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Lets Play Nertz!!!

Last year, when we all got together again after 40 years...we remembered the hours of fun we had playing Nertz as young girls. Well...we said "The next time we get together, we should have a rousing game"...thinking we would probably never do it!! *lol*

GUESS WHAT!!

We met at my house and

WE DID IT!!!

But First Let's Eat Cookies!!

Back then, we played Nertz on Patty's front porch. She had a little table and chairs we used ....until we were too big to sit in the chairs. Then we STILL used the table...but we sat on the floor. Patty's mother, Mrs. Brough.........it would have been disrespectful to call her Doris....... would bring out a tray with Hawaiian Punch in fancy stemmed glasses and a bowl of Fritos Corn Chips for us to snack on while we played. I loved going to Patty's house. Her mother always had the greatest snacks. *lol*

We played Nertz a lot then...along with Canasta...Sometimes we would play indoors in front of the TV while watching Mickey Mouse Club. I always wanted to look like Annette.

This time we sat on MY front porch, and used a card table. The chairs were big enough for us (thank goodness.)...so we didn't have to sit on the floor again.

I couldn't find Hawaiian Punch in the stores... *do they still make it?...probably not*....so we drank soda. (It was too early for the Margaritas and beers..... They came later...at dinner.)

...and I didn't have any corn chips, but Patty brought delicious cookies....they taste better than Fritos, anyway!!! *lol* ....but don't tell "Doris" I said that!

.

OK....Deal 'Em!!!!

Maybe the porch wasn't such a good idea after all......
It was a pretty hot day...hot and humid, as they say......
And as we started shuffeling the cards, about 15 young sweaty shirtless men showed up on the neighbor's roof. They began hammering and sawing and doing whatever else constructiion workers do...mostly giving off testestrosone!! It reminded us of when we were young..... the neighborhood boys would show up... with their shirts on, of course...... trying to cop a look at us in our pajamas!!
So anyway....we played and talked and played and laughed...and...and... and decided we were sweating because it was actually hot outside, and not because of Hot Flashes!!

$#@*!!

Since this is a fast paced game ....and we are now sorta slow paced women... we thought it might be a little more difficult for us to get the hang of it again. But as you can see...we had no problem! Soon we were back to the old days ....dropping cards off the table....slapping the cards down....and laughing gleefully when we were able to beat the other person to the pile for more points. You would think the years would have mellowed us....but NOOO!! We each still wanted to win!!

Nertz Winner

Pam was the big winner of the day......and she didn't have to cheat this time! *lol* I always say it was the McClain kids that taught me how to cheat and win at games. Patty wanted to give her a congratulatory hug after the score was tallied....uh....I guess that turned a little nasty!! *lol*
The proud winner

Clinique Fun

After the Nertz game, I treated them to a couple of FREE Clinique gifts..........It's a "girl thing"

Remember?...Pam was the first among our little gang to wear mascara....and then...there's the time Patty turned her hair absolutely white with hair spray, and had to go to the "Beauty Shop" for advice on how to get it all out!

Back then..... Aqua Net was a staple on our bathroom shelves.

Dairy Queens

There is nothing like a hot dog from the Dairy Queen on St. Joe Avenue. Oh.... you can go to other DQs...but they won't taste the same. When "North End" natives living in other states return for a visit...they usually stop by here to get one. Not only are they the best ever made....*lol*...but it brings back fond memories of our youths and the dog days of summer in the Sixties. I actually worked here for a few years.....and whenever I get ice cream from one of those self-serve machines....I STILL make the little curl on the top!

Wyeth Hill

This is the place all the young lovers would go to "park". It has a beautiful view of the bluffs surrounding the Missouri River..."The Mighty Mo". There are many legends of Indians and cowboys...and Jesse James associated with this place, along with tales of the Civil War and other stuff....but I think we all made the most legends here ourselves!! *lol*

When we pulled up to the edge of the cliff, there was a solitary male in a truck parked up there. Patty got frightened...she said this place has a bad reputation for perverts now. She didn't want to get out of the car. Finally after some persuading, she got out...but said to keep the motor running...*lol*

The really funny thing is....when we got out...the..... uuhhh....so called......."pervert"...LEFT!!!!

