Today we trekked to St. Louis to see the arch. Gerry Sr. and Trudy were our tour guides. The first and only time I went up it was 1985 and Gerry’s last time up was in the 1990’s. We both noted many improvements – a new museum of Westward Expansion, documentaries of building the arch and St. Louis, the metal detectors to get in the door, Busch Stadium and improved elevator pods to the top.
It was a good thing Trudy and I reminded both Gerrys to leave their pocket knives in the car. Little Gerry’s was your basic garden-variety all-purpose kind, but big Gerry’s was Crocodile Dundee-style. With as many metal pieces as he has in his knees, elbows and heart, he was certain to get a pat-down at the door. Who knows what would have happened if he forgot to leave the knife in the car.
The kids, Gerry and I went up to the top in the elevator pod. They go up in groups of 7, each fitting 5 people.
Billy: Where is the seatbelt?
Gerry: There isn’t one.
Billy: What happens when we go upside down?
We picnicked on the lawn near the monument and watched the barges on the rain-swollen Mississippi.
Did you wave to my grandkids who live in St. Louis?
ReplyDeleteSally Schneider