The front page of July 8 Catholic Post, the newspaper of the Diocese of Peoria, has an article about Pope Bendedict naming hometown priest, Fulton J. Sheen - he was born in El Paso, Il. but grew up in St. Mary's parish on the northside and attended Spalding Institute for high school - as "venerable", the second of four key steps in the canonization process. (beatification and canonization are next). In the early 1950s, Archbishop Sheen had a half hour national television program called "Life is Worth Living", where each week he would speak on living a closer life with Our Lord. His show was very popular. So popular that for many years, the comedian, Milton Berle had the number one television show until he aired against Archbishop Sheen. His message was given with humor and in a down-to-earth style that won him an Emmy and he was named Time Magazine's 'Man of the Year' in 1952. He was the author of many books. If he is canonized, he would be the first Male American-born saint.
He was ordained at St. Marys Cathedral but studied in Europe. He was a brilliant man and the Church expected big things of him. In the middle of all this European study, Archbishop Schlarman, then the Bishop of Peoria, called him back home to serve as an assistant at St. Patricks Parish on Peoria's southside. He served there for less than two years. And it was the only time in his career that he assisted in a parish setting. St. Patricks was my family's home parish. The people at St. Patricks were mostly poor Irishman and Lebanese families. It was not uncommon for those older black hatted and head scarved women who spent the morning in Church, first at Mass and then in front of the Blessed Mother statue saying the Rosary to talk about "Young Father Sheen". And as he became more famous because of television and his work with the Catholic missions, whenever he came back to Peoria, he was feted everywhere but he always stayed at St. Patricks rectory. When the children were young, Mother and I would often go to early Mass - this was before I learned to drive - and if he was in town he would say the early Eucharistic Celebration. I remember him saying that he never used notes for his homily because "if he couldn't remember what he was going to say, how could he expect the congregation to remember".
Once when we were in the eighth grade, this would be 1949/50, the word got around the neighborhood that he was saying early Mass. The eighth grade class was singing at the Mass and we were sitting up in the choir loft. We moved from the pews to stand and sing in front of the keyboard and massive pipes - probably to be closer to Sister Mary Francis who was playing the organ - to sing some part of the Mass - probably the Kyrie - and when we went to go back to our pews, they were filled with spectators because the Nave was full and the overflow came upstairs. So I remember that we knelt in between people during the readings and homily. At that time, the kneelers in the main Church were padded but the kneelers in the choir loft were wood. I don't remember what he said that day only that my knees hurt!!
One year, at the St. Patricks Spaghetti Dinner, LaVonne (Sis) Raineri and I were selling dinner tickets from the ticket window in the vestibule of the gym. The Archbishop was in town and Father Tom Henseler brought him to the window and introduced him to us. We shook hands and I remember that he had deep set smiling eyes that looked like he could see into your soul. I have always thought that Jesus must have had eyes like that. We chatted only for a moment but what a good memory. Somewhere I have - unless I gave it to one of the daughters - a 78 record of him in that distinctive rich voice of his, saying The Hail Mary and the poem, Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue. I remember this much of that poem:
"Lovely Lady dressed in Blue
Teach me how to pray.
God was just your little Boy
Tell me what to say. (there's more to the poem, it's very sweet and we all learned it)
He was lauded around the world and headed the Propagation of the Faith, which was the Mission branch of the Church. But what has always impressed me the most about him was that every day he spent at least an hour, quietly, on his knees in front of the Blessed Sacrament. His message was that life is worth living because God loves us here, now and forever and that, dear friend, is something worthwhile to remember.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Vern's Bread Recipe
I was searching for something on the computer and came across Vern's recipe for bread. I told you some time back that Mother had taught Vern how to make Pizza and through years of practice this is what he perfected.
BREAD
4 cups flour
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon oregano (for pizza)
1 3/4 cups warm water
1 tablespoon sugar
1 package dry yeast
2 tablespoons oil
Bake 375 degrees for 40 minutes.
The recipe says nothing about mixing what together, I think he just dumped everything into the bowl. I'm really not sure because home made bread was his bailiwick. I do know that the recipe made two full size loafs or a large pizza (we made pizza on a cookie sheet). Keep in mind - No oregano in the bread recipe.
