You’ll notice, in the image above, that only three people are in the wire mesh structure dangling over St. Louis. Dear reader, I couldn’t muster the chutzpah to enter that death trap. So, like any good father or husband might do, I sent my wife and children ahead, stood across a bridge from them, and snapped a picture. If only to document their final moments.
Thankfully, my family survived to continue exploring the rooftop of the City Museum while I clutched the rails. Am I afraid of heights? Am I afraid of everything? I’m not sure. I do know that dangling over the city of St. Louis didn’t much appeal to me.
Which isn’t to say the City Museum didn’t appeal to me. Or that spending a few days in St. Louis with my family over spring break wasn’t a good thing. It was. And it did.
***
Spring Break 2024 was something of a blur. Family friend Natalie came for her annual visit. She spent the weekend with us and then we hit the road for St. Louis. Two nights at the Embassy Suite downtown. A few blocks from the Arch. A few blocks from the City Museum. A short Uber ride to the zoo. All sorts of family friendly things to do. The boys had a good time. I hemorrhaged cash.
Solomon is 10. Samson is 8. I told them, in all sincerity, that it is less annoying going places with them now than it used to be. Not as much whining. Hardly any screaming. Really, they are wonderful. A perfect age for the City Museum. If you haven’t been, dear reader, I suggest you go. An old warehouse converted into slides, caves, exhibits, and all sorts of interactive things for kids (and adults) to do. I’m likely swimming in germs from following Solomon and Samson through hordes of young people around the museum. It is a paradise of play. And they even have a stuffed cat. See:
That picture was worth the price of admission. Both for the museum and for this blog.
We spent a morning at the Zoo. Look, here’s a hippo:
Can you tell which one is the hippo? Here’s a hint, it doesn’t have a cat on its shirt. Incidentally, I love that shirt. One of my favorites. Samson’s too.
Okay, I’ve let the spirit of a travel blog run away with me. Enough pictures already.
We spent an afternoon at the arch. Had dinner at a good barbecue place. Walked around downtown a little bit. Woke up early the next day and drove home. It’s only 4 hours from Iowa City to St. Louis.
Just enough time left to catch my breath and begin the final few months of the spring semester.
***
I continue to ride the waves of this new life as a professor at The University of Iowa. This semester is hitting me hard right now. I can’t really explain it. There’s just so much more to do in this position than in my last. And much of it feels new to me. Always another unexpected email. Always another project. I’m spread thin. Like peanut butter. Or jelly. Or marmalade. I’ve never understood the difference between jelly and marmalade. One word is more fun to say. Mar-ma-lade.
I was hoping to shut down over spring break. Reverse hibernation. It didn’t really happen. But I did get some time away from work. Work-life boundaries are a real thing. Especially in a job that would gobble every moment if I let it. I’m seeking a sustainable way forward. At this 40-something moment in my life, that seems to be the thing to seek. And, for the life of me, I just can’t see how climbing into a wire mesh structure dangling over the city of St. Louis is part of that journey. But to each their own.
Okay, fine, here are two more pictures of the Tanner family spring break adventure to St. Louis #2024 to complete this travel blog and send you on your merry way:
Samuel Jaye Tanner 