standing next to the Berlin Wall and of riding on a train that left during the middle of the night with the shade-drawn windows so the teenage girls and their coaches couldn't "spy" on the East German countryside.

Now, more than 30 years later, her daughter has made a similar trip, with her school, but on a bus with an open view of the German countryside, to a much different, undivided Germany and undivided Berlin.

This summer my granddaughter is making special memories that will last her a lifetime of her visit to Berlin, over the same, yet different, streets and sites her mom walked across and visited decades ago. And isn't that a wonderful adventure?

The More Things Change, The More They Remain The Same

I don't remember the first time I heard the saying, "The more things change, the more they remain the same," but I've found it to be true several times in my life.

Take last Sunday morning, for example.

My sister Kathleen and I were returning from a mini-writing retreat on Fripp Island, South Carolina, where we were guests of my generous and gracious writing friend, Berta Rosenberg. During our three-day visit, we had a wonderful time: catching up, sharing family stories, writing, talking about writing, doing a writing exercise, walking on the beach, eating new foods, and relaxing.

After saying goodbye to Berta, as we drove from Fripp and headed toward Beaufort, Kathleen and I discussed the possibility of finding a church so we could attend Sunday Mass. Being in an unfamiliar town, we didn't know where that might be.

But I had a plan. I had visited the cathedral in Savannah a few years ago, so I thought we could stop in Savannah on our way home and hope to catch a service there.

First, I was on a mission to find South Carolina tee-shirts for my grandkids. Berta told us we might find some at the Walgreen's in Beaufort, so that was our first stop. No luck. A cashier told us we might find some tee-shirts at a sporting goods store across the street. After making a wrong turn out of Walgreen's, I made a U-turn and followed a line of cars which veered off to the left into a parking lot. (I later found out the sporting goods store was on the right.)

Can you guess where the cars were headed? Into the parking lot of St. Peter's Catholic Church on Lady Island Drive in Beaufort. My sister and I read the church's sign, looked at each other, and decided divine providence had a hand in my making a wrong turn. "It was meant to be," we said in unison, and headed inside the lovely church, where Mass was to begin in seven minutes.

Even more surprising was that the Mass was a Latin high Mass, complete with incense, three priests celebrating, and several altar servers. Sitting in the pew I flashed back to my high school days wearing a chapel veil for Mass, which was celebrated in Latin until Junior year when the Church switched to English.

After leaving Beaufort we headed home, with a side trip in Savannah for lunch. We stopped at a casual restaurant on Bay Street and had a spinach salad and a mouth-watering 77 Monte Carlo sandwich, which was topped with powdered sugar. It was like eating French toast with ham and turkey inside.

From there, we walked off lunch until we found the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist on Harris Street. A police officer stood at the front door informing visitors know Mass was in session. We were welcome to come inside but not for a tour until Mass was complete. Kathleen and I ventured inside and found a pew in the back of the magnificent cathedral. My ears perked up when I heard the priest conducting the Mass in Latin. Families attended, with moms and young girls wearing chapel veils.

So, within the span of a few hours, we had attended not one but two Latin Masses, where women wore chapel veils.

The more things change . . .

When Riding a Zip Line Watch Out for the Noodle

Last Friday, my sister Kathleen and I, along with some of her former co-workers and 50 other brave souls, met bright and early at the YMCA in O'Fallon, MO, for a bus trip to the Trout Lodge at the YMCA of the Ozarks in Potosi, MO.

The day started out great. The early morning weather was sunny and mild with just a hint of clouds. Before we boarded the bus, our hosts at the Y provided fruit juice, bottled water, and brown paper sacks of snacks for our trip.

Due to an accident on the highway, the bus ride took longer than expected, but we enjoyed a movie on the way.

Because of our late arrival, Kathleen and I weren't able to participate in the GEO-caching event that had already begun. In a nutshell, the task involves taking a GPS tracker and making your way through the woods using longitude and latitude markings to find landmarks. Maybe next time.

Instead, we joined some friends for a pontoon ride around the lake. Our pontoon driver/guide was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. She pointed out special features of the lodge, the horse trail ride path, and the location of a pair of eagles' nest. Her passion came through as we rode across the lake.

During lunch, the weather took a turn for nasty, but we were safely inside the glassed-in dining room, with a spectacular view of the lake, as hummingbirds flitted about their feeders and lightning zigzagged across the dark sky.

Also during lunch we debated if we should try the zip lines. We decided if it rained we wouldn't do it. By the time we finished eating, the sun reappeared and clouds fluttered away -- so did our excuse.

Our group of ten was last to go, so after walking about half a mile to the launch site, we were able to observe the first group and get some tips before getting harnessed up and ready to soar.

When Kathleen took to the platform I watched for her reaction. For years she's wanted to try zip-riding, but has been talked out of it. But after seeing men and women in the first group in ages ranging from their 40s to their 80s take to the platform, she worked up her courage, and so did I.

