His name is Gene
And he drove the trolley from the hotel to the Christmas Tradition ❤️🎄
[I’ve realized it could be challenging for me to maintain two blogs, because many of the stories I will want to write for one, I will also want to write for the other. I guess they will be duplicates in some ways, and only the family blog will include a bit more private stories or those including more sensitive information.]
We’ve lived here fifteen years now. That’s longer than John has ever lived anywhere else, and almost as long as I lived in the house where I grew up. 19 years will break that record. It’s coming soon. Unless, of course, we are able to achieve our dream of having a home on a piece of property shared by our children and their families. Who knew that what John and I dreamed of would actually be something they would all come to desire themselves? Whether or not that’s what God has in store for us is yet to be seen. :-). We can hope, and we do. We can pray, and we do. But whatever God has for us is certain to be better than what we have in mind for ourselves, so we will continue to trust Him with our present and our future.
Now back to Gene. After living here for those aforementioned fifteen years, we finally did one of the many things we’ve said so often we “ought” to do - we went to St. Charles, MO to experience the Christmas Tradition! As is often the case, we were prompted to do so mostly because one of our son-in-loves is a hotel manager and had meetings scheduled at one of the newest hotels in that chain that happens to be just a stone-throw distance from that area. Literally, we walked out the front door of the hotel, walked across the street and caught a ride on the trolley that transports folks to and from the loop where the Christmas Traditions is located. The trolley ride was such a nice way to begin and end our evening. When we stepped up at the end of the evening to go back to the hotel, the driver initially indicated he wouldn’t be going that far but he’d get us close. He told the only other couple on the trolley the same about their location. But he ended up dropping them at the door - literally - of their hotel, and he took us right back to our original drop off too. What a nice man, generous heart. He very well could have just stuck to the original route and made us walk a little ways - it finally got cold around here! - but he didn’t. And if you know me at all, you understand why before I got off the bus I paused for a moment to ask him his name. I just quickly explained that when I’m making good memories like those tonight, I like to remember the names of the people who are part of the memories. He smiled and said, “Gene, my name is Gene.” Well Gene, thank you! UIKEYINPUTDOWNARROW
Our first stop was actually at Bar Louie for dinner. It wasn’t fantastic, but it was good. Enjoyed time spent with Josh and Christina more than anything. Then we added a few layers to keep warm for the evening, and waited by the cinema for the trolley. Got some photos by the nearby tree.
The trolley drop off was at the Tourism Center on the loop. We started our walk with hot chocolate from Kilwin’s. We also bought some pecan brittle to bring home for our later enjoyment LOL.
We strolled up and down the Main Street and in and out of some of the shops. The only one that landed a purchase from me was, of course, a book shop. I bought a copy of Robert Frost’s Stopping by Woods on a Ssnowy Evening. It is illustrated by Susan Jeffers, and it’s quite beautiful.
Thinking we were going to sit for a spell and enjoy the outdoor patio with fire pits, and some hot lobster bisque, we stopped at Braddens. As it turned out, the patio seating was for the pub on the other side, but the lobster bisque was here, so we stayed and took seating inside, nice and cozy. What a great little place!! Talk about Hygee :-). The bisque was so delicious!!! And the bread served was incredible also. Just a late night snack, a stretch for John because he was miserable from the earlier meal. His stomach you know...
We finished up just in time to walk back to catch the trolley. We watched the last little bit of the parade and closing gathering. A perfect night really.
The next day, Josh had to leave to go back to Springfield to work, and Christina, John and I went to the Picasso’s Coffee Shop. Yum. Then Duluth Trading Company. I’ll save all that for another post.
Wonderful memory made - check!
Peace
We strolled up and down the Main Street and in and out of some of the shops. The only one that landed a purchase from me was, of course, a book shop. I bought a copy of Robert Frost’s Stopping by Woods on a Ssnowy Evening. It is illustrated by Susan Jeffers, and it’s quite beautiful.
Thinking we were going to sit for a spell and enjoy the outdoor patio with fire pits, and some hot lobster bisque, we stopped at Braddens. As it turned out, the patio seating was for the pub on the other side, but the lobster bisque was here, so we stayed and took seating inside, nice and cozy. What a great little place!! Talk about Hygee :-). The bisque was so delicious!!! And the bread served was incredible also. Just a late night snack, a stretch for John because he was miserable from the earlier meal. His stomach you know...
We finished up just in time to walk back to catch the trolley. We watched the last little bit of the parade and closing gathering. A perfect night really.
The next day, Josh had to leave to go back to Springfield to work, and Christina, John and I went to the Picasso’s Coffee Shop. Yum. Then Duluth Trading Company. I’ll save all that for another post.
Wonderful memory made - check!
Peace
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