TRAIL of TEARS STATE PARK!!!!!

is number twenty.

Monday Nancy and I drove to Cape and toured the Trail of Tears state park. I have had an interest in the plight of the Cherokee Indians since attending a great out door play in the Smokies around 1978. The park has a museum, good movie on the march of the Cherokee's from the Smokies to Oklahoma, a scenic hike, and a scenic drive with overlook of the Mississippi river.








Scenic trail

Mississippi river looking north toward St Louis

Looking south toward Memphis

NUMBER NINETEEN 4-7-38 to 4-7-08!!!!!



A FAMILY SURPRISE SEVENTIETH PARTY



I know some will think it is a little cheesy to call a party #19 BUT remember I am the score keeper.



Saturday was simply full of surprises starting at the water tower and ending at Terri"s home with a surprise party instead of a night at Fortel's for pizza with Terri, Joe, and Kelsey. Everyone was there except for Todd who is at a university out of town. [However he was represented by his friend Jen.]



I was surprised and received some neat gifts anchored by a new ring from my wonderful wife. [probably the most expensive gift I have ever received].




Notice the Cardinal cake!!!!

My two youngest helpers




My little helper

My beautiful ring

Since late Saturday night I have been having some philosophical feelings that I want to share.

Seven Lessons of Life that have been successfull for a guy from south city.

1-Jesus said it best LOVE

2-Spend time with

A- Your spouse as they will live longer with you than the kids.

B- The kids as you give them love and wings.

C- Your grandchildren as they are the joy of your old age.

D-Cultivate friendships [especially younger friends]

3-Learn to live on eighty percent of your income

A- Give eleven percent to your church and good causes.

B- Save nine percent for a rainy day.

4-Plan as if you will live forever BUT

live as if you will die TODAY.

5-Live by words from a negro spiritual song titled

"Give me my flowers"

The words go something like this

Give me my flowers right now

while I can smell them

I rather have one rose right now

Than a truck load of roses when I am gone.

6- Love your job and the income will follow..

7-Enjoy reading and learning and you will be able to teach yourself anything you want.

From Ed's book of things to do

1-Take a Hot Air Balloon ride.

2-Spend a week end in New York city

3-Cruise the Panama canal

4-Take a glider plane ride on Oahu Hi.

5-Water ski there is nothing like the feeling when the surging motor boat pulls you out of the water.

6-Snorkeling [anywhere] Maui Hi is certainly a great place to start.

7-Be a risk taker

NUMBER TEN IS FINALLY COMPLETED!!!


I had to wait a month to finish number ten BUT it was worth the wait. On a beautiful Saturday afternoon Nancy,Edward,Donovan,Kayleigh,and I headed to the Compton Hills Water Tower at Grand and Russell. When we arrived suddenly we where joined by Jan, Annie, Mary Ann, Amber, and Jimmy.


After recovering from being surprised we headed up the 198 steps to the top.It really was a lot easier than I had expected.
Saturday evening I was to find out this was not my only surprise of the day.{more about that surprise on the next blog}












As a kid I can remember one visit to the park and walking around the lagoon that held water in reserve.

View from the top looking east toward downtown.


Looking west toward Clayton

Mary Ann and Nancy at the top. In 1997 they hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. This adventure was not near as strenuous.

Jimmy and Amber

It was so much fun to have a group with me that I am going to give my friends a second chance. Tentatively I have scheduled a 10:00 AM walk across the Eads Bridge for Saturday April 19TH.We will meet at the north western corner for our start. Please let me know if you plan on going so if we had to cancel due to weather,travel,or whatever I can notify everyone.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TERRI!!!!!

I remember the night you were born as if it was a few hours ago. I remember counting your fingers and toes and simply marveling at what mom and I had created. The first night you were home I am pretty sure I watched you breathe and sleep the whole night. I had no experience with babies or fatherhood BUT I knew I could do it.!!!

One of my favorite photos

A trip to Canada in 1970

The academy experience

1987 Grandma Goodhart's 70TH birthday

Terri,mom and I hope you have a great day and we LOVE you more than life.

Mom & Dad

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAREN!!!!!!

Obviously I do not have baby pictures of in laws but I did find an old roller blade photo. The first photo is the same family photo I used for your husband only this time I cropped out all but you.!!!!!!

Another lesson I learned is I do not have many photos of family adults only the prince and the princess. In the coming year I will try to improve on that deficiency.

Mom and I are glad you waited around until the big guy made up his mind.

Happy Birthday and we hope you have a great day.

Love you

Ed and Nancy

NUMBER EIGHTEEN IS

MISSOURI SPORTS HALL of FAME

Nancy and I spent two hours on Monday at this museum in Springfield MO. It was well worth our time and effort. Lots of interactive venues, old memorabilia and great displays.



The old man can still shoot!!!!!











My first MLB game was the Browns against the White Sox sixty years ago.


Terri and Sherri might remember the camping trip to Eastern Kentucky were we detoured so I could visit Calumet farm and the great race horse Citation

Did you know the FIRST forward pass was thrown right here in St Louis by a Billiken player.

Talking with the Old Professor {Casey Stengel}

THE MAN!!! a boy and Ed

In 1958 as two singled young people Nancy and I were at Kiel when the Hawks beat the Boston Celtics for the NBA title.Nancy is standing next to the bust of Bob Pettit who scored 51 points in the championship game and the last 21 points scored by the Hawks in the last quarter.

WILSON"S CREEK CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELD is number SEVENTEEN!!!!!!!!

Monday on the way home from Springfield MO Nancy and I spent close to two hours touring this MO civil war sight. We saw a slide show, watched a moving battle map and oral description of the battle, saw artifacts, and toured the five mile battlefield.




There is a St Louis connection as Union General Nathaniel Lyon lost his life in the battle. Before this battle General Lyon had saved from a surprise attack 5,000 Union troops, and tons of ammunition right here in St Louis close to the brewery.

Ray House



Below Confederacy General Price's hdqrs

Above is Wilson's Creek

Bloody Hill where 1700 troops from both sides lost their lives.

Do you know?

Missouri ranks third in the nation in battles and skirmishes fought during the Civil War.

NUMBER SIXTEEN!!!!!!!!!

HAMMONS FIELD SPRINGFIELD

Saturday Nancy and I went to visit friends Judy and Eddie in Springfield MO. We all went to Hammons field to see our Cardinals lose to their Cardinals on a cold and rainy day.








Albert looks good!!!!


Our Cardinals in their road uniforms.

Hammons was a really good venue to watch a game.

Hammons field taken from the top of Hammons garage

On Sunday we drove to Branson to have lunch at Mel's hard luck diner owned by our friends Mel and Liz.



Eddie and I in front of the aquarium at Bass Pro

Nancy and I on the new Landing in Branson with the shooting water fountains behind us.

We have know Ed,Judy and their family since our Edward was about six months old. We spent hours this weekend reminiscing about the "GOOD TIMES"

Simply speaking we had a great weekend and number sixteen was only the excuse for our get together. Thank you Eddie and Judy for a GREAT TIME!!!!!!!!!!