After putting on a helmet, we were instructed to run from a platform down an incline, where we would be launched. After a successful first trip she was handed a noodle to try and hit a red-white-and-blue target at the end of the ride. After hitting the target, she returned with a huge smile and a thumbs up.

So far, so good.


My first trip was amazing. I ran off the platform and down the incline and was lifted into the sky. My ride lasted only a few minutes, but the view was lovely. Zipping past evergreens and the winding trail below, I had a great view of the dogwoods in bloom.

Not to be outdone by my sister, I decided to try my luck at hitting the target with a noodle and opted for blue to match my helmet. Just before my ride began I asked for final instructions on how to hold the noodle while also holding onto the rope.


Um. I was so focused on my hands I forgot about my feet. I made it off the platform then stumbled on the incline.

I scraped the top of my right foot and twisted my left knee--the one I've had surgery on. Ouch!

But I persevered. Although my dignity took a hit, I held onto the noodle, swatted but missed, the target, and finished the ride.

After removing my helmet and harness and being treated for a flesh wound, I hobbled back to the lodge. My knee swelled up, and it has been painful to walk on, and much to my disappointment I missed the Heart Walk on Saturday.

You might wonder: Would she do it again?

Yep. I would. It was an amazing experience, a feeling of gliding through the fresh air among tall trees with the ground below.

But next time I think I'll skip the noodle.

Words, Art and Beauty

Most of the time, I'm all about words, but sometimes words don't do justice when it comes to describing beautiful works of art. 

 

Perhaps a picture really is worth a thousand words.

 

So, rather than writing a long post today, I thought I'd share more photos from my recent trip to the Saint Louis Art Museum. 

 

Here are some photos of beautiful creations -- the Edgar Degas "Little Dancer of Fourteen Years," Claude Monet's "Water Lilies," -- and other works of art that stirred my soul.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

The Spirit of Christmas Bus Trip - Lights, Trees, Nativity Scenes, Candy Canes, and More

Last evening our parish (All Saints in St. Peters) sponsored a bus tour to several local Christmas light displays. After eating a simple, but filling, meal in the Parish Center, more than 100 brave souls, including my sister Kathleen, some of my friends from my old work, and I hopped on two large tour buses and headed out for Tilles Park in St. Louis County to drive through their Winter Wonderland light display.

Because of rush-hour traffic it took some time to finally get there, but the non-religious displays were bright and sparkly, and so much to see. There was a jumping frog, skaters, trees, carriage rides, Santa, a toy house, a Peace on Earth sign, and lots more.   The driving tour took about a half hour, and is something kids of all ages can enjoy. Admission fees range from $9.00 for a family vehicle to $75 for a bus.

After once again braving rush-hour traffic, we rode across the Mississippi into the Land of Lincoln. Our second stop was the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, IL, for the Way of the Lights display, which runs until Jan 1.

After climbing off our bus we headed inside, where we were greeted by a group of children performing Christmas carols. As Kathleen and I walked down the hallway, we admired the decorated wreaths on the walls. The wreaths were donated for a silent auction. Some were simple, others ornate, but almost all were elegant.

The fun part of the tour was a walk through the Christmas tree display room.

The theme was children's books. What a delight!

The room isn't too large, but it was crowded and took about 15 minutes to walk through. I stopped a few times to snap photos of most of the trees on display.

Trees were decorated like The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, Toy Story, Cinderalla (my favorite), The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and several others.

The display sponsored by the School Sisters of Notre Dame, called ONE,  included handouts for a 2011 Christmas Tree Blessing.

After leaving the Christmas Tree room, we peeked into the Children's Room, where there were a variety of activities for children, including a puppet show.

We wandered down the hall and visited the gift shop, which also had some lovely displays, most notably was a Nativity scene under the tree at the entrance.

Another highlight of our visit was a portrait of the Blessed Mother carrying the Infant Jesus and being serenaded by three angels.

What's remarkable about this portrait is that it's made out of Legos. Isn't it amazing?

I was told there is another, larger, portrait made out of Legos in the hotel at the center.

The suggested donation for the outside tour varies depending on the size of the vehicle. For a car it would be $10. Our bus paid $50, and with each $10 donation came a cute and cuddly stuffed animal--this one was a goat. Oh, the tour also offers camel and donkey rides. It truly is a sight to behold, and one I highly recommend for children of all ages, and anyone who is looking for displays with a spiritual message of Christmas.

After leaving Illinois we headed back to Missouri and took in a glimpse of downtown St. Louis City Park, then on to a special treat on Murdock Lane called --- Candy Cane Lane in the St. Louis Hills section of St. Louis. John Kuehner, the brother of Patti Niestat, one of our tour organizers, plans and produces this annual event. If neighbors can't afford to decorate, John foots the bill. All the houses on both sides of the street for a few blocks are brightly decorated. Red and white lights circle the bases of large oaks lining the streets, giving it a candy cane appearance. This brief drive was a delight, and a sweet way to finish up our evening before heading back to All Saints.

