Lots of Things to Do

 Some family were in town recently and they had a free afternoon.  They asked about sightseeing in the Lou.  They were interested in seeing The Arch.  The Gateway Arch is St Louis' signature land mark. Stick an arch on something and it has a St Louis identity.  The Arch is worth seeing.  There is a museum underneath it that was pretty neat the last time I went there.  It is across the street from the Old Court House where the Dred Scott Decision was made.  A place that stands in infamy.

But, there are other things to do in the Lou.  Did you know that just out of town in Defiance, MO is the house where Daniel Boone died?  He was planted locally first until Kentucky came and dug him up and replanted him there. Or did they take the right skeleton?  And Lewis and Clark jumped off in St Charles which is the first capitol of Missouri.  Jean Baptiste Point de Sable who is credited with founding Chicago is buried somewhere in St Charles, we just seem to have misplaced him. There are the Cahokia Mounds, a relic of the Mississippian culture over on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River.  It is a World Heritage Site. But, it isn't all history in the Lou.

We have a neat Zoo set in Forest Park which happens to be the site of the 1904 World's Fair.  For that fair they also build the Art Museum. The History Museum is built on the site of one of the entrances to the Fair. The whole of Forest Park drips of reminders of the Fair.  You know that song "Meet Me in St. Louie...."

Then we also have a new aquarium and Ferris wheel at Union Station. We have a sculpture park and lots of parks generally.  There is a butterfly house.  There in the New Cathedral with the most beautiful mosaics I have ever seen.  And we have an IKEA.  There is a lot of Church history. A saint or two have lived here or maybe visited here.  And lots of sports. Unless you like football, we don't do football.

So, there is plenty to do in the Lou.  I realize that I don't have to wait until summer to do a staycation now that I am retired.  I need to plan to go somewhere and do something.  Soon.

I Used To...

I am a stay at home girl these days and for the foreseeable future.  Even if they announced a vaccine tomorrow for this novel corona virus it would be a while before it would be available.  And I am not holding my breath that they will announce a vaccine tomorrow. Or the next day.  I am not young or even middle aged. I am over weight.  I skate the edge of health issues.  If I got the virus, I am afraid that it would be bad, very bad.

I lived a very first world life, still do.  But, I used to experience a lot of guilt about the ease and excesses of my life.  I knew that I was living well.  I appreciated it.  I tried to help out others where I could.  I sponsor a child through Unbound, an organization that I highly recommend.  I complained sometimes about things, but I live a good life.

The contrast for me these days is thinking about how to do things.  I can't just go to the store, the bank, church, the library the way I used to.  I am currently out of bananas and lettuce and a few other things, but I have milk and meat and lots of food, so should I risk a grocery trip?  I have been going to the grocery store only every 2 weeks at the early morning old people time, I went last week.  Should I take the risk again so soon?  I used to go to the grocery store without much thought.

It is a solitary lonely life these days.  I can't go to meetings. I am so very fortunate that I still watch my grandchild a few times a week.  I did daycare when his parents worked from home and when his sister was born, so we continue that. I do Zoom meetings a few times a week.  I watch Mass on YouTube. I have said a couple of things to neighbors, but we don't stand and chat the way we used to.  I had tickets to a play and free movie passes.  Who knows when those things might be possible again?

I still have a totally great life, but I miss the way it used to be. I miss the life I was used to.... I wonder how much of that life I will ever see again?