Sunday, November 2, 2014

* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

It's Time Again for Another Nostalgic Sunday!



Hello and Happy Nostalgic Sunday. Today's nostalgia pertains to two things.

(I've been lamenting lately about trying to get back into blogging on a regular basis. Although I was pretty sure I knew the reasons why I hadn't been able to solve my problem, I was still stuck. And wouldn't you know that serendipity came along just when I needed it? I happened upon the blog of Jennifer Brown Banks @ Pen & Pro$per and when I read her post about blogging, taking breaks from blogging, etc. Ah Ha.... And so, here I am today....)
~~~
 
Yesterday, The Ronald and I attended Trash or Treasure in the town of Collinsville, Illinois, which is about 40 miles from our house. Trash or Treasure is very similar to the fabulous PBS program, Antiques Roadshow, only a smaller venue. If you're a fan of the roadshow, you've probably dreamed of having something that's worth a lot of money, just like some of the people on the show!
 
Beautiful bowl left to me by my Great Aunt Grace

.....and a different view
 
I have a couple of items I thought might be worth something monetarily, so The Ronald and I drove over there. It was a chilly, but glorious, sunny day and the trip was such fun.


We traveled over highways we hadn't been on in a long time, and drove over the new (Feb 2014) Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge for the first time. We'd seen videos of it on the local news while it was being built, then when it was completed and opened to traffic. But being on it, of course, is amazing. It's really beautiful! These are the two pictures I took while we drove across it....one from inside the front windshield, one out the back.



It is a "cable-stayed" bridge, which I'd never heard of before. I assumed it was a suspension bridge, but NO....they are two different things. The link explains both, and shows pictures and drawings, which I didn't bother to read entirely. (too much like a math word problem to me!)


Photo from Stl.today  (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)


SO....the two different nostalgic things on this post are:

1) The beautiful bowl from my Aunt Grace: It's not worth much, monetarily, which is great to know because now I will have it out where it can be seen, and at times maybe used. And of course, it means THE WORLD to me because it was my aunt's and she chose me as the recipient!

I wrote about the bowl in my memoir in the chapter titled "Self-Centered Sadie." I'm still very grateful that I actually retrieved it and can enjoy it until the day I pass it on to a beloved relative of mine...yet to be determined!
~

2) The new bridge named for St. Louis Cardinals, Baseball Hall of Fame member, Stan "The Man" Musial. Stan was a baseball favorite here in St. Louis his entire baseball career, from 1941 - 1963. (That just doesn't happen these days.) His nickname could also be "The Gentleman" because that's what he always was. I was aware of him and how important he was even at a very young age. And would you believe I also mentioned him in my memoir?! It's in the chapter "I Adored my Dad."



"Sharing tales of those we've lost is how we keep from really losing them." - Mitch Albom, For One More Day

(One of my absolute favorite books. I've read it at least three times in the past couple of years !)

25 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks, Claudia. I hope to actually BE back now!

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  2. Lovely to see you back. And I am a fan of Mitch Albom as well. I really like tuesdays with Morrie.

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    1. Hi Sue! Thank you! I've read, I think, three of his books, and For One More Day is still my favorite. Have you ever read it?

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  3. She's back....hurrah!!!! Love that little dish.

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    1. Hi Delores! How sweet of you! What a nice welcome back....a big Hurrah!! :)
      Glad you like the dish, too. Isn't it beautiful?!

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  4. I've never seen a bowl like that. So pretty. Glad you enjoyed the bridge. I would have had to close my eyes during that crossing. Don't like heights, don't like water. Hard to believe I flew in a little four-seat float plane in Alaska!

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    1. Hi Val! Glad you like the bowl! I don't have a problem with bridges, except if I got stuck on one, or HAD to walk across it! Whoa....weak knees! I'm afraid of heights, too, but flying doesn't bother me. I guess it's because I'm all closed in. But get me up a couple of feet on a ladder....Look Out! LOL

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  5. That is a beautiful bowl! I love anything that is antique! Glad to see you blogging! I finally got my historical finished and it is up on Amazon now. It was worse than giving birth!! LOL!

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    1. Hi Patricia! It's so great to see all these beautiful faces...and icons, such as Val's scary cat! LOL I love antiques, too....and shabby chic, and cottage style...and retro 50s, and.....and.. !
      I will definitely look for your new book on Amazon. I still haven't purchased any of your older ones. I need to make a list of all the books I want to buy. And I agree about working on a book and finally completing it and getting it published....Giving Birth to a Big Baby! :)

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  6. I am sorry I missed that antiques appraisal, and also that your gorgeous dish was worth more to you than the dealers. I'm always hoping to find a Picasso or some other valuable which will be like hitting the lottery. Fat chance!

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    1. Hi Linda! Thanks! And I'm just like you, too. When Ron and I watch the Roadshow on channel 9, we can't believe the ugly "junk" that's worth a fortune! :)

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  7. I would love to go to an appraisal with some of my items. Probably none or worth anything but it would be fun to find out. Like you, blogging is tough to be regular about but I'm trying!

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    1. Hi Terri! So good to see you! I think appraisals should be more available for people.Taking just one thing sometimes can cost way too much!

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  8. I enjoyed this post and am so glad to see you back to blogging. The monetary value is so subjective, the sentimental value is priceless. Enjoy the bowl.

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    1. Hello Myrna! Yes, I agree. The bowl itself means so much to me!! I hope to keep up with my blogging....Hope!!

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  9. And I remember both from your wonderful memoir, Becky! :-)

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  10. Oh Becky, the bowl is gorgeous. It's worth more than a million if it's from your sweet auntie!
    I'd be s-s-s-scared to go over that bridge! Yikers. I totally am freaked out by bridges. Hope you have a good week. Sincerely, Susan

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    1. Hi Susan! That particular bridge isn't very high. Would that help??!!

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  11. Thanks so much, Becky, for mentioning my site, Pen & Prosper. Glad to inspire!

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    1. Hi Jennifer! You are very welcome. You have a fantastic page and always share very helpful information!

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  12. I love that beautiful bowl! I'm trying hard to use the things I have always saved for "good"--it's somehow freeing to enjoy them rather than "guard" them. While that bridge is beautiful in its own way, I don't think I would be able to go on it. I had a mini anxiety attack just looking at the pictures! Ha!

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    1. Hi Mimi! So happy to see you here, and glad you love the bowl, too. Sometimes it takes us quite a while to realize it's "okay" to use those beautiful items that, like you said, we sometimes "guard." That's a great way to describe it! I'm sorry you had a mini anxiety attack! I have those, plus by stomach actually does flips and I feel weak, when I see pictures or movies of people standing near the edge of bridges, cliffs, balconies...you name it! LOL

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