April 24, 2017: Mia’s paws were really tired, but she finally caught up with us, crossing the Mississippi River and all.
(Well, that’s what she wanted everyone to believe)
Crossing the Mississippi River was a milestone for her, and for many travelers too. There definitely is a noticeable change in paradigm on either side of Ole Man River. The west versus the east. The old versus the new.
We wanted to visit the St. Louis Gateway Arch but a lot of construction was going on along Memorial Drive, and it was just hard to get to. And considering the back of our pickup truck was full of stuff, we didn’t want to park the truck and walk away from it.
So, we found Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park across the river in East St. Louis. We could park the truck, keep an eye on it, and still get beautiful views of the Gateway Arch.
Mia was in heaven. Tons of grass, everywhere. Since no else was around, I took her off leash and let her hobble around to her heart’s content. Her 14+ year old legs don’t run like they used to when she was young. But today, she had quite a smile on her face and a wag on her tail.
It’s moment like these that remind me how much she’s part of our family.
As for Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park, it’s probably the prettiest place in East St. Louis. After that, the city goes downhill big time. I’ve never seen such a wasteland of a ghetto as this town. Burning the entire city down to ashes would actually increase property values. I’d hate to see East St. Louis by night. Even during the day, this place is frightening.
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