Friday, December 7, 2018

The Search Is Over

In the spring of 2004 Son Tony was a student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. When I visited him for the first Mom's weekend I bought a commemorative brick at a craft show that had the word Illini (for their football team, the Fighting Illini) in orange and blue, the school colors. When I got home I put the brick in the planting bed just outside the front door.

When Son Brian started classes at the University of Missouri-Columbia. I bought a Mizzou Tiger brick at one of the stores in town and placed it next to the first.

For years they were a set of two, but in 2016 when Son Donald began classes at Missouri University of Science and Technology (otherwise known as Missouri S&T) I started searching around for a school brick to go with the others. The only things I could find with the school logo were clothes. Nothing else. Not even online! Finding the elusive brick turned into somewhat of an obsession.

Earlier this fall Hubby Tony and I made a Homecoming Weekend trip to Rolla to attend a downtown business district craft fair. Once again I came up empty handed, but when I walked into a stained glass store I saw a display of large stepping stones that were similar to what I was looking for. I got the owner's contact information and after exchanging a series of emails with him, four weeks later I made another trip to Rolla to pick up my custom made brick.

The set is now complete

Five years ago today: Getting The Hang Of It

13 comments:

  1. I love them what a good Idea. We would have two Vandal bricks and one Warrior brick all Idaho schools. Hub's and I are U of Montana graduates.

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    1. I didn't know I would be starting a tradition when I bought the first brick...but I'm sure glad I did.

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  2. Never heard of such a thing. Glad you were able to complete the set for your sons. Now, on to the grandchildren!

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    1. Yes, although it will be a while till college :-)

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  3. Having three of anything, is perfect! This just finished it up nicely.

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    1. An odd number of things always makes a better presentation.

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  4. Sis went to U of I Champaign in the early 90s. Basketball. I love Chef Illiniwek and was ticked when they ditched him.

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    1. I saw the Chief dance once and wondered what the big deal was.

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