Soulard Day
Friday, December 11, 2009
It was Soulard Day.
Puck woke that morning, greeting OLeif with the following conversation:
“I need get some new headphones, Daddy. They’re in the store, the shop.”
And when OLeif explained that they were all going to Soulard to get candy, Puck replied with a big grin, “I will eat the whole ffing (thing).” Once over at the house, the big old green thing had died, so they took the red Civic and the Fit, (everyone but Dad and Rose), picked up Grandma Combs in Florissant, Carrie told them about the St. Louis Lebanese mafia and bombings in the 1980’s, and then arrived at Soulard before ten o’clock.
“Let’s go see the cookie lady, Puck,” said Grandma.
This was the first station on the list. Almost everyone picked out a danish or a cookie, placed in white paper bags.
This was followed with the spice shop to look at all the cheese, salamis, spices, etc. Rose had requested smoked Gouda, and Carrie also picked up a package of the same for Kitts’ upcoming return.
Then the pet store for Puck to look in awe at all the gerbils, fire-bellied toads, fish, eels, bunnies, dogs, roosters, etc.
And to the Italian bread table with freshly-baked loaves from The Hill, where the tall man with bright blue eyes sold Grandma a loaf of Hawaiian sweet bread and pumpernickel for her winter tea on Monday evening.
Then goat cheese.
And finally the candy stall for peanut brittle for Dad, and other assorted Christmas candies. They then arrived ten minutes early at Crown Candy for lunch with the usual heart-stopper BLT’s, the Big Cheese, chili mac, etc., and chocolate malts. On the way out, OLeif bought Puck a tiny chocolate Santa Claus.
And all the while, Puck asked excitedly about, “Where’d Arch go?”
He had a new favorite thing. Then back to the house for Francis to fix the green van, and Mom and Grandma and all the boys (except OLeif) to take their naps. By the time Rose had returned from work, it was time for Grandma, Mom, Collette, Carrie-Bri, and Rose to leave for Hanging of the Greens at Memorial for the usual candles, greenery, poinsettias, children dressed as sheep, camels, donkeys, Mary, and Joseph.
And then cheese danish and bottled juice and coffee at Old Town Donuts, ending the evening at ten o’clock.
“I need get some new headphones, Daddy. They’re in the store, the shop.”
And when OLeif explained that they were all going to Soulard to get candy, Puck replied with a big grin, “I will eat the whole ffing (thing).” Once over at the house, the big old green thing had died, so they took the red Civic and the Fit, (everyone but Dad and Rose), picked up Grandma Combs in Florissant, Carrie told them about the St. Louis Lebanese mafia and bombings in the 1980’s, and then arrived at Soulard before ten o’clock.
“Let’s go see the cookie lady, Puck,” said Grandma.
This was the first station on the list. Almost everyone picked out a danish or a cookie, placed in white paper bags.
This was followed with the spice shop to look at all the cheese, salamis, spices, etc. Rose had requested smoked Gouda, and Carrie also picked up a package of the same for Kitts’ upcoming return.
Then the pet store for Puck to look in awe at all the gerbils, fire-bellied toads, fish, eels, bunnies, dogs, roosters, etc.
And to the Italian bread table with freshly-baked loaves from The Hill, where the tall man with bright blue eyes sold Grandma a loaf of Hawaiian sweet bread and pumpernickel for her winter tea on Monday evening.
Then goat cheese.
And finally the candy stall for peanut brittle for Dad, and other assorted Christmas candies. They then arrived ten minutes early at Crown Candy for lunch with the usual heart-stopper BLT’s, the Big Cheese, chili mac, etc., and chocolate malts. On the way out, OLeif bought Puck a tiny chocolate Santa Claus.
And all the while, Puck asked excitedly about, “Where’d Arch go?”
He had a new favorite thing. Then back to the house for Francis to fix the green van, and Mom and Grandma and all the boys (except OLeif) to take their naps. By the time Rose had returned from work, it was time for Grandma, Mom, Collette, Carrie-Bri, and Rose to leave for Hanging of the Greens at Memorial for the usual candles, greenery, poinsettias, children dressed as sheep, camels, donkeys, Mary, and Joseph.
And then cheese danish and bottled juice and coffee at Old Town Donuts, ending the evening at ten o’clock.