STL DPB ON THE ROAD - I'M RELATED TO ALL THESE PEOPLE, SORT OF

This is far from my usual kind of post but it has its charms (plus I still don't have new material). The reason for the trip to Kansas was the bi-annual get together of my wife's extended family. They are descended from Jürgen Kruse, who emigrated from Bremerhaven, Germany (where there is a superb museum of German emigration, https://www.dah-bremerhaven.de/en), and earned his U.S. citizenship by serving in the Union army during the Civil War. This is Mrs. C's branch; there are others. She is in there, as are my daughter and granddaughter.

 

Years from now, if someone looks at this family's records (if there is someone to look at them), my presence may be unnoticed. As the family photographer, I'm always on the other side of the lens.

                    

At The Legion Hall

In many towns across America events like reunions and wedding receptions are sometimes held at the facilities of the Veterans of Foreign Wars or the American Legion, another military veteran's group. There is always a large, open meeting area, a kitchen and a bar. The prices are modest. Sort of an everyman's alternative to a hotel ballroom.

The Marysville High School reunion was held at the American Legion hall. It's convivial and informal. As you can see, the high school mascot is the Bulldog. I thought the bottom picture was better in black and white. Those are the red and white stripes of a big American flag on the wall and they are pretty hard on the eyes in color. These circles with a variety of military activity covered the wall. A bit off from the culture I live in.              

80th High School Class Reunion

Marysville, Kansas, High School, has an annual reunion for the classes with major graduation anniversaries, about 40 years and up. Mrs. C (Class of 1962) and I attended last night in honor of her mother, Elvira Kruse, the sole representative of the class of 1936. 80 years out of high school, 97 years of age and doing well, thank you. What a remarkable person.                 

The Class of 1962

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Last night the Marysville, Kansas, High School Class of 1962 held its reunion dinner. I thought my high school class was small, with about 160 graduates. MHS had 83 students in Carolyn's year. These are nice, nice people. It was fun for me to be the unexpected class photographer. 

After dinner there was an interesting discussion about whether to have the next class get-together in 5 or 10 years. The members of the class are now in their late 60s. What are the odds?

I got so many good images this weekend: up and down the old main street; inside the movie theater that was built a century ago as what we would now call a health club (the remains of the swimming pool are now under the main auditorium); the old Union Pacific Railroad depot, a beautiful bit of Spanish Colonial architecture, which will be razed unless the community finds the money to preserve it. We'll be going with these images for days and days.

I apologize for the lack of comments on friends' blogs of late. There have been lots of activities and I don't get to do my post until late night. We should be back in St. Louis by dinner time tonight and I will get back on a regular schedule.