MIZZOU

So the family took that long drive to Missouri and back last week. All in all, we drove over 1750 miles and were in the car 31 hours. It was actually a pretty good trip, and although there were a few minor annoyances, it was perfectly splendid considering we spent four solid days in the ever-present company of family and in-laws.

I drank a lot of wine. So...yeah.

The first two nights were spent in Lowry City, Missouri, in dh's grandmother's parent's home. It was built around the turn of the century, I think, and looks it. Grandma's father actually died in.the.house. His funeral was held in.the.house.

Shivers.

Truth be told, I completely love it - the creaky floors, the funky windows, the old-house smell. We opened all the windows and awoke to the sounds of birds every morning. Perfection.

The family reunion was held Saturday at the Boy Scout meeting hall. There was lots of good food, tons of people I didn't recognize, and a foosball table. What could be better? Oh yeah, beer. My brother-in-law brought a cooler of beer and we all took one...then we were informed that we actually weren't allowed alcoholic beverages in the Boy Scout hall. Oops. I poured mine into a plastic cup and tossed the bottle. Problem solved! Who says Girl Scouts can't be innovative?

The next day we drove all over central Missouri and visited a bunch of cemeteries, where we saw all the old family graves. DH's dad can tell a story about almost all of them, and we should have been videotaping. I am so annoyed with myself for not doing that.

Monday afternoon all the grandkids (that is, DH, his sister, and their three cousins) met up at Grandma's other house in Kansas City to go through her things. (She passed away last October, just days shy of her 96th birthday.) We were all encouraged to take whatever we wanted, as there was well over 100 years worth of things there. I ended up with some punch bowl cups, a couple of old pieces of china that date back to the turn of the century, and some hand-crocheted doilies, among other things. Pey was gifted with a bedroom set from the 1940s. My favorite new possession, though, is a bound set of the old musical monthly called "The Etude Magazine" from 1929. In the back of the notebook, Grandma stuck some extra magazine covers that still bear her address label. The labels read thusly:

Miss A Grandmasmaidenname
Lowry City, Missouri

And that's it. How cool would it be to send a letter to someone and only have to put their name and city on it? My how times have changed.

While going through the house, we also came across some old postcards sent from family members, to family members. They carried one-cent stamps and were postmarked 1907. Oh how I wish we'd been able to keep those! I think hubby's aunt took them, though, so at least they'll stay in the family.

It was a sentimental trip, and it carried extra sadness for us because in all likelihood, we won't ever be able to go back to that house again. As soon as it's cleared out, it's going on the market. I guess I'm not used to being a player at the end of an era, but the sale of Grandma's house is definitely closing a chapter.

Grandma, we thank you for your legacy and for all you represented. I hope that when I grow up, I can be just like you. You are very much missed.

Love,
T