ST. LOUIS AND BOOK GIVEAWAY

From Portland, Maine (above with my family–mom Rose in black) last Friday until now–getting to St. Louis from Minneapolis was the only nightmare travel experience of the whole week. A series of 5-minute-too late events meant a missed flight/mad turbulence once we did get airborne and a general anxt-ridden morning which began at 5:00 am. Lovely St Louis quickly erased the bummer morning as we made out way through some TV and newspaper interviews. Luckily for my son, he hooked up with his college buddy who took him off for a day away to chill and see St. Louis without mom in tow. He loved driving down “Skinker road to Schucks market.” The weather turned and I found a half hour for my first mini shopping spree which took me along Maryland Place to buy some jewels from laura and ultimately to AG where my new friend Dan actually outfitted me in cool jeans (mom jeans good-bye)–all damage done in about 30 minutes. The signing at Left bank Books was great: with a mixed crowd and very interesting discussion: one couple had “date night”–high school sweet hearts married 56 years who regaled us with stories so familiarly told in MH about feeding hungry boys and enjoying the family table. They got books for all their adult children. Another lady from Texas called Mommy Ethel, visiting one of her adult daughters perked up when I mentioned the proper cleaning of greens. She said her Texas mamma would examine the water after the cleaning and if one grain of sand remained she told her to do it again. Now there is a woman after my own heart: old school, practical and knowing what she wants and needs for mealtime success. My new jewelry and jean friends Laura and Dan came too and brought us some delicious cupcakes from Cupcakery, a local bakery that must be visited in St. Louis. Thanks to Dennis, Linda and Scott for a great St. Louis-style Italian meal on “the hill”—a great way to wind up this whirlwind week. Just sorry I missed the “Concrete” a local ice-cream must have.