** A BLAST TO THE PAST & BACK **

I drove to Belleville, Illinois today to have lunch with some old friends....old as in how many years we've known each other. We met when I was in the 4th grade. We had a blast, talking about the past!

On the way home, I stopped off in Cahokia, Illinois to do more reminiscing. I drove past the house that had been home to my brother-in-law's parents for many years. I was pleased to see that it still looked nice, even though the neighborhood is deteriorating.

Then it was another mile or two until I turned into the lane that was home for my first seven years of life. What had happened? The street had shrunk and was way too narrow. The front yards were the size of miniature golf greens and the trees eclipsed the tiny bungalows. How in the world did we have so much room to run and play when I was young?

My house and most of the others had been neglected and looked different than the last time I'd taken this sentimental journey. As I slowly inched along, reading the house numbers, I recalled the names of the families I had known so well. The "so and so's" lived at 803, then next door had been the "J" family, and then my house at 807. I came to a complete stop and just stared for awhile, feeling sad. My brain accepts the fact that things change and sometimes in unpleasant ways, but my heart screams NO.

A brief moment did bring a smile to my face. I saw the original aluminum awnings on a house with the big "M" on them. They weren't rusty or aged looking. That warmed my heart, as if those wonderful people still lived there. And if they did, I knew if I parked my car in their driveway, walked up to the door and knocked, they would welcome me in with open arms.

While driving back home, thoughts and memories tumbled in my mind like clothes in a clothes-dryer. Going back to reminisce about those happy times during the 1950's is great fun, but when I'm back in reality, it's wonderful during a hot day like today, to have a/c in my car!

Aggie's Tea Room in O'Fallon, Missouri

Aggie's Tea Room has announced the opening of their Wine, Beer & Tapas Garden:
(Owned by my friend, Aggie!!)

We welcome reservations both for lunch, dinner, parties , groups or for any special occasions!
If you have any questions, please feel free to call!
Again, we would like to thank you all for your patronage in the past as well as encouragement in this new venture! Looking forward to seeing you at Aggie's


Aggie AND STAFF Aggie's Closet and Tea Room 9036 Veterans Memorial Parkway O'fallon, MO 63366 mailto:636-379-6878aggiestearoom@aol.com http://www.aggiestearoom.com/

Awwww.......a sweet, cute boy from a different decade!

What's that in the little cage he's holding?

** Love My Play List **

I just love the music I've chosen for this blog! I was surprised at how quickly, too, I was able to think of songs I liked and try to find them. Also, I'd hear an old song on the radio, jot it down in one of my many trusty notepads.....this would usually happen while I was driving my car, so it would most likely be scribbled and quite hard to read!...and then when I'd get back home, I'd add it to my play list. I also added songs that I have on CD's or albums. The best part, I think, is the "shuffle" option. I just listened to Celine Dion sing Ave Maria then it went straight to The London Beat singing I've Been Thinking About You, and then to Dion singing The Wanderer.


Right now, you're listening to my newest play list: Beautiful Music. All soft and lovely songs.....

What a great way to start my morning!......Hello Music!.. Coffee...Sunshine...Writing in my blog!

* Compliments *

Recently, Theresa shared some information with Tammy and me that concerned the presentation we gave at the Kisker Road Library last month. Each of us had spoken about our writing, and then read one of our stories published in Chicken Soup for the Soul books.

Sometime after that, Theresa met a friend that had been there that evening. She said what impressed her most was our similarities in approach, but also the differences in our stories. She said I was an exceptional speaker, Tammy's story made her cry, and that she loved Theresa's descriptive reference about some "poo-poo towels" in her story!

~~ Am I Living In The 1950's? ~~

On July 17th, I wrote about my much-hated dishwasher, and the strange turn of events that somehow caused me to decide I'd rather wash our dishes by hand, then buy a new one.

Just this afternoon, my husband said something to me that I would never have expected to hear from him.....nor would I expect to hear it from any of my friends' husbands!

He said, "You know....I really do like getting a dish or glass from the cupboard and not seeing spots all over it." OMG! For that brief moment, I had a husband just like Ward Cleaver!!
I was actually pleased to hear him say that, too, which makes it even weirder....I felt just like June Cleaver!!

~~ Writing Up a Storm ~~

This past weekend and most of Monday was spent writing one story....Just one story, consisting of approximately 920 words for an upcoming Chicken Soup for the Soul book.

Sometimes thoughts become sentences and just flow onto the pages....and other times, it takes hours to get one word that portrays the right feelings. When I finally decided it was the best it could be and I clicked on that "submit" button, I was so overjoyed and exhausted, I flopped on the couch and immediately fell asleep!

I really, really want this one to get accepted.......I worked so hard on it.....

** Speaking of working hard and being exhausted ** I just realized it was past midnight when I posted this. It is now Tuesday, July 28th.....my oldest son Scott's birthday!! MANY years ago, he was born in Ft. Bliss, Texas. It was a difficult delivery, but I was so young and naive, I didn't even think to worry. I just foolishly believed all doctors were god-like and that everything would be just fine. Fortunately, he didn't have any lasting problems.......and eventually I was okay, too. Happy Birthday, Scott! You have always made your mom proud!

** Flying in a 1946 Piper Cub **

Anyone who knows me very well, knows that the thought of me flying in a tiny, 2-seater 1946 Piper Cub prop plane, would be totally unbelievable! BUT, during my visit to the RAGBRAI Event in Greenfield, Iowa, I thought it sounded like a fun, adventurous thing to do!! As you can see by the photo, the pilot is helping me into my seat, in the front of the plane.....no right side door or window....and he sat directly behind me, somehow controlling the plane!

We flew around the town of Greenfield, population 2100, for about 20 minutes. We saw many of the bicyclists riding into town, plus some of the support crews in their campers, buses, etc. I was also able to pick out the house my grandma and grandpa lived in all those years ago when I visited as a young child!!

It was absolutely amazing and I can't wait to do it again!

(I'm also ready for those hot-air balloon rides and wild roller coasters!!)