Patience, My Friends, Patience

Apologies, dear Bloggers, for the rather brief hiatus. It seems one cannot take a secretive vacation without incessant noises ensuing. Thus in an effort to cease the clamoring of my oh-so-many admirers (that'd be one) I shall update you on the ins-and-outs of the vacation.

• Step One: Purchase ticket to St Louis for under $550. Hard to find. Big deal.
• Step Two: Don't tell little sister about plans.
• Step Three: Arrange for place to stay. Aunt & Uncle will do.
• Step Four: Work even longer hours the week before you leave preparing for the week you'll be gone only so that when you return you work even longer hours to catch up on what's been missed.
• Step Five: Skip your church to go to his church.
• Step Five-A: Eat really, really yummy lunch at Simon & Siefert's knowing you're literally the only people in the room not celebrating Mother's Day. (Though, he kindly noted many people probably thought me to be with-child on that glorious day... yikes.)
• Step Six: Board plane.
• Step Seven: Board another plane.
• Step Eight: Arrive in St Louis to spend three whole days shopping, site-seeing and visiting with friends. This step also includes eating at the following places: Gus' Pretzels, Steak 'N' Shake, White Castle and Imo's Pizza. For those who have no idea what those are, you are missing out.
• Step Nine: Survive three hour drive between 9-year-old and 7-year-old cousins. Attempt to ignore please of "How much longer?" and "I'm hungry, mama."
• Step Ten: Surprise unsuspecting sister in Bass Pro Shop amidst many speed boats and 4-wheelers. She hit me. It hurt.

Overall, vacation was nice. I got to see 98.9% of the folks I wanted to see. The Malone's invited me and a handful of folks over for a BBQ on Wednesday evening. Even though it's been quite some time, I value and love that family almost as much as I love my own. At least Mom Malone will always love me more than Brad! Anyway, I even got to see Hannah Lou for a whole two-hours simply because she is a wonderful friend who helped me get to the OKC Airport.

As Erin graduated she broke the "Potts' Curse of the Last Child" and she adamantly proclaimed she'd be going to Disney World (not for fun, for work. Though for her, work is fun.) It was nice to get out of Alaska to see friends and family I hadn't seen in years, but it's VERY nice to be home again.

The original sign to Jennemann's Tavern (now JR's Saloon) that was run by my family for over 100 years. Eventually, I hope to someday get the sign and hang it somewhere special.

The always necessary, somewhat Senior-picture-like, photo of Erin before graduation.

The aforementioned cousins, Sarah (9) and Tracy (7), at Erin's graduation.

The fam: Dad (Steve), Erin, Me and Mom (Judy)

The photo that made me reconsider living in Alaska.
(Yuck! I need a tan!)

More pictures exist out there somewhere. I'll attempt to post them as soon as Brooke & Mom send them to me.