Riverfront Trail Day

Happy Wednesday, everybody. Hope it's off to a great start. I've been meaning to share a little something about an event I had the pleasure of attending last month in my hometown, and today is finally the day! Read on, if you please: 

Riverfront Trail Day has been a highlight in Washington, MO since it started 11 years ago. I actually happened to be there that day as well! Back then I was in high school, tasked with pushing wheelchairs and chatting with the seniors who were there to enjoy the beautiful trail along the Missouri River. I still remember it! My classmates and I had such a fun time talking to people about their lives and our shared community. It's been amazing (yet not surprising) to hear how the event has grown over the years, getting so popular that the organizers had to move it to the fairgrounds! Check out the crowd this year:

So many people!! (That's the swine pavilion, to be specific. Gotta love small towns.)

The whole point of the Trail Day is to enable the elderly and disabled to see the sights and sounds of Washington. There was free lunch to enjoy and tram rides to take people all over the park. Such a neat idea and the organizers care *so* much about the folks they serve. 

I was so excited to be there and say a few words. I've heard many people in Washington say they watch Ch. 4 and I couldn't miss an opportunity to say thanks for that. I also wanted to share what an impact this particular group has had on me and others in the community. They really laid the foundation for what is a great place to grow up and raise a family and I certainly benefited from that. Looking out at all those people also reminded me of my grandparents, who have since passed away but lived in Washington for many years. Lots of special people who worked very hard for a long time to make this area what it is today.

It's hard to go anywhere in Washington without running into somebody! I saw a few familiar faces that day, one of them being the Mayor of Washington, Sandy Lucy. As a kid, I used to stop in with my mom/siblings to see Mrs. Lucy at her art gallery in Downtown Washington. Her husband is the painter, Gary Lucy, and I used to love going there to look at all the different pieces of artwork and pretty things in the shop. Who knew she would be the mayor someday! 

That's my mom snapping a picture on my cell phone. Her dog, Ruby, is sneaking in for some attention in the bottom left corner too. So glad I got to be there that day, and happy the weather turned out well. Notice all the jackets--it was even a bit cool outside. Overall a great success for a group of people who couldn't be more deserving. Thanks for having me!

-Emily

P.S. Big thanks to Jeannie Miller Wood for these pictures! She's the photographer for the local paper and I have memories of her at every major event for pretty much my entire life! School stuff, sporting events, fair fun--there's a picture of an 8-year-old me at a turtle race that I'm pretty sure she took. Love it.