Janie visits the Lou (Janie part 6)

 

Janie comes to the Lou - June 30 to July 2, 2023
Janie (part 6)
 
Janie is a busy retired nurse, although you might not notice given all the shifts she still takes on. She is mom to four and grandmother to five and more (since she has three brothers with a boatload of extended family members).

She’s coming to see me in Saint Louis in spite of it all. She arrives in the afternooon. If things go as planned, she might catch the tail end of the post game of my golf outing (AMA event I have orchestrated for 20+ years). After that, we will enjoy some grillin’ and chillin’ at Perry Drake's place in Chesterfield. Perry and gal-pal Beth are anxious to meet Janie. (The weather forced us indoors but steak, corn on the cob and baked potatoes were more than enough to enjoy over the diner table.) 

Janie settled on June 30 - July 2 after too many conflicts/schedule changes in our respective lives. We first discussed the idea of her visiting months ago. She made it happen and that is really wonderful. My American Marketing Association annual golf event, at first, I thought it could be a conflict but upon further reflection I realized it might be a perfect scenario for her to meet and be met by some of the people in my life in Saint Louis. (I promised her at least one friend named Dave. She did, she met Dave Cox.)

I cannot contain the excitement of the Janie visit with me in Saint Louis. It’s just a window of time that has her flying Southwest arriving on Friday, June 30, 2023 and flying away back to Cleveland on Sunday July 2, 2023. My two-bedroom apartment at Millennium Creve Coeur needs some tidying up but I have time to donate a few furniture items to the St. Vincent Thrift Store and make a little space for my evolving lifestyle. I got some flowers and some grocery items (including some green tea for Janie).

Friday - American Marketing Association golf event at Creve Coeur Golf Course: Dave Cox agreed to MC the final scoring and awards portion of the post game activities. Janie’s flight is on time and arrives at 3:20 p.m. We caught the handful of golfers still hanging around at CCGC. Janie met Dave, Tom Shaughnessy and got a glimpse of a few players after they have survived this 100+ degree day.  

                       
We check into my bachelor pad long enough for her to see the impromptu gallery space of random art that adorns the walls including the big 30+ year retrospective of family photos leading up to the weddings of Ben and Lindsey in 2012 and 2014.

We have tickets to see the Cardinals vs the New York Yankees on Saturday at 1:15. I convince Janie to head downtown early so we can peruse the amazing public sculptural art at City Garden, the historic Wainwright building and the Gateway Arch.

Our “nose bleed” seats are in section 439 in the upper deck at the end of the first base line. We have the benefit of a bit of midday shade in this section. The Cards dominate behind the pitching of Jack Flaherty. (By Sunday the Cardinals will have won this game and 2 out of 3 for the weekend and win the series against the American League New York Yankees.) 

We left this game a bit early (the Cards has an 11-0 lead). We left behind our Roger Marris Bobble Heads/attendance prize. We reached the parking garage in time for a rain downpour. (My plan to include a quick stop at the Saint Louis Art Museum on the way home was spoiled as I became disoriented in Forest Park due to the heavy rain.)

Trying to outsmart traffic in the rain resulted in my getting us a little lost before getting onto I-170 North in time for a weather delay, downed power lines, and power outages that turned that innerbelt thoroughfare into a parking lot. My otherwise reliable transportation overheated and we limped off I-170 as traffic was directed to drive in the wrong direction to the ramps to exit. The steam was visible from my engine and Janie got to witness my lack of problem-solving skills as we waited at the parking lot of the University City House of India restaurant (closed due to power outage).

The AAA tow truck arrived after an hour and a half and carted Janie and me and the Ford Fiesta-Jet to my apartment complex parking area. Dave Cox rescued us the next morning as our shuttle ride to the Lambert International Airport so Janie could get to Terminal 2 to catch her 8:45 a.m. flight.

Janie’s patience was tested. She manages to compartmentalize the adversity (as she does expertly). Reading a book on her iPhone and resisting the opportunity to listen in to the calming advice of my brother Greg on my cell phone.

My positive spin on this less-than-optimal day comes as I remind her that we are most fortunate to be spending time together. She is guarded and not so quick to agree with my Pollyanna outlook. Nevertheless a sweet kiss goodbye ends this visit at the airport on Sunday. 

I’ll deal with my overheating Fiesta on Monday and Tuesday (One day at a time.)    

P.S. This is part six of a love story. It seems that we may or may not weather this storm. I've been "all in" with faith and belief in "divine intervention" but God might be saying (in not so many words): "Not so fast buddy boy." Janie wants some time to think and feels she needs to step back a little bit. I just hope she gets home safely and, with time, sees the humor in this unusual weather weekend in Saint Louis.