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The sun shone particularly bright as we crossed the
Mississippi River and pulled into Hannibal, MO, the boyhood home of Mark Twain, which also
happens to be my hometown.
The memories came flooding back. I noticed the old grain terminal, where my
grandfather had worked loading barges when I was a little girl. I remembered watching him work. I sat on those porches year after year and
watched the fireworks over the river on the 4th of July and was sure
it was the best seat in town.
On the way to the Mark Twain Cave and Campground
(everything in Hannibal is Mark Twain something) we passed a favorite old
restaurant that makes great maid
rites and homemade root beer, a ball field that I played softball on, a
street I used to live on, a public pool I frequented, and an old market that I
used to walk to with my cousins. This
was the first time I was able to share my hometown with the boys (that they
could remember), and it was nice. We
were also able to visit lots of family and friends, particularly my Grandmother
who’s battling ovarian cancer. We even had dinner guests for the first time! We had 8 people in our motorhome for dinner followed by a hilarious game of boxing on the Wii, and if my sister doesn't pay up soon that video will be on You-Tube!
Of course, we toured the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum. Can't miss that if you go to Hannibal, although the best time to go is during Tom Sawyer Days
every year around the 4th of July. You can get messy in the fence
painting contest or go catch a big bullfrog and try your luck in the
frog jumping contest. Good clean fun. Before we left, Granny Ruby
bought both of the boys T-shirts
for their quilts and signed them, and Griffin, spoiled rotten, got
another
birthday cake and more birthday presents! (it was 2 days after his
birthday) I also took the kids to the
same public pool that I used to enjoy so long ago. Guess what?
It’s still fun.
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We're excited to be able to partner