For a lot of years when we had retreats at St. Patricks Parish in Washington, Vern would make the bread for the Women's weekend Agape meal. The women loved the idea of fresh baked bread and especially the fact that it was made by one of the husbands. (Note to fellows who read this: Women love men who make home baked bread - and then clean up the kitchen.) Vern would from time to time make a loaf of bread and deliver it to someone who was going through a tough time. The bonus for me, was when he made a loaf to give away, we got to eat the other one, unless there were two people who needed a little extra attention - and that was known to happen. Also, for at least three of the parish auctions, he offered to bake pizza for the highest bidder. They won two pizzas of their choice plus a dessert pizza. Bidding was usually pretty heated.
The rest of the story: He had pasted this recipe inside one of the cabinet doors in the house on Cruger Road. After we had moved, one of the daughters remembered that it was there and stopped at the house and asked the present owners if she could have it. I don't know which daughter but one of them has the recipe in Vern's handwriting.
.
BREAD
4 cups flour
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon oregano (for pizza)
1 3/4 cups warm water
1 tablespoon sugar
1 package dry yeast
2 tablespoons oil
Bake 375 degrees for 40 minutes.
The recipe says nothing about mixing what together, I think he just dumped everything into the bowl. I'm really not sure because home made bread was his bailiwick. I do know that the recipe made two full size loafs or a large pizza (we made pizza on a cookie sheet). Keep in mind - No oregano in the bread recipe.
For a lot of years when we had retreats at St. Patricks Parish in Washington, Vern would make the bread for the Women's weekend Agape meal. The women loved the idea of fresh baked bread and especially the fact that it was made by one of the husbands. (Note to fellows who read this: Women love men who make home baked bread - and then clean up the kitchen.) Vern would from time to time make a loaf of bread and deliver it to someone who was going through a tough time. The bonus for me, was when he made a loaf to give away, we got to eat the other one, unless there were two people who needed a little extra attention - and that was known to happen. Also, for at least three of the parish auctions, he offered to bake pizza for the highest bidder. They won two pizzas of their choice plus a dessert pizza. Bidding was usually pretty heated.
The rest of the story: He had pasted this recipe inside one of the cabinet doors in the house on Cruger Road. After we had moved, one of the daughters remembered that it was there and stopped at the house and asked the present owners if she could have it. I don't know which daughter but one of them has the recipe in Vern's handwriting.
.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
The Dining Room Table
Except for when I was very young and we lived on George, Hurlburt and Smith Streets on the southside, we always lived in a house with a formal dining room. I thought about this recently when I read that a lot of new homes cease to have dining rooms as they are thought to be a wasted space. The trend is towards kitchen, family room combinations, aka the great room, with an area set aside for a large table of some sort.
When we were growing up, the dining room was the center of the house. We always lived in houses with big kitchens that had a kitchen table in the center of the room and we ate most of our meals there. As far as I can remember we even ate in the kitchen on Sunday except when we had company - and we had a lot of company.
There was always a lace tablecloth on the table that my mother washed and stretched on the curtain stretchers which adjusted to the necessary size. (Curtain stretchers were a rectangular wood frame with a lot of little sharp tacks around the edges - and they hurt when you were putting curtains or tablecloth on - to hold the curtains/tablecloth while they dried . This was before permanent press and the table cloths/curtains were made of cotton and the stretcher held them tight so there was no need for ironing. Lace can be tricky to iron. The stretcher had a stand and you set it up in the backyard or basement depending on the weather).
Our dining room table was the gathering place for us kids. Pushing the lace tablecloth aside, this is where we did our homework, and before television, this is where we sat and quizzed each other on things we learned from the World Book Encyclopedias. All of us knew the States and their Capitals. One of us would read something in the WBE and impart that info to the others and we used the World Books for school reports. David as early as three would join us and ask us to "make me some adds" - easy additions. There was a radio in the kitchen, that we turned up and listened to Hopalong Cassidy, Sky King (and his niece, Penny) and assorted other radio serials while we did homework or sat around the table.
In the middle of the table was usually the laundry that Mother had washed and dried and put there that we pushed aside while we did homework but while we listened to the serials we folded clothes that we then put away. I just remember there was always a pile of socks - I hated folding socks, because most of us wore white ones and it was a real headache trying to figure out whose were whose (and listen to the radio) and of course, there always seemed to be some left over that didn't have mates.
When we did have company and ate in the dining room - if there were a lot of people, we kids still ate in the kitchen and after the meal was over, it was time to clean off the table as soon as possible, don't put the lace tablecloth back on - Mother had put a white one on for the meal - because the men - my dad and the uncles - gathered around the table to play poker while the women did the dishes and when that was done they sat around the kitchen table and talked.
