Since COVID really took hold here in Iowa, especially in Linn and Black Hawk counties, we haven’t left these counties. A change of scenery is helpful to one’s psyche, just to excite the senses once in a while. I had that chance this past weekend.
My 20 yr old son, Stephen, invited me to go with him to St. Louis for a Cardinals game at Busch Stadium. He loves baseball and the Cards. I, on the other hand, do not. Never been a baseball fan, but I do know that watching a game on TV will put me to sleep. Seeing one in a stadium, even a AAA or farm league is more fun.
Well, we drove down Friday night and stayed in St. Charles. Rain was expected most of the day so we knew there would be probably be a rain delay. Game was supposed to be 1:15p, then it was 3:15, then 3:35… That was when the rain had stopped enough to start drying the field some and roll the infield tarp back up. Cards versus Cincinnati Reds. No homeruns, no runs at all from the Reds and only 2 for the Cards. It was a slow paced game to say the least. But, in the last couple of innings, the clouds broke up and some nice sunshine brought some much needed color to an otherwise very gray day.
Stephen and I don’t see each other much as he works a a lot and lives in the Quad Cities. We text and FB message and even Snap (well, he snaps and I respond) to stay in communication. His idea to spend some good, quality time with ol’ dad was just what my therapist ordered (not really. Haven’t seen him in over a month. I just know he would have more than approved). It was GREAT getting away from here and seeing and doing things that were different than what I’ve been doing for 13 months now… Of course, I wanted to find some record stores and we did. Vintage Vinyl in St. Louis is awesome! LOTS of great quality stuff and the prices were much more affordable than I thought they’d be. I bought 3 records, 2 of which are good contenders for Sunday Night Vinyl!
We had a great time together. That was the main point of doing this; to be together and enjoying each others company. We hit up Bass Pro Shop, had some killer BBQ at Hendrick’s BBQ, walked up an down Delmar Loop , looking at the “Walk of Fame“, took a pic with Chuck Berry, and ate at Blueberry Hill, bought a few things at a Rocket Fizz store, smelled lots of amazing local grub from the restaurants on the strip and wanted to get a rootbeer float from Fitz’s, but the line was pretty long and we needed to get on the road back home.
It was a nice getaway and a great time to spend time with my son. He’s a good guy with a great work ethic and does so much for others, he’s not always available to spend time together. Glad he made it work for us both!
