My Instead: I drove with all four of my
car windows open through East St. Louis at 11:00 at night.
What is up with this weather?
Summers in the Midwest are NOT this pleasant: People are not holed up in their air-conditioned
abodes. Instead, they are out enjoying the comfortable temps, the low humidity and the
company of others doing the same.
I was no exception. It was another mellow
Wednesday night at The Grove in St. Louis and the patio was alive with fans and
friends listening to the music and the sonorous voice of Kristen Goodman. She was
a complete delight. We could either listen or dance. We did both.
The next day held a full schedule of
work for me so the evening’s fun had to end with the music. I said my good-byes
and headed home, taking my usual route through the belly of East St. Louis.
This time, however, there was going to be something happening “instead”!
Remember, the evening was crazy beautiful? So why not enjoy it more all the way
home? I rolled down all four of my car windows and strolled through the main
drag of Belleville’s neighboring city. Unfortunately, East St. Louis’
reputation is a bit sketchy. Okay, maybe sketchy is putting a bit mildly. The
city is downright dangerous.
What Mom doesn’t know won’t hurt
her, right? Let’s face it…if I was an agoraphobic, she would be totally cool
with it. But, alas, I’m not. I am an out-and-about kind of gal and am usually
en route to anywhere ALONE. So an eleven o’clock cruise in my one-car motorcade
through this “lovely” city was right up my “dark alley”.
Okay, I must admit I felt a bit like
I was at Dealey Plaza in Dallas on that November day in 1963 waiting for those
shots to be fired. But they weren't and they haven’t been on any of my many trips
home through the bowels of America. Is it luck? Sure! And I just felt like pushing
it a little…
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