Now what does that say about us??? *lol*

Terrible's

Since we were so close....and since we each had $10.00 to lose...we stopped by Terrible's Casino...located near the bluffs. We combined our $30.00...and lost it in about 5 minures. Well...we each found $5.00 more in our wallets...and managed to come out winners!!....but not "big" winners...so don't come to us looking for a loan or anything.

Across the Wide Missouri

WOW!! That IS an awesome view!!

I had actually never seen it in daylight!! *lol*
You can see across the river to Kansas.

This was the start of our "Show Me St. Joe" tour. From here, we drove past our old childhood homes ...............Dewey St....Main St....2nd St...

We went by homes of other friends in our old neighborhood, too.......passing our grade school...(yes...we can sing the song...

"Above an Indian burial ground...there stands Humboldt safe and sound"...)

Our high school...

("Hail to thee our dear old Lafayette. We shall sing of thee..")

We called out names of other old friends and aquaintances as we passed by each street....

"Linda Mullins lived there.....Gloria Magana lived right up that street..... Gary Swope lived somewhere along here.........Didn't Herbie Norton live there?".....

Patty could remember most of the names and houses, and Pam and I recalled a few others as we slowly drove along ...pointing to the yards... shouting their names and smiling as we remembered another old friend...

Dinner at 54th Street

After we finished the St. Joe tour, we met up at 54th Street Restaurant witha couple more good old friends. Here is Patty and Dorothy waiting for them......and here they come......

Dorothy

This is ME!!! See the empty Margarita glass? All this talking and laughing and catching up on things makes a girl real thirsty!!!
Maybe I should have another...*lol*

Sue

Sue has been married for many years to one of Lafayette High's famous athletes....David.
We girls spent many a day and night at her home on North Third. We would play Dodge Ball in the alley beside the house...just to get the boys to come by. We never really liked to play Dodge Ball....but the boys did...and it got them there! *lol*
Her mother Laura,....... oops! I don't mean to be disrespectful.....her mother...Mrs. Mead.....was our Girl Scout Leader for many years. They had a cabin at Lake Contrary where we would go and float on the pontoon, use the canoe, fish(?) *lol* and get badly sunburned. She had a great big Rec Room in the basement of her house. That's where the Girl Scouts would meet...we would turn out all the lights and play hide and seek down there....it was REALLY dark!!!...

Sharon

Sharon, too has been married for many years...although, she married an "upper classman"...Clint.
When she pulled out pictures of her adorable grandchildren....
GRAND CHILDREN????..... We all "OOhed" and "Aawed" over them. The time has certainly flown by. It seems only like yeasterday she was cheering and clapping in Colleens...rooting for The Fighting Irish. Time hasn't change her looks, though. She is still as beautiful as ever.

Patty

Patty is married to Tom.....he was a big jock in High school, too. They also have a long and happy marriage. These two were voted "Most Handsom" and "Prettiest" of their respective classes. Patty was also sooooo popular. She was the Basketball Queen and Cheerleader......I wonder if she still has her crown?....I would like to borrow it. *lol*

Pam

...and here is Pam.

She married a New Jersey guy...Bob...and they have a long and happy marriage, too.

Pam is not only the Nertz Queen...she was the Football Queen and Head Cheerleader at our school.

Of course there weren't too many "heads" to cheer for....but she was the one that did it!! *lol*
I know she still has HER crown, because she told me she was tempted to wear it to our Class Reunion in 2005. That would have been a hoot!!!
When we girls stayed all night at her house on Dewey Street...we would sneak out...down the stairs...and smoke cigarettes and drink booze from those tiny little bottles. We never got drunk..and we never got caught.

Her dad would take us to Bean Lake when we got older...to water ski. They had a cool speed boat...but we always had to wash the car first. Melba...Ought Oh!! There I go again...being disrespectful.....Mrs. McClain always said..."Pretty is...as pretty does".

Sharon and Sue

Some things never change.

Catch Us Again Next Year

Here we all are, enjoying the night and each other's company. It's funny how childhood friends never loose the bond that holds them together. The glue is made of strong stuff...it lasts through the years. But...it's not over yet....we still have more memories to make.
I hope all of you reading this have enjoyed this tale. May you each have such good friends.....such good friends and such good memories.

When I got home the next day, I found a gift bag filled with hand made note cards sitting outside the doors on the porch.
Pam had left them there for me while I was at work.
The sentiment she wrote inside says it all....See what I mean?

View card?....click here