Every Party Needs a Pooper (and I'm Volunteering)

The western half of the 64/40 reconstruction opens this morning (work on the eastern half begins today). Maybe I'm just bitter all the forecasted ice and snow is nowhere to be found and I have to go to school for "review day," but yesterday's closed-highway party easily makes the "things I'll never understand" list in 2008. And I quote:

"The novelty of walking, riding or say getting one's picture taken on an empty interstate seemed to be the most common reason to attend Sunday's shindig. Sharon Brahan of Rock Hill took a stroll from McKnight Road down to Brentwood for breakfast this morning because, 'How often do you get to do something like this?'"

How often indeed? But regardless of the answer, who cares?

"'I wanted to be able to show a picture to my grandchildren of us,' said Debbie Bunten, who came out with a friend from her house in Chesterfield. 'I don't have them (grandchildren) yet, but years from now when they're on the highway and it's packed with cars, they'll think it's crazy.'"

No, actually, ma'am, they'll think you're crazy for making a big deal of it.

"Crazy is what Joe Wiss' kids called him for wanting to walk the interstate. The 73-year-old retired trucker enthusiastically hauled his wife and friends from the Dogtown neighborhood to join him for a constitutional. 'This is the first and the only time we'll get to do this,' Wiss said."

Let's hope so. Odds are if you tried it now that it's a functioning highway again, you would likely be killed.

"'It seems weird just standing here in the middle of the highway talking,' said Wiss' buddy Rick Brine, a retired construction worker."

Sir, that's because it is.

Forgive my party-pooper attitude, St. Louis, but it's been a long year of alternate routes. If you're out and about on 64/40 this morning, I hope you're in an automobile. If not, I'll be the one thinking sarcastic thoughts in your general direction as I drive by.

Man, I needed a snow day today.