We started it all out with seeing our little ginkgo tree's mommy. For those of you that have followed our travels in the past, this is about the little ginkgo tree that we brought back home from Illinois a few years ago. It has it's own registration and number. He was born in Hampton, Illinois, and his mommy was HUGE. She was cut down a few years ago, moved to the history center in Hampton, which was at this time, carved with the most wonderful scenes. We all feel so proud that our little ginkgo tree comes from this wonderful experiment. So, we felt we just had to go over to the history center to see the history of our little fella. It was most impressive... Here is a picture of the mother tree at the center, and the carvings...
The next day was the "memory walk", which we all had planned for so long. There is kind of a story to this. A group of us all lived in the same area, and attended the same school (Longfellow School). We all, each day, walked through the park, to the bottom of the hill to attend school. Close a fast friendships were developed during these walks through the years, and we have kept in touch throughout the years. We all thought that it would be the perfect time, while we were at the class reunion, to do a "memory walk" while here. There were a few that had passed on, some that were too far away to make it, and a few that were, physically unable to do the walk. So, we gathered together the ones that could, and walked. Boy... we had forgotten how steep the hills here, how far it was.... funny, when we were little ones, we just scampered up and down the hills!
But, we made it... a little winded, but we did... How strange, looking at the school... "didn't it seem bigger?" we all said. They are in the process of tearing and remodeling it, so it won't be the same next year... so it was good timing for us. We all sure enjoyed being together again.... even if we were all older, grayer, heavier...
The reunion was wonderful. There were more there than they had even planned on. It was two days just packed with things and places to go. Really kept us busy. Pat talking (lost my voice), Jim taking pictures. Friday night was pizza night, over 200 were there! Met lots of my classmates husbands and wives. Sat. morning we went over to the high school for a tour. Wow, have things changed!! But, there were still places that it was like I was just there last week. Really a strange feeling, knowing the last time I was there was 50 years ago! Sat. night was the reunion. I would not even know where to start to tell you about that! Just suffice to say, a good time was had by all.
After leaving the quad cities, we headed on out toward Missouri. Had to stop and take a picture of the "World's largest rocking chair". We were following along Route 66 when we came upon it.
It was one of our "unusual pictures" that we run upon every now and then... strange, huh?
The corn fields are all being cut now, and the farmers are really working hard to get it all done.
Since Jim is a John Deere man, we had to, of course take a picture of one in the fields...
Well, we will be off again tomorrow morning, and have to admit, we are looking forward to being home again... Thor says he is even kind of tired....
That's all for now...so, will being saying
see ya.....
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