The Great Hunter and I went outside our comfort zone this week and drove ourselves to the Muny Opera in Forest Park to see Jersey Boys. I’ve been to the Muny several times, but I’ve always gone with my neighbor and never had to drive. Several years ago, for my birthday, the Great Hunter planned a trip for us to the Muny to see South Pacific. I was so impressed by his planning that I’ve never forgotten it. Not only did he purchase the tickets, but he also planned to take the Metrolink and then catch a shuttle from the MetroLink station directly to the front door of the Muny.

We debated whether we should again take the MetroLink or drive ourselves. Both options had their plusses and minuses. The plusses for taking Metrolink would be that we didn’t have to figure out how to navigate the streets inside Forest Park, find a parking spot and then find our way back to our car. The minus was that since we took the Metrolink in 2013, things on the rapid transit system have become less safe, with all the stations having security and police officers riding the trains, a result of numerous assaults happening on and around the trains. In the end, we decided to bite the bullet and drive ourselves.

We had no issue getting to the Muny and finding a parking spot (many people advocated not parking in a lot because it takes a long time to get out of them) in a lot not far from away. But I have Parking Lot PTSD.

Back when my grandson was about two years old (he’s 19 now), my son took us to Forest Park to the Balloon Glow they have every year. My son had parked in a lot and we walked to where the balloons were. I’d taken my camera and was so excited to take photographs of the balloons that not long after we got there,  he and I became separated. After walking around for a while and not being able to find him, I decided I’d just call him so we could meet up somewhere. Then I realized I’d put my phone in the diaper bag and it was with him. Eventually, I walked up to a nice couple, explained my dilemma and asked if I could use their phone. They readily agreed. I called…no answer. I thanked them and walked away, hoping I’d run into him somewhere. A little while later, I again asked to borrow a phone, but again my son didn’t answer. This time, I left him a message and said I would wait for him below the Budweiser balloon.

The park was emptying and finally I saw him. I was so relieved. He surprised me when he said he hadn’t been worried, he thought I would just meet him at the car. Problem was, I had no idea where the car was. I envisioned walking up to a police officer and saying “I’m lost.” This is what was on my mind when I thought about parking in a lot away from the venue so I learned how to “pin” a parking spot on Google Maps.

The Muny Opera in Forest Park is the nation’s oldest and largest outdoor theater, seating 11,000. This year was the Muny’s 107th anniversary. The Pagoda was built in 1924 and replaced the original wooden structure destroyed by fire in 1911. For more history of this icon location, click  here .

The show was great. We’ve seen it twice before at the Fox Theater and this one was every bit as good if not better. It was so hard to stay seated or not sing along. I love Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
After the theater let out, I was anxious to see how my map pin worked in getting us back to our car. I followed the map directions for quite a while and from what I remembered of our tram ride from the parking lot, I felt like we were going in the wrong direction.  We were. We walked a full circle back to the front of the Muny. I should have enlarged the map before I pinned the parking spot. Live and Learn.

We walked for quite a while and eventually found the car. The plus side to this longer journey (beside getting my steps in for the day) was the park was now fairly deserted and we had absolutely no trouble getting out. Getting home was another story as, thank you Google Maps, it took us through the heart of the city, not at all the way I knew to go home, but, we made it in one piece.