Our anniversary celebration continued on Sunday with Nancy, John, Judy, Doug and Matt joining us at church. Then Nancy, John, Judy and we had lunch at the Missouri Botanical Garden and late in the afternoon, drove to the Columbia Bottoms Conservation area so our western visitors could see the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. The line of trees marks the confluence point. Both rivers are above flood stage right now so this is as close as we could get.
Nancy, Norm, Judy and John all enjoyed the view from the platform at Columbia Bottoms. It is a wetland, and we saw many egrets, herons, geese, and other shorebirds on the way in and on the way home. We had to stop for 7 or 8 deer, too.
John took this great photo of geese flying over the Missouri River, near the confluence, at sunset. If you click on the photo, it will enlarge and you can see the details.
We stopped by the Missouri to watch the changing light and marvel at the swiftly rushing water passing at our feet. Imagine what this looked like to Lewis and Clark as they began their journey up the Missouri at this very point in 1803.
Here we are, 40 years after Norm and I joined our lives for better or worse, richer or poorer, for as long as... the rivers run and the sun rises in the East and sets in the West. Maybe longer.
Of course, travelers must eat. We took Nancy, Judy and John to one of our favorite hangouts, the Whistle Stop cafe in Ferguson. It was a mild night so we ate our ice cream treats outside. We waited for a freight train to come by, but it was not the right time.
Everyone was tired, especially Judy, but neither she nor the rest of us could go to sleep until we had gone through our college yearbooks, looking for photos that documented that long ago time in Carnall Hall when we were single and full of plans to change the world. Who knows? Maybe each of us has, in some way, been a small part of the world's changes, and for the better. On Monday morning, our guests left for Kansas and other points west, and Norm and I started a series of naps that have lasted almost a week! At least that's my excuse for taking so long to get this up. Debi posted her account of our weekend on her blog (click here to go to the page) and you will enjoy reading her version and looking at her pictures, as well.
Thank you, all of you, friends and family, for your faith in us. We owe our 40 years together to you and to the grace of God, who brought us together and sustains us every day. Love you!
1 comment:
Congratulations again on 40 years of marriage. Congrats also to Doug and Matt, who organized what appears from your post to have been a lovely reception.
Judi, I was twelve when you married my Uncle Norman. I remember the picture of you in the Colby Paper in your wedding dress. You looked quite regal to me. I loved your wedding dress and veil and now I learn... you made it yourself!
Thanks for sharing with those of us that could not attend your special celebration. Know we love you both and were certainly there in spirit.
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