IT REALLY IS TRUE "The best things in life are free"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!











Mo. Botanical Gardens on Saturday mornings are free to St Louis City and County residents.











St Louis Zoo is still free











A sunset on the Caribbean ocean.

Under the water at Cozumel Mexico

Photo taken from the Staten Island Ferry and the fare was less than a dollar fifteen years ago.

Observing the beautiful eagles.

The beautiful Flamingos from Busch Gardens in Tampa Fl. Grant Farm employees were given yearly free passes.

A FIRST IN OUR FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!
Our oldest granddaughter Kelsey graduated "SUMMA CUM LAUDE" from her high school.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What can I say to top that wonderful achievement.







Proud parents with the graduate



Far away but Kelsey gave a team speech on the
"challenge for the Future" with another Summa Cum Laude graduate.
Kelsey is the one on the right.

Mother making sure Kelsey is ready.


Kelsey and her friend Brett from Troy Mo.

They will be room mates this year at Harding.

ANOTHER BUSY WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!
Last Thursday our weekend started with Nancy and I attending the sixth grade band concert of grandson Donovan.





Later at Edward's house we celebrated the great performance over cheese cake. HMM !!!Hmm!!! they were both good








Donovan playing the trombone.

Friday found the youngest princess Kayleigh going camping with the girl scouts for her first ever camping trip. I hear she has been inducted into the family MOTTO. "The family that camps together stays together".

Inside her tent

The tent!!!!!!!!

Donovan came over Saturday afternoon and spent the rest of the weekend with grandma and grandpa.

THREE FOR THE PRICE of ONE!!!!!
Tuesday May 4TH found Nancy and I at our oldest granddaughters high school band concert.In addition to her having some featured parts for her Oboe she was inducted into their
"Modern,Music, Masters" society. It was a wonderful evening.

She is receiving her certificate

Kelsey is the first girl on the left

Kelsey is first girl on the right



This week on Tuesday found Nancy and I back at her school for her choral concert.Even thought I am to old to know the songs I did enjoy the concert.




Kelsey is the face behind the girl with the white hat.

Again she is the girl behind the white hat

You could not see her in the pictures playing her Oboe as the orchestra was too large.

On the 18TH Nancy and I plan to return for the BIG graduation event.!!!

FIFTY ONE YEARS AGO TODAY
I HAD A DEFINING MOMENT!!!!!!!!!
Nancy and I made a commitment fifty one years ago tonight and that commitment is still working.
It simply has been a wonderful journey of magnificent proportions.
Believe it or not I still have the moment in my mind when Nancy and her dad entered the church and I whispered to my best man "Wow she is going to spend the rest of my life with me!!!!"
Nancy it is still the BEST decison I ever made.
I LOVE YOU
Ed





On our first anniversary
















Our 25TH was really spent in Hawaii!!!!













Our 40TH























One year ago!!!!!


Wow where did the year go.
Nancy I hope you have enjoyed our journey as much as I have.
I love You!!!
Ed

BARTER THEATER ABINGTON VA. IS #4

ON MY QUEST TO DO 100 THINGS I HAVE NEVER DONE IN 1,097 DAYS

I debated with myself for the last six days about counting this event as obviously I have been to many theaters. However this one is too unique not to count.

*** Theater founded during the great depression opening June 10, 1933

*** The price of admission was .40 or the equivalent in produce, meat,or live animals. thus the name Barter

*** Their motto was " trade a ham for Hamlet"

***In 1946 Barter was designated the state theater of Virginia.

Alumni of Barter include, Gregory Peck,Ernest Borgine, Ned Beatty.

We saw "Always" A story about Patsy Cline. If you followed my journey in 2008 to do seventy things in my seventh year you might remember that #7 was the Ivory theater in St Louis. The Ivory is a former Catholic church in south city.The play we saw was the "Patsy Cline Story", The Ivory theater rendition used a radio broadcast to tell the story of Patsy. The Barter rendition was more entertainment as the story line followed one night in Houston early in Patsy's career when she met a woman that became her friend. The woman played a comic role in between the songs of Patsy. The Ivory theater presentation had a Patsy that really did sound like the real Patsy Cline.

