Birthplace of Raggedy-Ann?
Sunday, November 6, 2005
(6:38am) International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church – Saturday had been a jolly good time. Carrie and Joe dropped Mom, Collette, and Linnea off at Grandma’s apartment, where Grandma already had Carrie’s birthday present ready – two packages of paper Chinese lanterns (which she would string in her room) and a book of tree houses, both of which she loved, of course. Grandma drove from the start in her little silver Saturn, which had wonderful deep seats in the back for long road trips. Although this road trip would not be quite as long – a mere two hours compared to the last of four and a half up to Iowa City.
And the drive was very pleasant. Linnea and Collette looked through Linnea’s American Girl catalog and a book of Caribbean cruises while Collette munched on toffee caramel scones and Mom and Grandma had the cranberry-orange in the front seat. There were also drinks to pass around from the fuel station. And Linnea’s was a specially packed thermos of chocolate milk which Grandma had put together for her from the apartment.
And of course there were the usual conversations as always.
“Will we see sea horses in the Caribbean?” Linnea wanted to know.
Mom and Grandma discussed everything – of a Mrs. Champion who raised African violets, of how Grandma ate benets three times a day while in the French quarter years ago…
“That was the first time I inhaled powdered sugar,” Mom laughed, referring to the first time she sampled a benet, “I thought I was going to die. I was so choked up on the powdered sugar, I couldn’t even cough.”
As they passed the Greenville prison, they discussed the study of Islam which Grandma was going through at Chapel, and of a certain peanut soup she and Mom had tasted in Williamsburg, enough to feed an army. And as the water tower for St. Elmo flashed by, they went on to discuss the Raven’s, Grandma’s latest Normandy lunch, and how on the Snicketts’ family vacation to Tennessee back in 2000, Mom directed them to the wrong Shiloh.
“How can Tennessee have two Shiloh’s?!” She had demanded, probably just about the most upset they had ever seen her.
However, the day had been remedied, and they had visited the Parthenon (life-size replica), and the Loveless Cafe (famous for their biscuits). And the following day they had visited the real Shiloh, where Collette had tried to read the name of every soldier on all the white grave-markers. However, there were many rows remaining by the time they headed off to where the white blossoms of the trees had once bloomed over the dead, and to the bloody pond (Carrie’s and Joe’s personal favorite).
And then Mom shared with them how Linnea’s birthday silly putty had somehow managed to attach itself to the bottom of Dad’s gym shorts. And until Dad could figure out what it was, he thought he might have a tumor. He and Mom guffawed a good deal over that one, as did Grandma, who hooted as they barreled down the highway.
Mom also shared how Dad had teared up while watching a special tribute to Mr. Rogers on Channel 9. Diana told Collette later that her Mom had bawled when she heard that Mr. Rogers had passed away… Wonderful old man that he was.
A train passed to their left, which Grandma tried to watch while at the same time not driving off the road. And then they had finally arrived in Arcola, Illinois, passed a row of Purple Martin houses, and entered the tiny main street where Christmas music played from the old-time loudspeakers affixed to the only main street bank.
And so for the next two hours or so, they shopped, browsing through antiques and newer items. Arcola seemed to be the brith place of Raggedy-Ann, for her image was packed throughout each store, among coffees, lavender soaps, and whimsical country haystacks and stars. Mom and Grandma had neither come with anything in mind for purchase. However, their bags were soon bulging. Mom found a delicate white and gold angel for Aunt Corliss as a housewarming present for when they came over on Christmas. Grandma purchased four jars of raspberry salsa (which was apparently delicious on a pot on meatballs, as she and Mom had both received a sample) – one bottle for herself, two for Mom (which she would serve to the Lord-Welches when they arrived), and one for Collette.
At around one o’clock or so, Linnea had managed to capture at least four or five various chocolate samples from different visited stores. And it was high time to be eating, now that the noon crowd had deteriorated. It was to the Dutch Kitchen (whose specialty ran in fried chicken and Dutch sausage) and while Mom and Grandma ordered the Dutch sausage, Collette and Linnea both went for the traditional grilled cheese, one with French fries, and the other with mashed potatoes. They sat down next to a long table of red-hat ladies from Indiana, whom Grandma had to speak, of course.
After the leisurely hour over lunch, they pushed off across the railroad tracks into the country where they immediately began seeing more Amish, towards the neighboring town of Arthur. Linnea kept her eyes peeled for horse and buggies, and Collette tried to ponder their lifestyle from the little she knew about such folks. They passed many Amish homes, distinct by the curtains of each window being drawn back (a sign of welcome). They passed one home where an older boy (whose shirt had come un-tucked, and looked uncommonly like Jude Law), was pouring a rakeful of leaves over his two younger brothers, wearing suspenders with shirts neatly tucked into their pants.
And in Arthur, as several Amish girls biked past and horse and buggy, they stopped another hour or so for ice cream in a novelty shop called the Buggy Wheel, displaying everything from Amish-made cheeses in cold cases (muenster, smoked cheddar, and mozzarella) to dust brass candlesticks and ancient silk flower arrangements. Such hordes of old “things” always reminded her of Dickens’ Great Expectations. Linnea and Collette enjoyed trying on various cherry-red hats in the back of the store. And Linnea added a purple boa for a bit of a flourish.
After another hour of driving through the country under whipping winds and gray skies, and burning piles of vibrant yellow leaves, it was back to old Saint Louis. And as the hail and lightening blew in from the west, Dad and Frances picked them up at Grandma’s apartment. She readied herself for the evening early, as she would be up for church, Sunday School, and a recording session with “Can’t Beat Experience Jazz Band” followed by dinner with them and their wives at an old restaurant. Beautiful day, as was it always with Mom and Grandma. It was a day Collette realized in a more special way than usual, that not only did she have a mom who was beautiful on the inside, but she was just as beautiful and youthful on the outside.