The
first surprise of this leg of her trip is getting off track. Gracie checks
her route, but gets confused over some route numbers during a detour because of
road repair work Dyslexia can be overcome, one mile at a time. It takes
her a while to figure out that she’s changed direction and she thanks Heaven for
the uncomfortable feelings that eventually get her back on the right
road. Gracie will be staying with a friend’s parents and she calls them to
explain that she’ll be late. She gets there eventually. Her hosts have a prior engagement so they
graciously give her the code to the garage and told her to go in and make
herself at home. Dinner is on the stove waiting for her and she enjoys
the healthy fare, does the dishes and then just unwinds. Kindness soothes
the soul.
What
will St. Louis offer Gracie? Two hundred-plus years ago this city was the
gateway to the West; the largest metropolis on the frontier where people came
to buy, sell, barter, and trade for needed supplies. If those sturdy settlers could undertake the journey west by land or by the great Mississippi River, Gracie is sure she can accomplish her trip by car.
Gracie
and her friend’s mother decide that in the morning they will
head to the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. This graceful
monument arcs into the sky with obvious strength and beauty. Gracie is
amazed by the precision required to start building on either side and meet in
the middle. In October 1965,”The Gateway Arch stood one section from completion;
two colossal tusks aching to touch 630 feet in the sky. The gap between
them was an arm’s length, two and one-half feet. The section that had to fit
into it was eight feet long.”
* The
arch stands not only as a monument in
memory of westward expansion and Thomas Jefferson, but also as a testament to
the remarkable engineering skills of those who made Eero Saarinen’s contest-winning
idea come to life.
 |
| Founded in 2013, in Missouri, of course! |
 |
| Arch Larger Than People |
But there
is more! Gracie has the opportunity to
meet some members of the Continental Croquet Federation** and discovers that they regard the Gateway Arch as the largest croquet wicket
in the world. While Gracie knows how to
play croquet, she had no notion that it had so many enthusiastic players
traversing all over the country.
 |
| CroquetO'Clock |
 |
| Croqueteers with Max Croquet |
Their
buoyant personalities reach the height and width of the Arch regardless of
where they are playing. Gracie quickly discovers that this isn’t the game she
played in her Grandma’s yard with slopes and bumps. No, No! These folks take serious pleasure in croquet,
and they intend to spread their love of the game from coast to coast. Highlights
of the croquet season include: the “Golden Mallet” which is given to the year’s
Most Valuable Player, awarded to
Hannah "Moore Power" Moore in 2013 and Seralyn
"MegaForce" Morgan in
2014. These women excelled in competition and embody the spirit of croquet. Who
will earn the Golden Mallet for 2015? Croquet is not just for back yards,
people over 90, or any of the other old clichés.
 |
| Occupied! |
While
Gracie is visiting, the second annual Croquet O’Clock takes place — an event
“where Croqueters around the Federation play croquet at 3a.m. to signify that
any time is time for croquet.” OccupyCroquet is a movement to play
croquet on all fifty State Capital lawns. Some states already honored include Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Illinois, and
Montana. Like any sport, with avid fans, T-shirts are available so people
can wear their pride. Of course there is a mascot as well named Max
Croquet, to remind everyone to put their
maximum
into their performance on the green, or brown, or white playing field as SnowCroquet
is taking root in the northern United States.
 |
| Even Zombies play. |
Anyone
can play and it just might be time for you to leave the couch behind, organize a
group and join the Continental Croquet Federation. FUN, fun, and more Fun.
Bring your competitive spirit,joyful personalities, dust off those croquet sets and get with the
program.
Gracie is interested in starting a chapter when she gets off the
road.
What
will St. Louis offer Gracie? Two hundred-plus years ago this city was the
gateway to the West; the largest metropolis on the frontier where people came
to buy, sell, barter, and trade for needed supplies. If those sturdy settlers could undertake the journey west by land or by the great Mississippi River, Gracie is sure she can accomplish her trip by car.
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