When we lived on Howett Street, Ernie Scherer lived with us while he was going to Bradley and slept in a small room off the dining room. There were two bedrooms upstairs - Mom and Dad had one and the oldest five slept in the other. When Ernie got married, Mom and Dad moved their bedroom to the little room and the girls had one upstairs room and the boys the other. They sometimes used the summer kitchen behind the kitchen - A room with a lot of windows and a door of its own - as a bedroom but often one of my Dad's brothers and sisters lived there and during WWII, they rented that room out to a friend and his family when housing was scarce.
I remember being eight or ten, and on winter days, taking the clothes pins and books of various sizes and making roads and bridges around and under the dining room table. If our brothers would let us, we 'played cars' with their toy cars but if not we used tinker toys or blocks as cars. The dining room table - lots of good memories.
When we were growing up, the dining room was the center of the house. We always lived in houses with big kitchens that had a kitchen table in the center of the room and we ate most of our meals there. As far as I can remember we even ate in the kitchen on Sunday except when we had company - and we had a lot of company.
There was always a lace tablecloth on the table that my mother washed and stretched on the curtain stretchers which adjusted to the necessary size. (Curtain stretchers were a rectangular wood frame with a lot of little sharp tacks around the edges - and they hurt when you were putting curtains or tablecloth on - to hold the curtains/tablecloth while they dried . This was before permanent press and the table cloths/curtains were made of cotton and the stretcher held them tight so there was no need for ironing. Lace can be tricky to iron. The stretcher had a stand and you set it up in the backyard or basement depending on the weather).
Our dining room table was the gathering place for us kids. Pushing the lace tablecloth aside, this is where we did our homework, and before television, this is where we sat and quizzed each other on things we learned from the World Book Encyclopedias. All of us knew the States and their Capitals. One of us would read something in the WBE and impart that info to the others and we used the World Books for school reports. David as early as three would join us and ask us to "make me some adds" - easy additions. There was a radio in the kitchen, that we turned up and listened to Hopalong Cassidy, Sky King (and his niece, Penny) and assorted other radio serials while we did homework or sat around the table.
In the middle of the table was usually the laundry that Mother had washed and dried and put there that we pushed aside while we did homework but while we listened to the serials we folded clothes that we then put away. I just remember there was always a pile of socks - I hated folding socks, because most of us wore white ones and it was a real headache trying to figure out whose were whose (and listen to the radio) and of course, there always seemed to be some left over that didn't have mates.
When we did have company and ate in the dining room - if there were a lot of people, we kids still ate in the kitchen and after the meal was over, it was time to clean off the table as soon as possible, don't put the lace tablecloth back on - Mother had put a white one on for the meal - because the men - my dad and the uncles - gathered around the table to play poker while the women did the dishes and when that was done they sat around the kitchen table and talked.
When we lived on Howett Street, Ernie Scherer lived with us while he was going to Bradley and slept in a small room off the dining room. There were two bedrooms upstairs - Mom and Dad had one and the oldest five slept in the other. When Ernie got married, Mom and Dad moved their bedroom to the little room and the girls had one upstairs room and the boys the other. They sometimes used the summer kitchen behind the kitchen - A room with a lot of windows and a door of its own - as a bedroom but often one of my Dad's brothers and sisters lived there and during WWII, they rented that room out to a friend and his family when housing was scarce.
I remember being eight or ten, and on winter days, taking the clothes pins and books of various sizes and making roads and bridges around and under the dining room table. If our brothers would let us, we 'played cars' with their toy cars but if not we used tinker toys or blocks as cars. The dining room table - lots of good memories.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Gallimaufry
Karen, who is the best half of my brother Dick's life, comes to my house every other day in this immense heat and waters the pots. Those on the patio and around the house and the ones with cucumbers and tomatoes - and there are baby tomatoes. Don't I keep telling you God puts good people in your life?
* * * * * * * * *
Last year, nephew Justin told us that he was going to be an extra in a movie called Gellhorn and Hemingway. It stars Nicole Kidman and Clive Owens. He showed us some still pictures, dressed in 30's garb and wearing a brown Fedora. We had a free HBO weekend recently and I downloaded the movie - a lot of sex and violence so I fast forwarded through a lot of it - but kept looking for a fellow in a Fedora. When Lora was here, she checked out the movie and spotted him, sans hat. He is only in a very short scene but it was neat seeing him looking very Scovil - drink in hand and the infamous Scovil smirk.
