She is back once more by the Mississippi, where her life began. She is back with the man who wooed her on a dance floor under the starry St. Louis skies before the world erupted in war, wed her during a three-day Army pass and ultimately created five daughters with her before he came back, too.
No longer must he wait for her.
She is back near the parents who raised her as the '20s soared and then as the '30s wreaked havoc. She is back near so many family and friends who guided her and supported her and cheered her on as her life took her far beyond that river, from the tumult of the mid-'60s until now.
We brought her back home, on a journey brightened by the kindness of countless people, some who knew her and some who simply saw in our faces what we needed every step of the way to St. Louis.
We came back to our memories of all the Mississippi's magic: Riverboat rides, baseball games, backyard barbecues, a perch in our peach tree, a Beatles concert and a final adventure there as a family before we headed to new adventures in the Northeast — a ride to the top of the majestic Gateway Arch.
Because she was brave then, we tried to be. Because she was brave until her last breath, we have been given more than we can ever give back to her.
But we have given her this. Now she is back with thousands upon thousands of others who were brave in many different ways, including her father, who joined the Army as a teen to confront Pancho Villa and his men along the border with Mexico; and her uncle, a doughboy in World War I; and her husband, who narrowly missed being a casualty of Rommel's tank forces in northern Africa by a fortuitous twist of fate and then, much later, fought the good fight against corporate thievery.
They are in field after field after field, all framed by the mighty Mississippi. When we left her, we walked a few steps and watched the river and the Arch shining in that St. Louis sun. Farewell and welcome home, Mom. We brought you back.
Cynthia Hart lives in Saratoga Springs and is a former Times Union editor. Her email address is hartspa14@aol.com.