I hope they have this bus trip again next year, because I definitely want to go!

The Good, The Bad, and The Weird of My Weekend in Overland Park Kansas

Here's a snapshot of this weekend's soccer tournament in Overland Park, Kansas.

The Good:

The room at the Hyatt Place was huge.

Free healthy breakfast. Yum. Home-made oatmeal with raisins and brown sugar.

Saturday afternoon shopping with Cari and some friends at an indoor mall, which had an American Girl shop, a Noodles and Company, and a Forever XXI store to mention a few.

Got a parking spot near the door.

The soccer banquet honoring all the girls, especially the seniors, was fun!

The girls passed the ball a lot and showed good teamwork.

Watching re-runs of "Say Yes to the Dress" in the hotel room with my granddaughter.

Watching Mizzou beat Texas Tech on a 46 inch TV in our hotel room.

Last soccer tournament of the season.

The Bad:

Last soccer tournament of the season.

Sitting in traffic near Columbia Friday evening for almost an hour on the drive to KC.

Stopping at a sketchy gas station outside of Columbia to go to the bathroom after being stuck in traffic.

Sitting in the wicked and cold wind in Kansas on Saturday and Sunday.

No wins.

My poor frozen toes and hands after sitting in the cold, wicked wind.

Listening to the Rams game on the way home--the Rams lost again.

The Weird

Filling up at a QT outside of KC, my granddaughter saw a girl she went to PSR at All Saints about ten years ago. The girl moved to the Kansas City area several years ago. 

More Good

Making it home in four hours by eating lunch in the van, one stop for gasoline and one potty break.

I love trips like this weekend's but I'm always happy to come home.

Memories of Memphis

Our trip to Memphis this weekend for Cari's soccer tournament was an adventure. Saturday morning a group of six of us hurried from our hotel to Beale Street and hunted for the Peabody Hotel.

With the clock ticking for the 11 a.m. duck show, we hurried from the parking lot and made a left and found what we thought was the Peabody. We dashed up about twenty concrete steps then found out it was not an entrance to the Peabody.  We should've taken a right.

After jogging back down the steps we found the entrance to the hotel and saw a mass of people crowded around a large fountain.  The famous Peabody ducks had already made their appearance, but at least the girls got to see them swim in the fountain.

Next we headed for the Memphis Redbirds baseball stadium, where we were surprised we were able to enter. On our way inside we encountered a self-described "unofficial City of Memphis greeter." He said, "I'm not begging for money. I just want to point out some of our city landmarks."

He trailed behind us and told us how the Chicago White Sox play in the stadium. That's when we got our first hint he wasn't realy a city greeter and was, in fact, trying to get some money out of us.  

After losing our city ambassador and visiting the stadium, we trekked to the FedEx Forum. The rows of colorful balls (and one fishing bobber) outside were whimsical.

Surprisingly, the sidewalk and street were almost deserted, so it gave me a great opportunity to take lots of photos. Arriving before noon must be the right time to avoid crowds.

After leaving there we headed for the main attraction, the blues and barbeque area center of Memphis, on Beale Street.  

The few cars we saw driving around were memorable: a souped-up red Mustang driven by our friendly "unofficial Memphis greeter," a blue Bentley, an Audi, and a BMW to name a few.  We also saw a street performer who did about a dozen back flips down the brick street, accompanied by a partner who passed around a plastic jar for tips.

All-in-all it was fun, and a memorable way to spend a Saturday morning before the soccer tournament.

One of the highlights of the evening was getting updated about the Cardinals victory during the last soccer match Saturday night.

After the match a group of us drove around looking for a restaurant. Driving around Memphis is an adventure. While the locals are known for their Southern hospitality, it apparently doesn't extend to their driving.  After witnessing a few near wrecks and watching emergency vehicles at the scene of a car wrapped around a telephone pole, we drove even more cautiously.  Eventually we found a Steak n Shake, where we saw an Elvis impersonator and a man whose face was covered with tattoos.

Sunday it rained before the soccer match then let up for a bit, although the sun never did make an appearance. On the drive home, Cari remarked that Saturday morning was a lot of fun. The rain let up for the drive home. As we drove north on I-55, I noticed the cotton fields of Northern Arkansas and Southeast Missouri made the ground look snow-covered. It was quite a sight.

Our trip to Memphis was lots of fun, and a weekend of special memories.

We Interrupt this Blog Post

Due to circumstances beyond my control--not really beyond my control, but a change in plans--I won't be writing the promissed follow-up to my Day Tripping (Part II) post this morning.

What's that saying: Life happens while you're making plans.

I'm off on another, shorter day trip today. I love surprises--really. They make life interesting--and fun!

If time permits, I'll post tonight--if not I'll be back tomorrow--or Sunday or Monday for sure.