I want to send kudos to our niece, Angela, Carol's daughter, who was her mother's primary care giver until the end. Besides taking care of her mother, she ferried her children around - to school and dance class, etc. - as if things were normal. Part of the time her husband was away on business. She is an amazing woman and I hope now she will take time for herself. She needs to remember how precious she is.
Last Sunday, the phone rang and the caller ID said it was an out of state call and I thought it must be a salesman until I heard nephew Mike's voice. I picked up. He was driving from Tucson to Phoenix to do some work for ESPN and decided to call his old Aunt. We had a great conversation, catching up on him and his family. What a treat.
We saw on Facebook, that niece Debra got an internship to HawkWatch International, which I assume from the title has something to do with birds. Deb has always been in love with the outdoors and wild life so this is a big feather in her cap (did not intend to make a pun) and we are proud of her and congratulations!
Most of the people who read this blog are family, so this is a way to let you know what everyone is doing. By the way, did I mention that grandson, Joel, not only graduated from UW, Milwaukee but he has a job - yea, Joel. His mom, Lora was just named buyer for all the fabrics for the Nancy's Notions Catalog and our youngest daughter, Maureen just started her Masters Program in Business Law. Is it okay to brag on this interesting, busy second generation?
* * * * * * * * *
Because of the free premium channel's weekends, I have downloaded some pretty cool movies, In and Out, which just has great dialog. Kevin Kline has to be one of the most underrated actors and Joan Cusack is so good in this movie. Also downloaded Secondhand Lions - one of Vern's favorites - just a fun movie to watch and Colin Firth in The King's Speech. I have watched it several times and kept thinking that the actress who plays Lionel Logue's wife looked familiar. About the third time watching it, it dawned on me that it is Jennifer Ehle, who played Elizabeth Bennet to Colin's Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.
* * * * * * * * *
One of the ladies I take the Eucharist to a couple times a month, said to me on Sunday that she was going to pray that God would "lay off" me for awhile, as I've had too many trials in my life recently. I was surprised when she said that, I really hadn't thought about it in that way. It's just 'Real Life 101' and you tend to take each day as it comes. Life is what it is and I keep in mind one of my favorite quotes from Phillipians: "I am content in whatever state I'm in". And I truly am.
* * * * * * * * *
Last year, nephew Justin told us that he was going to be an extra in a movie called Gellhorn and Hemingway. It stars Nicole Kidman and Clive Owens. He showed us some still pictures, dressed in 30's garb and wearing a brown Fedora. We had a free HBO weekend recently and I downloaded the movie - a lot of sex and violence so I fast forwarded through a lot of it - but kept looking for a fellow in a Fedora. When Lora was here, she checked out the movie and spotted him, sans hat. He is only in a very short scene but it was neat seeing him looking very Scovil - drink in hand and the infamous Scovil smirk.
I want to send kudos to our niece, Angela, Carol's daughter, who was her mother's primary care giver until the end. Besides taking care of her mother, she ferried her children around - to school and dance class, etc. - as if things were normal. Part of the time her husband was away on business. She is an amazing woman and I hope now she will take time for herself. She needs to remember how precious she is.
Last Sunday, the phone rang and the caller ID said it was an out of state call and I thought it must be a salesman until I heard nephew Mike's voice. I picked up. He was driving from Tucson to Phoenix to do some work for ESPN and decided to call his old Aunt. We had a great conversation, catching up on him and his family. What a treat.
We saw on Facebook, that niece Debra got an internship to HawkWatch International, which I assume from the title has something to do with birds. Deb has always been in love with the outdoors and wild life so this is a big feather in her cap (did not intend to make a pun) and we are proud of her and congratulations!
Most of the people who read this blog are family, so this is a way to let you know what everyone is doing. By the way, did I mention that grandson, Joel, not only graduated from UW, Milwaukee but he has a job - yea, Joel. His mom, Lora was just named buyer for all the fabrics for the Nancy's Notions Catalog and our youngest daughter, Maureen just started her Masters Program in Business Law. Is it okay to brag on this interesting, busy second generation?
* * * * * * * * *
Because of the free premium channel's weekends, I have downloaded some pretty cool movies, In and Out, which just has great dialog. Kevin Kline has to be one of the most underrated actors and Joan Cusack is so good in this movie. Also downloaded Secondhand Lions - one of Vern's favorites - just a fun movie to watch and Colin Firth in The King's Speech. I have watched it several times and kept thinking that the actress who plays Lionel Logue's wife looked familiar. About the third time watching it, it dawned on me that it is Jennifer Ehle, who played Elizabeth Bennet to Colin's Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.