In summation the Barter is a terrific old theater seating about 500 and the Patsy Cline show at the Ivory was closer to the singing sounds of the original Patsy Cline.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOE!!!!!!!!!
Is it not amazing that I have pictures from your youth.
Joe, Nancy and I hope you have a great
B-DAY and a really great year as you train for one of those magical numbered birthdays.
Wait till next year.!!!!!!!!!

Joe Nancy and I have known you for more than 1/2 half of your birthdays and are so happy that you and Terri discovered each other a long time ago

HAPPY BIRTHDAY and we hope you have many more.

Ed and Nancy.

I STILL HAVE MY MAGIC!!!!!!!

Today I met son in law Shawn for a business special Cardinal afternoon game. Shawn was downtown on business and I rode the Metro. We did not have tickets to the game but that was a minor detail.

I was about three minutes off the train when I spotted a gentleman selling a ticket. He happen to have two tickets in section 345 which also happens to be the Redbird Club. I purchased the two tickets for 1/2 of the season ticket price.

Shawn and I enjoyed a great Cardinal victory, beautiful afternoon, and we had lunch in the Redbird club. It does not get any better than that. We also had dessert in the seventh inning.

To my ticket hunting buddies Brian,Mike,Keith, Bob,and Eric the old guy still has the magic.

#3 IS A VISIT TO SMOKIES PARK TO SEE AA TENNESSEE SMOKIES

Fortunately we first visited the park about 12:00 noon as the 6:15 game ultimately was called because of rain.

The only negative about the team and park is they are a Cub AA affiliate. They play in the AA Southern League. The park is located in Kodak Tn. but that really is a suburb of Pigeon Forge Tn.







With Nancy and I are our good friends Neil and Glenda.






Overlooking the field from the third base side of level one.







Near the third base dugout

Neil and I were looking forward to seeing the Smokies play Saturday evening but unfortunately it started to rain about 4:30 PM. and was still raining at 8:30 PM when we returned to our hotel from a dinner.

NUMBER TWO IS THE HOME OF PRESIDENT ANDREW JOHNSON

GREeNVILLE Tn.

Number two on my quest to 100 is a tour of President Andrew Johnson home in Greenville Tn. This is the president Johnson who succeeded President Lincoln after his death.

Some interesting facts about President Johnson.

*** No formal education [actually never attended a school as a student}

*** A tailor by trade

*** Impeached in 1868 but acquitted

***Only former president to return to U.S. Senate after his term as president.

Proof positive that you can rise from poverty to President of United States in the past.

First picture was his home from 1851 till his death in 1879.

The first Lazy Boy chair?

An early home of President Johnson with his tailor shop on premise.

NUMBER ONE ON MY QUEST TO 100!!!! IS JONESBOROUGH TENNESSEE

Pictured above is Hawley House built in 1790 and completed in 1793. The house is located in Jonesborough Tn. near the Smokey mountains and is considered the first town in Tn established in 1779. I took this picture in honor of my friend Roger Hawley and because it is considered the oldest city in Tn.

Jonesborough considered they were the capital of the fourteenth state named Franklin after the great statesman Benjamin Franklin. The state of Franklin existed from 1784 till 1788 but was never recognized by congress. I must confess that I never remember studying about the fourteenth state. This small mountain town has been visited by three presidents of Tn. presidents Andrew Johnston,Andrew Jackson and James Polk

We were on a four day trip with our friends Neil and Glenda. We walked the downtown area, shopped, and had a lovely lunch at an old cafe with good food, and topped our 1/2 day visit to Jonesborough with an ice cream cone.

Neil and I rocking away on an old porch.

A NEW FAMILY MUSICAN PERFORMS !!!
Tonight Paul played the violin in his third grade orchestra. Paul is front left with a Orange shirt on.








In this photo his friend Jake is standing behind Paul.

Back at home Paul is playing the Recorder for Grandma the photographer and James looking on.

JUNIOR PRINCESS PERFORMS THURSDAY NIGHT!!!!
Kayleigh performing as the announcer for "This is our night yo howl"
In the second photo she is in the front singing in the doggie chorus.
The shows theme was a dog show.
Yes she performed well and a good night was had by all.

THE STARTING PITCHER!!!!!

Tuesday evening found grandma and I at a ball game and the starting pitcher was our grandson Paul. Paul pitched the first three innings and did not walk a batter.That is an amazing statistic for a nine year old pitcher.The shortstop is his best friend Jake.

After his three innings he played a gold glove stint at first base.

Picture was taken through a wire mesh fence.