Thursday, September 17, 2009

After all the fun and frivolity from the night before, Pam and I were much later walking Clarabel this morning than usual. The sun was completely up and the school kids were all standing outside waiting for the bus—much more activity at 7 a.m. than at 5:30 a.m. when Pam and Clara usually walk.

This morning’s sustenance was provided by Cappuccino’s Café. Lattes (which I thought were better than Starbucks—yes, that’s what I said), blueberry muffin, blueberry scone, and French toast with bacon were our choices. We have so enjoyed our morning coffees, pastries, and visiting. The fond memories of laughter and conversation while breaking our fast around Pam’s kitchen table will sustain us for some time to come.

We left Pam’s about noon today for Maryville University. Pam was so excited to introduce her mom and sister to her co-workers. What mom and I discovered, however, was the people we met today are so much more than co-workers—they are Pam’s extended family. Mom and I loved getting to see the building where Pam works—her office, her desk, her 5-star restroom—but, we could never have imagined the genuine kindness which we would receive from each person we met. It is so easy now to see why Pam has been with Maryville all these years, and such a proud feeling to see that Pam means so very much to each and every one of the lives she touches. We take home with us not only a visual of where Pam works every day, but a better understanding of her loyalty to the area and the work she does at Maryville University.

Olive Garden was our stop for lunch today. Pam shared her birthday gift card with us, and we savored each bite of salad, breadsticks, and pasta. Next on our agenda was more shoes shopping for Mom. At Chesterfield Mall, we found what we hope will be the answer to Mom’s shoe dilemma at The Walking Company. Two pairs of shoes have been ordered and will be shipped to moms next week. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that they will fit.

I cannot recall the last time Pam and Mom and I were all in a shopping mall together. We talked to mannequins, sampled expensive perfumes from the tester bottles in Macy’s, helped Mom purchase her first pair of silver hoop earrings, and watched mom overindulge in her selections at the Nestle Toll House Café. Mom had an overwhelming urge to purchase expensive cocktail dresses for Pam and me—talk about your impulse shopping!!

On the way back to Pam’s, we stopped at Kaldi’s Coffeehouse and Oberweis Dairy for coffee and ice cream treats. Pam showed us the Westinn Kennels where Clarabel goes on Thursdays.

Mom and I will leave for Marshalltown tomorrow morning. What we take with us is far more than the surprise we brought to Pam. I think I speak for mom when I say we certainly have a better appreciation of where Pam and Matt live, laugh, and love their life. We have thoroughly enjoyed our visit and so glad we got to share in some of their daily activities. Love you Pam!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

The later we stay up at night, the later we get up for our morning walk. This morning, Pam took Clara and me on a different route, and as the sun came up over O’Fallon, I got to see more of the beautiful homes and pristine landscaping throughout her neighborhood.

The treats with our Starbucks favorites this morning came from Heaven Scent Bakery. Plain cake donuts, old-fashioned glazed donuts, and cannoli were just a few of the sweet treats we selected.

After breakfast, we were on a mission to find mom some comfortable shoes. Shoe Carnival, Famous Footwear, and Heart and Sole were the three places we tried. Unfortunately, we were not successful in our mission, but we got some good leads on prospective shoe places to try tomorrow.

The rest of the day, while mom and Pam researched shoe store possibilities and played Scrabble, I went to Washington, MO (about 40 miles from O'Fallon) to visit my friend Cindy. Cindy and I got to know one another when we lived in Washington for three and a half months in 1998 for Joel’s job. I hadn’t seen Cindy in over seven years, and it was great to reconnect and see how her kids had grown. Cindy also took me on a tour of Washington so I could see how much it had grown and changed since we had lived there. I got back to O’Fallon in time to sit in rush hour traffic.

For supper, we picked up burritos, tacos, and chips from Qdoba Mexican Grill. It’s very much like a Chipotle or B.A. Burrito. While we dined, I learned more about Mom and Pam’s Scrabble game. “Irregardless” of what I say or “doeth” those two are very competitive when it comes to board games and sometimes it takes a call to the National Scrabble Hotline to settle a score.

The end of the evening involved an incident with an American Idol Wii game. Let’s just say that if anything winds up on You Tube from tonight, it wasn’t me!!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Our visit is limited as Mom and I will be heading back to Iowa on Friday. Therefore, we must not waste any daylight! Not only that, but we should probably not waste any pre-daylight time either. So Pam, and my ca-niece, Clarabel, and I were up at 5:30 a.m. to take a two and a half mile walk around their neighborhood and adjoining subdivision. It was a balmy 69 degrees, and the time passed quickly as we conversed and observed the morning paper delivery car toss out the day’s news.

