First of all, you will notice that I have added again the e-mail addresses of all those family members that could not come to the reunion, to once more make them part of our group, and let them know how much we missed them, and all that took place during those marvelous four days.
I wish that now that most of us met and felt that special connection between each other, we all keep in contact as often as we can, but let's include everyone. You can open a Leslie Group, as I did, and write one e-mail to all the group. If there is something very special you want to say to someone only, you can still do it separately.
This way, we can start forming ties with all the group and be ready to meet in three years.
It is incredible that already a week has gone by! We had the opportunity to be in St. Louis since Monday the 12th, and spend a few days with Linda, Don and Dan, Missy Bill and their daughters and Judy and her Mom. We also met Dons mother, Ann, who is a wonderful person. Thank you again for your hospitality, your help with the reunion and for making this week a wonderful week. I hope one day, very soon, we can also be your hostesses.
One week from yesterday, Alberto, Zule, Dany, Linda, Judy and I were meeting some of you at the airport. The first plane to arrive was Air Canada, with Joe, Nancy, Mathew, Scott and Kent. There we were, with our little sign that said Leslie Family, but as we had not met, they almost past us by without stopping. But I recognized Joe by a picture Alice had sent me last year, so I immediately approached him. Following our Mexican custom, we embraced them and welcomed them to St. Louis.
We had to stay at the airport, to await the arrival of the second flight from Canada, so Joe and family left for the hotel. Mathew stayed with us, so we had the opportunity to talk to him and get to know him better. Joe and Nancy, we congratulate you for the wonderful children you have. They are very polite and friendly, and it was very nice to see that Mathew was very interested in getting to know his family from all over the world.
Next to arrive, were Alice and Jack. It was very exciting to see Linda meet Alice for the first time. They had exchanged e-mails in the past, but had never met, and we had not seen them in four years. As we waited for the hotel van to pick us up, Alice saw Courtney and Susan walking towards the place where the van was picking us. They had arrived they night before, and were touring around downtown. We were so excited to meet them right there!
As we arrived at the hotel, we met Margot and Rhonda Blake, who had just arrived and were checking in. Rhonda had her two little boys with her, and couldn't wait to jump into the swimming pool with them. We saw that Joe and family were already at the pool, so we decided to join them, and wait a little while for the next plane to arrive.
As we were visiting at the pool, we could see that Missy and Bill, Don and Judy had arrived and were looking for all of us. Finally, the hotel gave us the Hospitality Room and we were able to start the party. Alice, Linda, Judy and I went back to the airport to meet Cristina and Sissy, who were arriving from Merida.
During the ride from the hotel to the airport, as you can imagine, we could not stop chatting and laughing at everything. We were just four very excited and happy ladies. Finally, Cristina and Sissy arrived and we went back to the hotel, where everyone was having a ball.
We joined them and then met Leslie and Ann, who had arrived a little earlier, Skip and Anne Blake and a little later, Martin, Mary Jean, and their two boys Morgan and Miles Blake. I am so happy to have met you! Even though I did not meet your father, I feel a very special connection to you, and I hope that I can meet your brother Terry and his family very soon. You are all very sweet! Dany and Rhonda's little boys were having a blast playing together. You could see that really there is no language ba rrier between kids. Dany only speaks Spanish and Nathan and Nicholas only English, but they got along fine.
Mary, Richard, Brian and Rick arrived by car, and had been visiting antique stores all over. I have no words to describe this wonderful family. Mary and Richard, you are very fortunate to have these two wonderful and handsome sons. I imagine your daughter is also a wonderful person, and I would love to meet her very soon. I felt in love with all of you and I hope to continue our friendship forever.
A little bit later, Gillian arrived. I am sorry we could not meet you at the airport as well, but we got caught up with the rest of the group and time just flew. I had seen your picture in several catalogs, but I think you are more beautiful in person a nd pictures just do not make justice to your beauty. Besides, the beauty of your soul makes you shine and light up any room. Your husband and children are very fortunate to have you! And you Alice and Jack are most fortunate to have this family, and I also hope it is not to long before we get to meet your sons.
