Astronauts, Arafat, & Oreo Cows
Saturday, November 6, 2004
Yet another weekend had fallen upon St. Louis, and Collette all happy for it. A nice sunny Saturday at home in the warm November sunshine and an air of creativity was cooking up a nice batch in her mind. Yes, there were seventy-four dishes sitting on the kitchen counters – she had counted them. It would take seven rounds from ten o’clock to four o’clock that day to complete the washing and drying; however, she did not really care about it. It would give her time to think and talk. And come evening they would shop for groceries, with some more ginger ale and chili fixings. And then for liquid soap and another package of thank you notes for OLeif to write from the wedding. Of course, during the day there was plenty of studying as usual, but that was life and Collette rather wished she could be a professional student at times.
The previous afternoon she had hitched a ride with Mom, Francis, and Linnea out to Florissant for a pleasant hour with Grandma Combs. There were wedding photos and European photos (from Mom’s and Dad’s recent three-week tour) and there was chocolate peanut butter pie and oreo cow cookies – a specialty whipped up at the bakery just for Grandma.
Grandma’s place was always homey and welcoming, like home-cooking, with her lighthouse collection, strawberries, and antiques. Florissant itself was like a little French village, and a welcome place during the holidays and Valley of Flowers.
Meanwhile in the world, Yassir Arafat was considered to be upon his deathbed in Paris.
Collette also considered the day’s happenings in St. Louis. While Twelfth Night was being performed at The Repertory Theatre, “Chicago” at the Fox, and the magnificently illuminated “Book of Hours” at the Art Museum, the ten million dollar award for the building of the X-Prize was being presented at an optional black-tie, two hundred seventy-five dollar per ticket party at the St. Louis Science Center that evening. In fact, Uncle Mo was escorting the recent astronauts around St. Louis that very morning in his own vehicle. It was an exciting event that the city was hosting.