* * * * * * * * *
One of the ladies I take the Eucharist to a couple times a month, said to me on Sunday that she was going to pray that God would "lay off" me for awhile, as I've had too many trials in my life recently. I was surprised when she said that, I really hadn't thought about it in that way. It's just 'Real Life 101' and you tend to take each day as it comes. Life is what it is and I keep in mind one of my favorite quotes from Phillipians: "I am content in whatever state I'm in". And I truly am.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Carol Scovil Berardo
She attended the Academy of our Lady as a freshman and then decided to go to Manual High. When Judy's husband was transferred to Pittsburgh in 1967, Carol went along. She met Don Berardo and had three children, Angela - her primary care giver the last few months - Dan and Donna.
Carol did for others. She was an excellent cook and was an expert at making the Italian dishes she learned from her mother-in-law. When she lived at home, she took care of Dave and Sue, she babysit for Vern and I on occasion, and how she loved her own children. When her mother-in-law had a stroke, it was Carol who took care of her and at Mrytle's death, her father-in-law moved in with them. Everyone was welcome at Carol's house. That is probably her legacy, she always treated everyone like family. She inherited Mother's gift as a storyteller, she remembered everything and I can't recollect her saying anything bad about anyone else. Carol was a heavy smoker and she didn't take care of her health as she should have - she inherited that from our mother as well.
It's a strange thing going to the funeral of a sibling, especially someone younger. You feel as though you are on borrowed time. At the funeral Mass, the priest pointed out the Easter candle that is always lit at Catholic funerals. He said, that it is lit the first time at the Easter Vigil and it denotes new life as in Jesus' Resurrection and at funerals it symbolizes a new life in heaven. That's what I hope for our sister. A new life, where she will be cared for and she has no more pain. Rest in peace, little sister.
The rest of the story.....The hearse that carried Carol from the funeral home to the Church and then to the cemetery was made by the Sayres/Scovill Company. A neat coincidence.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Macaroni and Shrimp Salad
I was looking for something and came across this salad. It's been awhile since I have blogged a recipe and this is great for this time of year for picnics and potlucks. I got it from Janet Thomas. Her husband worked with Vern years ago and they eventually moved to York, Pennsylvania and we lost track of them.
Macaroni and Shrimp Salad
1 16 oz pkg small shell macaroni
1 small - 6 0z - can of shrimp drained and rinsed
1 chopped small onion - probably about 1/3 cup
10 sliced radishes
3 sliced stalks of celery
1 chopped green pepper
1 small jar stuffed olives sliced
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup catsup
s & p to taste
Boil macaroni, drain, rinse and chill.
Add next six ingredients
Mix dressing and catsup and pour over mixture and toss.
Chill until time to serve.
I really like this salad, the saltiness of the olives - if you can't find a small jar of olives, use probably about 15 smaller olives, the crunch of the radishes and the catsup/mayo combination. Also consider a bunch of green onions sliced instead of a small onion. And red or yellow pepper if you don't like the strong taste of a green one.
Macaroni and Shrimp Salad
1 16 oz pkg small shell macaroni
1 small - 6 0z - can of shrimp drained and rinsed
1 chopped small onion - probably about 1/3 cup
10 sliced radishes
3 sliced stalks of celery
1 chopped green pepper
1 small jar stuffed olives sliced
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup catsup
s & p to taste
Boil macaroni, drain, rinse and chill.
Add next six ingredients
Mix dressing and catsup and pour over mixture and toss.
Chill until time to serve.
I really like this salad, the saltiness of the olives - if you can't find a small jar of olives, use probably about 15 smaller olives, the crunch of the radishes and the catsup/mayo combination. Also consider a bunch of green onions sliced instead of a small onion. And red or yellow pepper if you don't like the strong taste of a green one.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Four Broads in a Buick 9-29
Our trip out West in 1978
9-29-1978: First stop today is at Lake Havasu and the London Bridge. We ate breakfast at the Village Pub at the English Village by the bridge. (I googled the Bridge site and it said that most of the shops were boarded up now)
Our next stop was at the Grand Canyon. Marge and Berta had never seen it. It was awe inspiring as usual. We ate lunch at Bright Angel Lodge. (The Lodge overlooks the Canyon. My belief is that whatever natural phenomena you see first becomes your favorite. Mine is the Grand Canyon. I have seen it at all different times of day and it is always beautiful)
We stopped at Flagstaff for gas and as we pulled out of the station the muffler fell off again. So around two blocks and back to the gas station to get it wired up. An Indian couple with five little children were having the tire on their pick up changed. We struck up a conversation with the kids, Pauline, Barney, Emerson, Amanda and Christine.
