ALTARS AND ICE

One of the most touching customs of Dia de los Muertos is the building of altars that memorialize the dead but, even more, keep the living in communion with them. It can be an individual, an entire family or something much wider. At the History Museum's festival there is always an altar for the entire local Peruvian community. This one strikes particularly deep. The circle at the bottom center says "Perished In ICE Custody or Encounters, 2025-2026." ICE, of course, is the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency. I don't need to repeat its story.              

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

 

There is an annual Dia de los Muertos festival at STL's Missouri History Museum. (Which should be called the St. Louis History Museum, since you won't find a thing about the Ozarks or Kansas City. I suppose there are old legal reasons.) One of the main presentations was an hour-long program of old and new danza mexicana. More to come.               

SNAKE EYES

 

Granddaughter Ellie's school was closed on Election Day, which suddenly seems to be a thing. We all went to the St. Louis Aquarium, which the kid loves. Plenty of fish, sure, but also aquatic animals like this one. Is it sleeping?            

SCIENCE FRIDAY

 

Mrs. C and I are devoted listeners to National Public Radio's show Science Friday. Ira Flatow, left, has hosted the program for 36 years. He came to St. Louis yesterday and recorded a segment of his show at the Sheldon Concert Hall with Dr. Lúcia G. Lohmann, president and director of our superb Missouri Botanical Garden and professor of botany at Washington University in St. Louis. Great way to spend a Thursday evening. 

            

THAT'S NOT FUNNY

 

A candidate for the most horrifying costume at the Central West End Halloween party. I don't like scary stuff. It makes me deeply uncomfortable. My granddaughter thinks horror movies are a hoot. She can watch them without me.                

DOH!

 

I stopped this couple at the Central West End Halloween party and asked them to explain their costumes. "I see the eggs," I said, "but what's the rest of it?" She pointed to her horns.  "Oh, I see. Deviled eggs.  But what about him?" She pointed to his head and wrist band and the brand on his shirt and told me "runny eggs!" I smacked my forehead like Homer Simpson finally realizing the obvious. "For this I went to college!" I said. They thought it was funny.                 

WAITING FOR A CALL

 

More from the Central West End Halloween party. Awfully good makeup. He looks like he is waiting for a call or wielding his phone as a futuristic weapon (which maybe it is).