‘The happy places between sleep and awake,’ metro-east version
“You know that place between sleep and awake, that place where you still remember dreaming? That’s where I’ll always love you, Peter Pan. That’s where I’ll be waiting.” — Tinker Bell to Peter Pan in the movie “Hook”
I watched the movie “Hook” a lot during my prime Dad years.
“Hook.” “The Sandlot.” “The Outsiders.” “Forrest Gump.” “Stand By Me.” It was the 1990s. My two kids were young. We didn’t play video games. We watched movies. Back when a cool Friday night included a trip to Blockbuster.
“Hook” may have been my favorite movie. Best scenes: When Captain Hook razzes Peter about growing up and becoming old and soft. And when Tinker Bell (Julia Roberts) talks to Peter (Robin Williams) about happy places, about closing his eyes and dreaming about his favorite places in life.
I watched “Hook” one recent night, alone. That scene with Peter and Tinker Bell made me pause and ponder the happy places in my world, between sleep and awake.
Bike trails, St. Clair and Madison counties: Some evenings or weekends, it’s only me and a few fat groundhogs waddling across the Eckert’s Loop trail, from the fields and into the woods.
Estes Park, Colorado: Been there a dozen times, as a child and adult. Hope to go back a dozen more. The smell of pine trees is medicinal.
Stadiums, ballfields, gyms: Busch Stadium 2. The St. Louis Arena-Checkerdome. Township Stadium, Belleville. Enterprise Center. Jones Park. So many fond memories.
Grandpa’s Discount Store, Fairmont City: This was before Target or Walmart. The old Grandpa’s store on Collinsville Road was where we bought our ball gloves, bicycles, toys, car parts. The store smelled uniquely like a blend of fresh popcorn, Aqua Velva and motor oil.
Carport, 725 Terrace Drive, East St. Louis: My dad and Uncle Bo built the carport as an addition to our first childhood home in the middle of East St. Louis. I played pitch-and-catch with a rubber or tennis ball against the carport’s main wall every day. I was Bob Gibson. The wall was Ferguson Jenkins and the Cubs.
Peak’s Island, Maine: I could eat a fresh lobster roll every day.
Friend Nick Gehrs home’s side yard, North 37th Street, Belleville: During our high school years, it’s where we played Wiffle ball, tennis ball and sandlot football. The slam-dunk basketball court was in the backyard. Sweat. Swear. Play hard. Laugh often. Great fun, always, at Nick’s House.
10 Lakewood Place, Centreville: My grandparent’s home. We picked various fruits from trees and bushes in the yard. We watched horses run at the ranch next door and counted squirrels in the front yard.
Great River Road, Alton-Grafton: Every fall, it’s a postcard. The Mississippi River below the bluffs painted with orange, gold foliage. It’s one of my favorite drives, every fall.
Christmas Eve, Bud & Betty Mackin Home: Mom loved Christmas Eve. All the tacky decorations and junk food. Our lives came to a pause one holiday night a year.
Parking lot, Memorial Hospital East, Shiloh: It was the COVID era. Inside the hospital, my grandson was born. I stood outside, in the parking lot. I could not be in the building. I will always remember the text and photos from my son. There were few happy times and places during COVID. I’ll never forget Sept. 21, 2021..
Doolin and Limerick, Ireland: The history and simpleness are captivating.
John Prine concert: John Prine’s last concert in St. Louis was on Oct. 13, 2019, at the old Stifel Theatre. He died about six months later, in April 2020. I’ll never forget him singing, “When I Get to Heaven” and when he danced off stage to end the show.
Old schools: St Philip’s Grade School. Althoff Catholic High School. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The most important lesson I learned in school was how to make friends.
Sitting at my computer, writing a column.