We elected to drive all night so we could be home by Sunday, Judy has to go to work on Monday.
We stopped about 11:30 p.m. at Gallop, New Mexico for supper. Everyone had hamburgers and they sure tasted good. As we drove out of the mountains down to Albequerque, the city below was one of the most beautiful sights we've seen, about a mile of lights, row after row. Marge was asleep but the rest of us woke her and she agreed it was a sight worth waking up for.
At Adrian, Texas, we stopped for gas and coffee. While the others went inside, Norma slept in the car. Marge was driving and was going along at a nice pace when she noticed everyone else was on another road. She was tooling along the access road instead of the highway. Five miles later she got back on the interstate.
2:30 in the afternoon and we have stopped at a motel in Chandler, Oklahoma to get some much needed sleep.
10-1: We left Chandler at 5:30 a.m. heading home and got to Springfield, Missouri at about 10:30. We spent a couple of hours visiting with Norma's in-laws and on the way North we drove through downtown St. Louis so that Berta could see the Gateway Arch.
We've met some nice truckers on the CB this trip, especially on the night drives. We've seen so many interesting and beautiful sights it will be months to sort them out. We've driven over 5000 miles and everyone is still friends. We've laughed so much our sides literally ache and one word or phrase of something that happened will start us off again (some things are better not to mention here) All that we've seen, it is wonderful, though, to see these Illinois flatlands again! (I love to travel and see new sites and sights, but nothing looks as good to me as driving through these Illinois corridors of corn.)
(I have a friend who calls God the 'Lone Arranger' and it was certainly true in Berta's case. She decided to come back with us on a whim. Unbeknown to any of us, she had MS and within a year was dead. This trip gave her parents and siblings the last chance to visit with her).
9-29-1978: First stop today is at Lake Havasu and the London Bridge. We ate breakfast at the Village Pub at the English Village by the bridge. (I googled the Bridge site and it said that most of the shops were boarded up now)
Our next stop was at the Grand Canyon. Marge and Berta had never seen it. It was awe inspiring as usual. We ate lunch at Bright Angel Lodge. (The Lodge overlooks the Canyon. My belief is that whatever natural phenomena you see first becomes your favorite. Mine is the Grand Canyon. I have seen it at all different times of day and it is always beautiful)
We stopped at Flagstaff for gas and as we pulled out of the station the muffler fell off again. So around two blocks and back to the gas station to get it wired up. An Indian couple with five little children were having the tire on their pick up changed. We struck up a conversation with the kids, Pauline, Barney, Emerson, Amanda and Christine.
We elected to drive all night so we could be home by Sunday, Judy has to go to work on Monday.
We stopped about 11:30 p.m. at Gallop, New Mexico for supper. Everyone had hamburgers and they sure tasted good. As we drove out of the mountains down to Albequerque, the city below was one of the most beautiful sights we've seen, about a mile of lights, row after row. Marge was asleep but the rest of us woke her and she agreed it was a sight worth waking up for.
At Adrian, Texas, we stopped for gas and coffee. While the others went inside, Norma slept in the car. Marge was driving and was going along at a nice pace when she noticed everyone else was on another road. She was tooling along the access road instead of the highway. Five miles later she got back on the interstate.
2:30 in the afternoon and we have stopped at a motel in Chandler, Oklahoma to get some much needed sleep.
10-1: We left Chandler at 5:30 a.m. heading home and got to Springfield, Missouri at about 10:30. We spent a couple of hours visiting with Norma's in-laws and on the way North we drove through downtown St. Louis so that Berta could see the Gateway Arch.
We've met some nice truckers on the CB this trip, especially on the night drives. We've seen so many interesting and beautiful sights it will be months to sort them out. We've driven over 5000 miles and everyone is still friends. We've laughed so much our sides literally ache and one word or phrase of something that happened will start us off again (some things are better not to mention here) All that we've seen, it is wonderful, though, to see these Illinois flatlands again! (I love to travel and see new sites and sights, but nothing looks as good to me as driving through these Illinois corridors of corn.)
(I have a friend who calls God the 'Lone Arranger' and it was certainly true in Berta's case. She decided to come back with us on a whim. Unbeknown to any of us, she had MS and within a year was dead. This trip gave her parents and siblings the last chance to visit with her).
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