Penguin Press (267/365)

 
“It's practically impossible to look at a penguin and feel angry.”

Joe Moore (American, Chicago alderman 49th Ward, b1958)

TIME:  6:39 PM
PLACE:  Muny Parking Lot, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO
SUBJECT:  StellaDella and the North Star Penguin

Tonight was the annual Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walk.  There seemed to be a whole lot more people at the walk this evening, compared to last year’s event.  I say this because we actually had to wait in a long line for the portable toilets, we never had to do that before – or I’m thinking that could have been because they had less facilities than there they had last year.  Seriously, is that ever a good idea?  Anyway, we (our family, a friend of DQ, my dad and my oldest brother and his family) walked this evening.  Why, we even refrained from collecting additional batteries out of the trash cans this year, which I thought showed great restraint.  The North Star company was one of the sponsors of the event and handed out cherry popsicles for the participants.  Besides a popsicle, SD also received a hug from their mascot.

Lighting The Night (254/365)

There are things that we don't want to happen but have to accept, things we don't want to know but have to learn, and people we can't live without but have to let go.  

Unknown

TIME:  7:37 PM
PLACE:  The Muny parking Lot, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO
SUBJECT:  Light the Night balloons

Today marks 8 years since terrorists hijacked planes, crashed into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field and killed over 3,000 people.  It is a day that we will always remember where we were and what we were doing when we first heard of the attacks.  I remember watching the event unfold on television, the horror of the second plane hitting the tower and the collapse of the buildings.  My thoughts turned to the people who were still trapped inside when the towers fell.  I know I will never forget that morning.

Tonight I participated in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walk which was at Forest Park in St. Louis.  This walk pays tribute to and raises funds for people fighting cancer.   It is something my family does to honor the memory of my mom.  Tonight, DQ and I joined my oldest brother and his family and my Dad in the walk.  We each carried a red lighted balloon as a supporter and Dad carried a gold balloon in memory of Mom.  Afterwards, we let the balloons go after we took off the plastic tube that lit them up.  This tube is a small device powered by 2 AA batteries.  Being the frugal people that we are, we all pocketed our batteries.  We were standing at the end of the walk and noticed that many folks dropped their balloons with the tubes in the trash can.  I mentioned, mostly in jest, that we should get them out and mine the batteries from the devices – just think of the money that we’d save.  So my Dad goes over to the trash can and comes back a little later with about 10 batteries!  I kidded him that now I know he’s a cheap old man…scrounging in the trash for free batteries.  He said that he is just doing his part to help the environment – by not letting them hit the landfill.  OK, if you say so Dad! ;)