Brain Farts and Thought Bubbles

the collected works of Jessica Marshall

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Finally got around to doing our yearly Mom’s day card. 

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I recently told him that cats can talk to monsters and shoo them from under his bed.  This idea has not really helped his fear but generated a whole talking point for further discussions on monsters.  He brings up this idea with anyone who will listen... “so cats talk to monsters, and monster are scary...cats and monsters are scary” 

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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  

It is hard to scare a three year old when he learns to find the beauty in everything. 

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Old card I made for the lady who ran the home daycare I went to over 35 years ago. 

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Dad’s b-day card from June. 

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WHAT!  

These days I hear Mommy more than any other word.   And sometimes you lose it and immediately feel bad because usually he just wants a hug. 

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big questions

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my belly tummy

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Kid’s first attempt at a soccer class was a disaster, but I love him for his commitment to hysterics.  

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This year’s Mother’s Day card.. it pretty much sums up our year, potty training, cars, not wearing pants, trucks, endless grocery lists and food allergies, helicopters and we can’t forget the Wiz on endless loop.  Love ya buddy, you are sprinkling our lives full of unique anecdotes.  

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Old card I made for my grandma -  all lessons still apply.  

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We just got back from a sad but lovely weekend in Chicago celebrating a very beautiful warm man, my uncle Fred.  I did this little sketch because this is how I will always think of him. They lived just across town from us in Webster and so when we would go over we would peek out the kitchen window to see him sitting by the grill.  He would have a cooler of cheap beer and the Cardinals game playing on the radio.  So my caption for this drawing says “To our dear Uncle Fred, we hope KMOX comes in loud and clear up there.”  I hope to live my life as open and loving as Fred did.  We’ll miss you so much, Unk.    

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Top 8 things I love about St. Louis and will miss (do miss).  

I have lived in Los Angeles for about 13 years now, but I was raised in Saint Louis, MO.  I am about to head back to help my parents fill their remaining boxes as they leave the city after 34 years.  I am excited for their new chapter but also a little sad to miss out on my annual journey back to take in those things I love and miss. Although the summer tends to be hot and sticky it proves to be a good time in the city.  Here are my top 8...  

8. Schlafly Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout.  Schlalfly makes great beer, but as someone who is not a huge stout drinker - this is one of my all time favorites.

7. Float trips- I will always have fond memories of being unable to steer a canoe in an inch of water.  But there is no better way to party in the middle of the day than floating on the Meramec. 

6. Free seats at the Muny-  free outdoor musical theater. You may have to wait in the heat for a while and get a seat where you can only see a blurry figure through some binoculars. But it is free and always worth it.  I wish LA had more stuff like this- free or not.

5. Toasted Ravioli- I’ve tried to make my own.  I’ve tried to find it frozen in the market, but nothing will ever beat the real thing.

4. Fireworks-  Hard to find a spot to watch a great fireworks show in LA.  The place would probably burn down anyway.  Fireworks off a barge under the Arch- what a great image.

3. Thunderstorms-  Giant thunderstorms in the summer could be dangerous, but always exciting.   As soon as that red popped up on the Doppler you knew golf-ball-sized hail, downed trees, and tornado sirens were always a possibility.  In LA we’ll just take the rain. 

2. Fireflies-  Sitting outside in the summer always meant two things to me - sunscreen and bug spray.  The sun and the mosquitoes loved to abuse me, but one other little bug made my heart glow.  The sight of  lightning bugs across the lawn was a sure sign of a lovely evening. 

1. Cardinal Game at Busch- I have gone to several Dodger baseball games.  A couple were very intense division series between the Cards and the Dodgers.  The energy was heart pumping and nail biting.  Dodger Stadium has a great mid-century look and enthusiastic crowds. Yet to me, nothing will compare to going to games at home.  Of late the media has come to shine a light on the over inflated ego of the Cardinal fan- calling themselves the best.  But I growing up in that city it is hard to believe otherwise.  It is just the greatest feeling being in that crowd of people who love that team and sport as much as I do.

So here’s to my last “family” visit back to Saint Louis.  May it be memorable and maybe a little bittersweet. 

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That time we took him to the zoo and he was most impressed by the pigeons.  

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My son met a white Great Dane with black spots.

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bloody massacre or pasta dinner