Meet Me In St. Louis: Free Bird Adventure Day 1

So here it is.

My solo vacation.

Not in the sense that I've only taken one vacation in my life, but I'm taking a vacation by myself. So far I've been called crazy, brave and odd...none of which I really believe apply. Curious is the adjective I choose. I want to know if I really can do this by myself, I want an adventure, and I wanted to go somewhere I've never been before. (To be honest, that last one is technically inaccurate since I was here when I was 3 months old, but I figure, for a trip to count it has to be in memory).

In addition to curiosity it was really time for a vacation. This being an adult thing definitely has its advantages, but I'm finding I'm missing the summer vacations only afforded us in our school days. Who knows maybe graduate school is in the future, just so I can resume my summer schedule. With work and the ups and downs of life, I was just ready to have some quality "me-time."

Now some of you are shaking your heads and saying "well isn't that conceited." Well to all of you I say, sometimes its ok to take a weekend for yourself. How can we be laborers in the fields if we do not have rest? Since I really have no person to talk to, I'm finding my conversations with God are a little more direct and a little more like having a friend.

Like most things in my life, my timing was off this morning and I didn't quite make it out of the house by the time I wanted. So running about an hour behind I started this miniature journey. Just to be clear this really is quite an adventure considering I booked my hotel at midnight...about 9 hours before I planned on leaving.

For 5 hours I fought traffic, dodged police speed traps, and bumped along Missouri roadways. Taking I-70 turned out to be quick, but definitely not sceneic. On the drive I saw lots of little tourist traps and quirky shops that I wanted to see, but I was trying to beat rush hour. I'm planning on hitting some of them on the way back.

Booking through Hotwire turned out to be a good choice. I ended up in the Sheraton St. Louis City Center. After driving around the block, trying to figure out parking and realizng that I would have to pay to park at my hotel I realized cities are not places for girls who have a record of hitting things in tight spots. No mom I didn't wreck the car, but the parking garage is tight.

Entering the hotel lobby the first thing I saw was a boquet of bright orange lillies. It was a small blessing and almost like a sign that this is where I was supposed to be. If you know me well you know I have a strong affinity for lilies. I think that has something to do with a certain bible verse (see below).

The conceirge was great and gave me maps of the city, really made me feel welcome, and informed me that Wicked was not actually worth seeing if I've seen it before. He said the vocal quality was poor, and it would only be a waste of money. Instead he offered the suggestion of seeing Beauty and the Beast at an outdoor theater. If you get there early enough you can get free seats...so thats on the agenda for tomorrow.

I started with the one thing everyone comes to St. Louis to see...The Gateway Arch. I first caught sight of the arch about a block from my hotel (Which is located right across the street from where the St. Louis Blues play). Beautiful and solitary the arch stands out against a skyline of hotels and business towers.

Butterflies fluttered madly in my stomach at the thought of willingly going into such a flimsy arch, but I did it anyway. "This is your adventure," I told myself, "you can't back out now." It was like a butterfly firestorm when I saw the pod we had to sit in to get to the top. I felt like a baby chick, waitng to burst out of its eggshell.

The result of this tumultous feelings? A beautiful view from the top, a little bit of a light head, and a feeling of accomplishment. The family I rode to the top with, because a single person can't ride alone, took my picture. When I got to the bottom of the arch, I walked through the Westward Expansion Museum. A guard stopped me and asked if I was looking for someone. A small voice giggled inside of me. Implied in his statement I found the idea that either I was too young to be by myself, or that its crazy for a young woman to go on vacation alone. I'm conquering both ideas.

After my trip "to the top" as the advertisements say, I strolled along the overflowing banks of the Mississippi river. Unfortunately I will not be able to take the Tom Sawyer paddle boat tour on this trip because the river is so far over its banks. In a few days I'll have pictures up on Facebook. While this flood is not as bad as the flood of '93 it is taking its toll on the the tourisim industry and the nightlife of the area. I grabbed a quick bite at the Spaghetti factory.

There is something about being alone that gets you special treatment no matter where you go. As I entered the restaurant, I heard a lady say to her husband that the wait was 1 to 2 hours. When I asked the host how long a wait would be for one she ushered me to the side and I was seated immediately. I felt kind of bad because I was at a table made for 4. One of the many families waiting could have had my table but the waiter assured me it was ok. My baked chicken and Mizithra cheese and spaghetting was a fabulous suggestion that I must thank my waitor for giving.

The evening was capped off with a nice stroll back to the car, a quick dip in the hot tub to break in my brand new swim suit, and finally an evening enjoying the funny sights of a hotel lobby.

Here are a few things I've learned from my first day out:

1. Traveling alone can be very entertaining...you see more when you're actually paying attention to what's around you.

2. The Arch was built from 1962-1965 and was dedicated by LBJ in 1968...I had no idea it was so young.

3. The combined efforts of Michael Buble and Beth Moore have the ability to draw droves of middle aged women and their apparently wealthy husbands to an otherwise youthful city...I swear it's like college all over again, but seeing myself and friends 30 years older...kind of a scary picture.

4. While my curiosity is still active, I have found out one thing. I can do it! And I have no worries about tomorrow.

Verse of the night: Matthew 6:28-34 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."