6-12-21 Big Mercy High School 50th Class Reunion!

 The day this trip was planned for.  But the reunion wasn't until 6pm, so we had a lot of the day to fill before then.

First---checking out the view from our room at the Drury Inn.  Not bad.  Considering how close we were to I-70, it was really pretty quiet.  

I didn't realize this hotel was in the new area of St. Charles where there are a bunch of restuarants and fancy shops.  For someone who was mobile, it would be a neat place to walk to 3 meals a day!

We also didn't hear noise from the pool below us.  I did take my swimsuit, but never found time to hit the pool---here or in Knoxville.

One of the things that attracted me to this hotel, other than it being close to his reunion, is that it advertised complimentary hot breakfast and evening meal.  So did the Knoxville one, but they still weren't serving food---one of the many disappointing things with the Homewood Suites there.

We arranged to meet a couple of our Florissant friends at Pirrone's Pizza for lunch.  So we left early and dropped some tools off for Faith's Dad, and then drove down our old street again.

There she is!---17 Graybrooke---hiding behind the trees. 

Even drove by our rental property---1490 E Duchesne.  I was rather surprised to see all the plants in the front gone---as well as the flower boxes.  Whomever bought that house after the 2 month reno sure overpaid!  They sold it for about $50,000 more then we sold it for and they did cheap stuff like painting the floors and counters, ... .

I'm really glad we're not living there now with all the construction going on at the outer road and I-270 there! 

Even had Dunn down to a 1 lane road!

After a really nice lunch/visit with Sue and Connie,  we headed back to the hotel to get ready for the reunion.  Got to the Old Opera House on Main st. about 6:15.  Norb and Diane Giessmann had a table saved for us right by the front.  It was nice visiting with them---the only people I kind of knew. 

It was quite crowded and VERY noisy.

Many people came up to talk to Ken.  He'd been pretty active on the Reunion Facebook page for the past year, so many of them had already been communicating. 

some even brought their old yearbook---and photos.

Norb had recently gone through his own cancer treatments---for prostate cancer, but I think they got it early enough to treat it well (unlike Dad's).

The memories they had on the tables.

even their school song.

and important events that happened during their high school years.

more visitors for Ken.

Even had a memory tree for those who had passed on already.

The charge for the event was $50/person.  Not bad for the building, appetisers, and cake.  And the cake was very good!

Not too easy to get around in a wheelchair.

I decided to go outside and enjoy some quiet for awhile.  So I walked up and down Main Street.

All the years we lived here and all the times I'd ridden the Katy trail across the street from here, I really hadn't spent much time on Main street. 

It really is a cute historic old town---former capital of Missouri even.

lots of restaurants and little shops.

lots of outside dining, too, but with the temps being in the upper 90s and 100 while we were there, not many people were eating outside.

love all the trees and flowers along the street, too.

City Hall

Love the photos in the windows

looks like a page out of history.

Too bad the shops closed at 6.  Lots of people in the restuarants and bars, but I probably would have enjoyed checking out some shops.

almost sunset

and back to the Grand Opera House building. 

While I was gone they did take a group photo.  Ken was nowhere to be found, so I sat at our table and chatted with Diane.  She hadn't gone to Mercy, either, so knew as many people as I did.

I think this is the guy that thanked Ken for introducing him to his 1st x-wife.

I believe this was the lady who ran the event.

back at our table---except for Ken.  He was off visiting still---or again.

 The alumni that showed up (not counting all the spouses).

 

about 9:30 Ken was getting tired and wanted to leave.  So we bid farewell to the Giessmans. 

We hadn't seen them much since they live in Columbia, but he was one that Ken kept in contact with over the years.

Back in St. Louis-------the kids were having their own fun

layla even learned to fly!

don't remember what this look was for.

 Other than a bit of a fight in the afternoon, the day turned out pretty good.  I even accused him of feeling better because he was contradicting me all day.