Shannon, Collin and Baby Leo

Shannon and Collin were up in St Louis for the Labor Day weekend. I met them for coffee at Comet.  It's been a while since I have seen them, way too long

Leo was such a sweet baby, he sat on my lap for about an hour and was perfectly happy.

I need to find Shannon a job in St Louis so they can move back here.....

Japanese Festival at MBG

Arline and I braved going to the Japanese Festival this year.  We got there as it opened and it wasn't too bad getting in.  It was as busy as ever, but has changed completely since I was last there.  We went in the Japanese Garden and there was hardly anyone there!!!  They were all by the entrance buying stuff.  The festival has definitely turned into a big market and anime show.
Anyway, we enjoyed our monthly wander around the gardens and got some good pictures of the water lilies, which have been spectacular for several months.

Very peaceful looking bridge in the English Woodland garden

It was definitely a water lily day!!!!

I did buy this flower holder from one of the stalls, I absolutely  love it!!!!

Saint Louis University Enrolls Largest Freshman Class in History

 ST. LOUIS (August 21, 2019) — The first class of Saint Louis University’s third century also will be first among all those that have preceded it in terms of size. This year’s freshman class is the largest in SLU history.

After celebrating its bicentennial in 2018, the University expects to enroll a record 1,900 first-year students for fall 2019, a more than 25% increase over last year. SLU last set a record for freshman enrollment in fall 2011 when it welcomed 1,707 new students.

This year, there were also increases in the numbers of underrepresented minority and first-generation students who enrolled for the fall. Increasing the diversity of the student body has been a strategic priority for the University.

“I am immensely proud that the largest class in SLU history is also the most diverse,” said SLU President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D. “Increasing affordability and student diversity are two of the primary commitments I made when I began at SLU five years ago, and we continue to make progress in those areas.”

SLU welcomes the record-setting class at a time when the number of U.S. graduating high school students is at its lowest in two decades, and numerous colleges and universities have experienced lower first-year student enrollment.

“We are excited to welcome this record-setting class to SLU; its size reflects the widespread desire for the rigorous Jesuit education we offer,” Pestello said. “It is now our job to deliver the challenging, experience-rich, values-based experience that is the hallmark of SLU – the sort of education that leads to the success in life and career for which our alumni are known.”

Record Financial Assistance
SLU’s record class is receiving a record amount of financial assistance – $54 million this year alone. By increasing financial aid for students, SLU is creating greater access to higher education for families of all backgrounds, said Kathleen Davis, vice president for enrollment and retention management.

“The national trends indicate that students and their families have a great need for financial assistance.  The projections show that this will continue for the foreseeable future. Saint Louis University is not immune to this,” Davis said. “At SLU, we’re committed to doing all that we can to make the dream of a college education a reality for more and more students.”

Other Facts about the New Class
In addition to being the largest, this year’s freshman class is among the brightest as well, with average high school GPAs of 3.92 and ACT scores placing the newest Billikens among the top 10% of all students tested in the United States.

The new students hail from 45 U.S. states and more than 35 foreign countries, with a sizable increase in students from the St. Louis region. Just over 600 graduated from Catholic high schools across the country.

The big move

Ben has packed up all his stuff and gone. It took him days to pack up everything he took with him.  There was stuff all over his room!!!

He is rooming with Louis and Nick (haven't met Nick yet).  Hope they all gone on together!!!!

Looks pretty hectic!!!

Sam packed everything in the back of the van and took it over to Reinert for Ben

It was a lot, but he got it in one load!!!

Looks like they managed to put the bulk of it away, but still looks messy enough to stress me out!!!!

Ben's closet!!!!

Ben moves in to SLU

Today is the day.  Ben becomes a Billiken.  Ben leaves home (for the first time).  Ben gets to be independent (somewhat).  Ben gets to adult......All of the above
Ben is moving into the SLU dorm today.  Sam is helping him.  I'm staying out of the way!!!!

The day I became an orphan

There are so many things in life to be grateful for. One of mine is that I got to have my parents for a major part of my life. Even though I did not see them as much when I moved to the U.S., they always kept in touch with me and for many years came to see us every year.  I'm sure they had their trials and tribulations over the years, but they made it to their 60th wedding anniversary in March 2016.  Shortly after that, things took a downturn and Mum passed away 6 months later

Dad was never the same once Mum was gone.  They had constantly traveled, but he didn't go anywhere after Mum died until Marie and I took him away for a few days.  He had a hard time in the Winter of 2018 and was just doing a little better when he started with ischemia in his toe at the beginning of 2019.  This year was not a great one for him, he spent most of it in the hospital and passed away on August 12
This is one of the last good pictures I have of him.  John sent it to Marie and I when we were together in New York.

It feels strange to know your parents are gone.  Since I haven't lived close to them for so long, it's more removed for me than it would be for most people.  It is harder for Marie because she has seen Dad almost every day for the past 3 years, she has been his primary contact with the world.
Marie has sold her house in Loughborough and will be moving to Chester in the middle of September.  This will definitely be the end of an era.  There will be no reason for me to go to Loughborough, other than to visit Teresa
Excerpt from The Echo:
MCHOWAT Thomas "Tom" Passed away peacefully on Monday 12th August 2019 aged 89 years. Loving husband to the late Mae, father to Jane & Marie, Grandfather to Richard, Tom, Ben & Maggie, Great-Grandfather to Sophie. Tom's funeral service will be held at the United Reformed Church, Loughborough on Thursday 5th September 2019 at 2.15pm. Private family committal at Loughborough Crematorium thereafter. Family flowers only. Donations to the United Reformed Church. All enquiries to Swanns Funeral Service, 4 Bridge Street, Loughborough LE11 1NQ Telephone 01509 263032

Trip to MBG August 2019

 Well, as the day for Ben to move into SLU draws nearer, Arline and I are going to have to come to the realization that we will be doing MBG without him.  Even though he insists he will still go, we were alone this month.  It's just not the same without him, but still fun to go
This month, we found these very interesting gourds growing in the Kemper Center.  Definitely not something we see every month.  Wish we could grow something like this.....

 This one is like a curled up snake.....

 

Lilies are still beautiful at this time of year too