The evening went on, everyone talking about their families, showing pictures of our family members who could not join us and telling old stories about grandpa and grandma. We had Margaritas and food to nibble on and took turns to go for dinner. It seemed that nobody wanted to leave that room and go to sleep, but we realized we had to do it if we wanted to be on time for our city tour next morning.
After having a wonderful breakfast, and meeting everyone, we boarded a bus that would take us through the city, pointing out all those beautiful places of interest. Our first stop was the St. Louis Basilica, where the Pope gave mass early this year. I do not have enough words to describe this marvel. You would have to see it with your own eyes to understand what I was saying. All the walls, domes and ceilings are covered with tiny mosaic tiles, installed over a period of 75 years depicting passages of the Bible and the life of Jesus, created by 20 different artists. It is really a must to see for every visitor to St. Louis.
Our next stop would be the Gateway Arch, another marvel to see, not only from the outside, but from the inside, because you get to go up through the inside of the arch, in tiny elevators, until you reach the top, where you gaze at the beautiful sights of the city of St. Louis and the Mississippi River.
That afternoon, we went to a Baseball game between the Cardinals and the Red Sox. Mark McGwire knew we were there, so he hit two home runs! The afternoon was fabulous and we had a great time, thanks to Don, who had bought the tickets and also the Metro Link tickets for everyone to go round trip from the hotel to the stadium.
Next morning, after breakfast, we boarded another bus, that would take us to Bellfontaine Cemetery, a most beautiful and peaceful place, where our ancestors and specially grandpa and grandma were buried. We all took a lot of pictures, and stayed there for more than an hour, just talking and trying to see the connection between us and the rest of the people who are buried there in the Leslie Plot.
After our visit to the Cemetery, we went to visit the Anheuser-Bush Brewery and took a tour of the plant. Impressive! It is the largest plant I have ever visited and so interesting! We then went to a hospitality room, where we savored some of their products and toasted for each others health and to our next reunion.
Back to the hotel, to have a little rest, and prepare for our Farewell Banquet. This was the last night we would all be together, and we really wanted to make the most of it. We gathered at the banquet room, and met with other family members who had arrived that afternoon. Among them were the Lorenz Family, Jack Lorenz, Leslie and Jim Galligan, Doug Buder, Nan Lorenz, and Andy Grabel. All of us had a gift to give to someone else, so we collected them and placed them on two tables we had already set. Alberto gave the welcome to everyone, and introduced me, so I could give a very special gift to all the families that had gathered for our reunion.
After dinner, we sang a very beautiful song called "Unforgettable", which I think described all the family members gathered in that room, and raffled all the gifts that were brought. It was a very special moment, for everyone had a gift brought with love for someone very special.
It was time to say good-bye for some of us, for there were early departures, others were leaving a little bit later, and others until next day. It was not a sad good-bye, because we all knew in our hearts, that the friendships that were initiated during those four days, would last for the rest of our lives, and it is only up to us to maintain that flame alive and invite other members to join us, for as I said during the banquet, the most important thing for a human being is "Family".
I know that everyone got home safe and sound, with a lot of memories that will last forever. I thank God for this opportunity and I am sorry I did not think of having this reunion before, but only He knows the reason.
Please keep in contact with each other, share your ideas with all of us, and let's start planning for the next one. Three years will go faster than you think, so let's start suggesting dates and places.
Good-bye for now, and God bless you. We send all our love, hugs and kisses.
Zulema, Alberto, Zule and Dany.
P.S. I just received a phone call from Cristina, she sends her love to all of you, and asked me to please tell you that her computer went caput and she will probably not be able to fix it, she is going to buy another one next week. Meanwhile, we can all write to her to her office = csarinan@bechtel.com