Sorry, not the best photo, it was taken with an early phone camera.
I have been to Missouri several times, starting as a child, going back in my late teens when I was exploring with my grandmother (she wanted someone to drive and didn't want to travel alone.) Sweet Bear and I went once, exploring my family history, and I have been to a conference in St. Louis - when the photo above was taken.
My great-grandparents on my paternal grandfather's side, were married and lived in St. Louis in the late 1800's. He was a trust fund baby, he married, moved into a suite in a hotel, started a family, and lived really well, until the money ran out a few years later. He then moved to a farm northeast of there, across the Mississippi River in Illinois, where my grandfather was born. Later moving to Detroit seeking Ford's $5 a day.
The Mississippi River is not the geographic center of the country, but in many ways it marks the division between east and west. Missouri is about half way north to south on the country, with it's eastern border being the River, so in one way, Missouri is the center of the country. Because of the River, and later railroads, it was a major transportation hub. When TWA was still flying, it was a major air transportation hub. (I flew TWA once, changing planes in St. Louis before they were merged out of existence.)
Most of the state is rolling farmland. The start of the great plains.
It is a moderate climate. If there was anything there, there, it would be a pleasant place to live.
Misery. Sister-in-law and her MAGA husband live there right near our niece and her MAGA husband.
ReplyDeleteThe politics are ugly.
DeleteI was thinking it might be lovely, but then y'all brought up the MAGA. I'll just look at it from the sky, flying over.
ReplyDeleteThe Arch is fun, the last time I was in St Louis I attended a private after hours party in the Museum and Arch.
DeleteI grew up a little over 100 miles north of St. Louis on the Illinois side of the river. And, in the mid-90's I worked there for 2 years. I flew TWA back forth to Arizona many times and once I even flew TWA from St. Louis to London.
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather was born near Brighton Illinois.
DeleteI've been to St. Louis and also Kansas City.
ReplyDeleteThe two ends of the state.
DeleteTeeeny Weeenie Airlines?
ReplyDeleteNext door neighbor growing up was a TWA Captain.
Will Jay
Trans World, along with Pan Am the major international airlines.
DeleteMy father was born and raised in Kansas City Mo. How he managed to join the navy at fifteen and end up in San Diego no one really knows.
ReplyDeleteEither someone gave consent, or he lied about his age. My father begged his parents to consent to him joining the Army Aircorp, and his mother forbid it. He was drafted near the end of the war, and made it as far as New York. It is always great to hear from you. And his going to San Diego is how you ended up here.
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