Last weekend was wonderful after a busy week prepping rental cars for the Memorial Day Weekend crowd. Late Saturday morning (23 May), I picked up Julie and we went to the St. Louis CITY SC match against Austin FC. After parking, we walked to the Schlafly Tap Room for the St. Louligans' Street Party. Julie and I got lunch from the Heaterz Hot Chicken food truck, and I got a can of Schlafly beer.
About an hour before the 1:45 p.m. kickoff, the St. Louligans and Fleur de Noise were joined by STL Santos and St. Louis City Punks for the pre-match rally before marching into Energizer Park for the match. Julie and I found our placed in the supporter section and awaited the start of the match. St. Louis native, Saint Louis University alumnus, and former US international player Brad Davis brought out the match ball and hung out with the supporters prior to the match. A banner held at the center circle celebrated the upcoming FIFA World Cup, and a tifo at our section celebrated St. Louis' ethnic diversity.
It was quite a good day to be a St. Louis CITY supporter as the home side won 3-0. CITY had much of the possession and play during the match. A pressing attack led to an own goal against Austin in the 40th minute. CITY scored two second-half goals to secure the win and the three points. They are now unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions (four wins and a draw). the players and coaches acknowledged their supporters after the match.
CITY enters the World Cup break 12th in the MLS Western Conference table; four points shy of the final playoff spot. The season resumes on 16 July, when CITY hosts cross state rival Sporting Kansas City.
I took Julie to her home and then I drove home. I chilled out the rest of the day and night, mostly watching war films on TCM.
Sunday morning (24 July), I attended the service at Eliot Unitarian Universalist chapel. Then, I stopped by a gas station to fill up my car before driving home. I watched the Indianapolis 500 on TV, then more movies on TCM.
Julie came here Monday morning (25 July) to pick me up and take us to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. We paid our respects to my parents' niche in a columbarium. Their ashes were placed together, mom's coming last fall after her passing and now together with those of my father who passed in 2014.
After checking at the administration building, Julie and I went to the grave of James R. Crowe Jr. and his wife Madeleine. They were the parents of Ellen Crowe, my friend from college. Ellen told me her parents were interred at that cemetery. It was good to pay my respects to James and Madeleine, and having Julie alongside made it nicer.
Finally, we went to the gravesite of my maternal grandparents, Harold and Helen Koenig. All three men in question served in the US Armed Forces in World War II. James also served in the Korean War. The day before our visit, hundreds of Boy Scouts placed American flags on all the graves. I did this myself back in the day. Those flags sure added a great touch on these final resting places that day.
After our cemetery visit, Julie took me back home and I spent time at home watching TV before getting some sleep prior to a busy day at work.
Later.
Websites of Entities Mentioned in this Post:
St. Louis CITY SC: St. Louis CITY SC
Schlafly Tap Room: Schlafly
St. Louligans: Saint Louligans – Supporting Soccer in the St. Louis Area – St. Louligans – Supporting St. Louis Soccer
Heaterz Hot Chicken: Heaterz Hot Chicken
Eliot Unitarian Universalist Chapel: Home
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery: Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery - National Cemetery Administration