Breakfast consisted of caffeinated beverages from Starbucks and bagels and cream cheese from the St. Louis Bread Co. Anywhere else, this bagel place would be called Panera’s, but in this region, it goes by its original name from whence it began. I had a cherry vanilla bagel, mom enjoyed a cinnamon crunch bagel with raspberry cream cheese, and Pam chose the asiago bagel. Why do the bagels taste so much better here??

Mom decided to stay at home and catch up on her napping and having her feet up after the previous day’s long ride in the car, so Pam and I ventured out to St. Charles for a day of shopping on Historic Main Street. We made a couple stops on the way at Kohls and Mid-Rivers Mall for some necessities. Even though the sky was gray and overcast, Pam and I were walking on sunshine. We were having a wonderful time wandering in and out of the various gift and specialty shops lining the cobblestone streets. We inhaled the fabulous aroma at “Scentchips;” Pam petted the puffy pooch outside “Canine Cookies,” “Collectors’ Centre” made us long for the Christmas season; and we got a little froggy at “Friperie.” At “String Along With Me,” we were invited into the owner’s backroom work area to browse beads and findings. Pam took my picture under the “Deb’s Gifts and More” sign. After we stopped at the Gazebo for a photo opportunity, we decided we needed to partake in some of the local fare. I spotted people eating on a third floor balcony, and we joined them for lunch at the Lewis & Clark’s Restaurant.

Before leaving St. Charles, we found the 2nd Street Beads store. I could’ve spent several hours and several hundreds of dollars here, but somehow refrained. Pam understands as she could’ve done the same at a couple of shops on Main that we passed by: “Rock, Paper, Scissors” (a scrapbooking store), and “Knit & Caboodle.”

I love the names of the stores and shops in this area. Pam had to stop at Muddpuppies for dog food before we made our food run. Penn Station East Coast Subs has melt-in-your-mouth bread and fresh, tasty toppings. A cold treat I haven’t had the pleasure of partaking in for some time is Baskin-Robbins ice cream. Of course, we have some of that for our dessert. Mmmmm—Chocolate Mousse Royale. Why are Baskin-Robbins stores so few and far between!??! Irregardless, it was just as I remembered and a high-def, sculpting workout was definitely in order after all those calories—Thanks for making it the “express” version, Pam!!

Enough about food—must sleep now so I can eat more tomorrow.

Monday, September 14, 2009

They said it couldn’t be done.

They said we would never make it.

Okay, there was really no “they,” but MY MOTHER was certain she would never be able to make the trip in the car down to her youngest daughter’s in O’Fallon, Missouri. The last time she had been there was in 1999 when Pam’s house was just being built.

On my sister’s last visit to Iowa, I could hear the sadness in her voice as she told me that mom had never been down to see her home after they moved in. It was after that conversation that I vowed in my own mind to get our mom to my sister’s. About the first part of August I began to voice my plan out loud to Mom. At the time, I thought how perfect it would be to schedule a trip around Pam’s birthday and bring mom along as a surprise. To MY surprise, Mom was agreeable. Looking back, I believe mom never thought my plan would come to fruition.

As it turns out, Pam is always incredibly busy with the Maryville University admissions duties where she works and can’t take time off during her birthday.

I began to lose sight of my plan when I got caught up with Mary’s school schedule and helping with the school election. But something kept niggling at me that I needed to carry through with the trip.

Well, a few hundred fabrications to Pam, LOTS of reassuring and planning with Mom that we could make it, some doubts of my own, and seven and a half hours on the road, and we were arriving at Pam’s. I had made three or four calls to Pam during the course of the day with “my” progress and estimated time of “my” arrival. Mom and I were giddy with anticipation of what Pam’s reaction would be.

Pam did not disappoint. When she came around the side of the garage to greet me and saw mom in the passenger seat, it was a series of epileptic movements. First Pam did the classic double take, then her hand flew up to her mouth, her eyes grew wide and she crossed her legs and doubled over. And then like a prairie dog she dodged back and forth from her front door and back out to peer into the van at what she assumed must be a mirage. And then she began muttering, “Oh, oh, oh,” and something about needing to go to the bathroom. The planning and scheming totally became worth it at this point!!

Throughout the remainder of the night, Pam kept requesting that we pinch her as she must be dreaming. A banner on her living room fireplace mantle proclaimed “Welcome to Sister Week 2009 in St. Louis 9/14-9/18.” Pam quickly added the word “Mom” in red marker so it read, “Welcome to Mom and Sister Week.”

First on the agenda was a trip to Starbucks followed by a small grocery run. Pam then fixed us her yummy tuna melt hot dish for supper and followed it up with some delicious “homemade” ;) Nestle’s Tollhouse Cookies.

We made a list of what we wanted to accomplish during the week and then attempted to go to sleep, but instead tossed and turned due to the adrenaline still pumping through our veins.