This weekend, we spent time at my parents' house in Bonne Terre, Missouri. It was a wonderful time, but for me, tinged with occasional sadness. I knew that these were my last few days with my family before we left for the Race. I tried to push it away, and enjoy the time there, but it was always there, bubbling to the surface.
We left Springfield Saturday afternoon. Josh's Grandpa and Mom drove us halfway there, and we met up with my brother, Drake, who took us the rest of the way home.
When we got home, the smells of Thanksgiving dinner greeted us. I asked my Mom a few days before if we could have a mini-Thanksgiving, since Josh and I will be missing it this year. We had turkey, green bean casserole, cornbread dressing, yams, deviled eggs, cranberry sauce, and of course, pumpkin pie. Josh about peed his pants when my Mom brought out the pie. It's his absolute favorite food item.
The next morning, we went to church with my family, and afterward we went to their friends' house and had chicken and dumplings (veggie version for me). In my family, there is a long line of tradition when it comes to making (and eating) chicken and dumplings. It's one of my Great Grandma's legendary dishes, so the family loves it. We also had these amazing baked apples. They were full apples, but cored, and piled inside the middle was granola, brown sugar, butter, and honey drizzled over the top. I had fallen asleep on the couch, and I woke up to the smell of the apples baking. That, mixed with being with family, football on tv, wrapped in a blanket, and an overcast sky, made for the perfect fall feeling.
When we got home, we relaxed around the house, some taking naps, some watching a movie. Later, we did some of our favorite activities: my Dad practiced drumming, and my Mom practiced on her bass, while Shelby practiced hooping (Drake was at work, and I don't know what Josh was doing, haha). It is these moments that are some of my favorites with my family. We are really good at taking it easy, and doing things we enjoy. I think this is where I get my (mostly) laid back personality. Mom and I also played around on our ukuleles, and Shelby and I sang Before He Cheats, Blessed Be the Name, and Black Velvet. It is so fun to have a musical family.
On Monday morning, we went to the Bonne Terre/Desloge Labor Day parade. I LOVE parades. They are so fun. There were local teamsters and union groups, shriners, tractors, classic cars, firetrucks, the local cowboy church on horseback, a camel, and my favorite, the band, colorguard, cheerleaders, and dance team from my high school. I was on colorguard my junior and senior years, and it was some of my best memories from high school.
We spent the rest of the day relaxing, and I tried to get a few last minute things done. I made a case for my uke out of a cheap one shoulder backpack from Wal-Mart, and some cut up egg crate mattress pads. Shelby and I decorated the bag with keychain beads (including one with a cat bead that says “Mahowah”, a tribute to Desmond. He doesn't say Meow. He says Mahowah), Mom and I went to the store to get some iron on patches for our airporters, and a tracfone so I could call family to let them know we got to Chicago safely, etc. I also made some homemade mosquito spray out of lavender, eucalyptus, and lemongrass essential oils, vanilla extract, and water. Emmitt, one of my parents' cats, was really interested in what I was doing, so I held the bottle of lavender extract about a foot in front of him so he could smell it. He then proceeded to gag. He also gags when you run your fingers over the teeth of a comb. Really bad gag reflex, I guess. It was funny.
I went to bed around 12:30, and got up at 3:00 AM. We had to leave the house at 4 AM to get to the Amtrak station in St. Louis in time. I'm pretty sure we didn't forget anything, but I may remember something later on. If we forgot it, then, oh well.
So, Mom, Shelby, Josh and I left the house WAY before the crack of dawn, and drove up to St. Louis. We arrived at the station, got our bags out of the car, paid for parking, and walked into the station. That's when it got real.
Stay tuned for Part 2.
