Birds of a Feather, Flock Together--Not Always

Today was one of those days where I got an inspirational writing topic while walking the outdoor track near the college. The weather the last few days has been unseasonably nice (no humidity and not hot as hell) Even while wearing my IPod to listen to music  I could definitely hear very loud squawking from the many birds in the outlying trees.

Growing up near the ocean my list of frequently viewed birds was a pretty short list. Sparrows, black birds and poop birds or seagulls by their true name. Since moving to the Midwest the list of birds has definitely changed, cardinals, sparrows, hawks, owls, woodpeckers, and probably many more that a am not sure the name of but one bird in particular definitely has made an impression.

The Blue Jay. This bird stands out in front of all the rest. Why you might ask? Well they are at the head of the class in just about everything they come in contact with. They are loud, annoying, egomaniacs, I could think of several other things but also I notice that when they are around every other bird usually gets out of Dodge. If one Blue Jay flies into a tree, all the other birds seem to fly off somewhere else. They are very territorial in that if anyone or anything gets into its way, watch out you will more than likely be dive bombed.

 I know when our dogs were just little puppies and would go out into the yard it was like a blue jay would come into the yard, squawking and terrorizing them until they had enough and wanted back into the house. Then the Blue Jay would sit proudly on a tree branch or the fence with that "guess I took care of them" attitude. To me they are probably one of the most beautiful birds. And they no it too. Maybe that is why they have the forward attitude that they do. Even during the fall and winter months when all the other birds seem to disappear, you can always find a single blue jay in the trees yelling, hey I am here!!Do you hear me!! Well fall will be here before we know it and the leaves will be falling from the trees, but I am sure a Mr or Mrs. Blue Jay will be paying a call somewhere. Come fine feathered friend, I'm listening.

A 29 Year Trip into a 3 Day Weekend

These days I find myself just wanting to get away from everyday life. I envy those who get to have summer, winter or any vacations. When you really have to stop and think how long its been since you have been anywhere, its definitely time to get out of town. This year has been both a challenge and a blessing in many ways. Recently I told David I really thought we should get away for our anniversary. Even though I planned the weekend, I wanted to make sure that we both got to do something fun and not break the bank. It had been several anniversaries ago that we went to a B&B. David really wasn't to jazzed about it but I thought maybe I would try it again. I really sold the idea (its a very large estate, history etc). I didn't want it to be too far (3 hours) and figured I would throw a little history into the mix.

Hannibal, MO is on the Mississippi River and was birthplace to Mark Twain, Molly Brown and the River. I knew that we would be able to find some interesting things to get into. Also in researching I also found out that a Corvette show would be in town on Saturday (another plus on David's side). So we packed up the car (Corvette) and got an early start out of Sedalia.

Unfortunately, the car didn't apparently feel like making the trip this time and we turned around and had to get the other vehicle. (of course when we took it in they couldn't find anything wrong with it) Not a good way to start a trip we thought but only an hour behind, we forged on. I packed my book to read and David tuned into talk radio and on we drove. The scenery is as usual corn field, soybean field for miles but the good weather was ahead and the clouds and possible rain we left behind us.

Our first stop was the Rockcliffe Mansion. The neighborhood had a sprinkling of historical homes and homes turned into apartments but high on the quarry stone hill was the Mansion. As we drove up the massive driveway the first thing I thought was "I'm not sure the Vet would have made it up the drive without bottoming out. The mansion was started in 1898 and finished two years later by J. J. Cruikshank for his wife and four daughters. The classic Greek Revival cost $125,000 to build. (more facts go to RockcliffeMansion.com.

We stayed in one of the daughter's bedroom known now as the Magnolia Room. The east facing room provided no need for an alarm clock due to the early sunrise. Now the first thing I noticed as I walked in was the beautiful antique furniture and the detailed windows, David on the other hand look complete around the room and the first words out of his mouth, "No TV"?  Actually this we both found later wasn't a necessity since we walked around all day and were really too tired to even watch TV during the trip. Sitting in the room looking out to the Mississippi River going back in time to no, technology, just the thought of conversation, reading, and writing as some of the only form of entertainment made me appreciate the history and where we are today. Our first day consisted of walking the Corvette Show and wishing our car would have been able to make the trip, but they did have a good turn out at the show. Apparently, it was the biggest they had since it started.

We hiked up half the stairs to the Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse (244 total) it was hot and steep so we drove the other half. (Normally I pride myself in walking but this was vacation and cheated a little).The downtown area, like many small towns is going through revitalization both to bring in tourists but also due to river flooding an storm damages over the course of the last several years.

 David suggested a Dinner Cruise on the Mississippi River. The Mark Twain Riverboats' 2 hour cruise was a relaxing end too our first day.

Juan Ruiz the owner of Rockcliffe provided a wonderful breakfast and conversation/history about the house. We were the only guests the first night so morning questions about the house were many. He purchased the home three years ago to retire and refurbish. He turned it into a B&B/Museum. He is from Miami, FL so definitely a culture shock for him. But, he enjoys the work and the people who come to visit. Also his friend and tour guide Mary had a wealth of information about the house since she had previously, with her husband acted as caretaker for the home for over 10 years prior to Juan purchasing the home. Her knowledge and details of the family and the house made for a terrific guided tour. I hope someday it will be back completely to its grandeur of the days of the past.

The remainder of the day consisted of tours of everything Mark Twain, the Molly Brown (from Titanic fame) Birthplace and Museum. We ended our last night at a wonderful French Bistro LaBinnah Bistro, a converted house. Every restaurant should provide as they did reading glasses for those who forget to bring (David).

Our last day was to be spent in St. Louis at the casino. It had been a while since we had been there and again it made me long for the old time one-armed bandits, and the simplicity of casinos. Today its even more lights and bells with very little money clanging into the winning slot. Although, David did much better than I did we both had to admit casinos like everything else just isn't what it used to be.

It made me think back to 29 years of marriage, all that we have been through together, and what is ahead. Many things on our weekend with Mark Twain and his profound words in his writings but one stood out the most to me on a plaque in the garden of his museum.

Mark Twain started with the raw material of his own experiences to make stories that still amuse and challenge us today. Some of the stories we tell about our own childhoods have special meaning: they help us to explain why we have turned out to be the people we are. When Twain created stories based on his past, he did more than explain himself. He explained something about all of us, some true about human beings. As you walk through the rooms of his boyhood home and think about the stories he told, what stories do you remember from childhood?

 Corvette Show-Hannibal

Mark Twain Home/Tom Sawyer Fence

Magnolia Room-Rockcliffe Mansion

The Mighty Mississippi River