Cleveland and Indiana

 Tuesday May 30, 2023

By 10 AM we were on the road to Cleveland. Total distance was 550 miles, and we planned to take it easy and take an overnight on the way. But the traffic ran well and we were so close to Cleveland by dinner we decided to complete the drive that night.

A fun fact. I had the oil changed and the tires rotated before we left the IOP. But before we actually left home I discovered that the service people had forgotten to change the tire pressure when they rotated the tires, so I got out my trusty compressor and did it myself. And for fun I upped the pressure a few pounds on all four. 

The effect on our gas milage was quite amazing - we were consistently getting about 37 MPG, 2 or 3 more than usual. 

Wednesday May 31, 2023 - Graduation and etc

On the last day of school at Hampton High, most of us (just two classes, about 60 in total) went down the beach and took a swim in our school uniforms - and then went home to study. On the last day of school at Oakleigh High School Deidre caught the bus home as usual and went to her room to study. (Oakleigh had 3 Matric classes totaling about 90 kids).

Its not like that in the USA. By the time we arrived on Wednesday Ruby had been partying for a week, with more to go. No exams to speak of and she had already been accepted by South Carolina State University. Tonight was the official Graduation for all 400 Cleveland Heights High "Seniors".

The "Prom" earlier in the week:

I seem to find Ruby is always in the middle of the photo

Ruby with one of her prom dates

And now the formal Graduation ceremony:

Ruby in the middle of the front row!

Ruby shaking hands

Ruby and family ("Big Dog" is trying to look tall)

Ruby with her hat cover

Ruby with her oldies

I am proud to report that Ruby was academically ranked in the top 25 of the 400 graduates.

Thursday was a relaxing day with the family. We did not see much of Adam and Indy because they have started a lawn cutting business and had 4 lawns to cut. (Yards in Cleveland Heights are generally pretty big.) 

Problem is that Indy has been rather busy with school, soccer and baseball (he is quite the "jock") and so now that summer has arrived Adam ends up doing most of the work. Plus it seems that Adam pays the bills and the proceeds go into Indy's Education Fund. Fortunately Adam finds cutting grass quite soothing.

Plus Kathy needed to pop into the "Grog Shop" and Ruby needed to sleep. 

Friday June 2, 2023

Deidre and I jumped back into the car and headed for Angola, IN to visit Valparaiso friends, Jean and Jim. Jim is a retired FBI agent and Jean a retired primary school teacher. Their house is located on the shore of Lake James. We had not seen them in person for about 5 years, so it was fun to catch up.

They took us out on the lake in their pontoon boat. We stayed the night but headed back to Cleveland Heights on Saturday to be in time for Ruby's Graduation bash.

Nashville & Franklin, Tennesee

 Wednesday May 24, 2023

This morning (at a reasonable hour) we loaded into the car and headed north towards Nashville, Tennessee. We have rented a large country house about 25 miles south of Nashville, and we will be meeting up with nine of our old friends from Solon for four nights. 

We decided to take it easy on the road, so have booked the CHATTANOOGA CHO CHO hotel (in Chattanooga) for tonight, and that will leave us only a hundred miles or so for tomorrow. It was an easy drive and we had plenty of time to settle into the hotel followed by a stroll and dinner down by the Tennessee River.

The old railway station. It was impressive but a bit shabby (as was the hotel)

Lifting bridge - not too sure why it was needed

There was a Cardinal nest right outside the hotel window, with 2 chicks
Boy, were they hungry.

Thursday, May 25, 2023

We did a big shop before we headed out to the house to meet Wade, the manager. It was a large 6 bedroom house, with a huge Living room, Game room, Kitchen and decks. There was even a stage in the living room. I suspect the house was once built by a Nashville performer who practiced and entertained at home. All eleven of us were able to sit around the fireplace in the Living room.

The house was located alongside a small private lake and a couple of acres of mown grass. The house and the furniture was a bit shabby, but reasonably clean, and OK for 4 days.

That afternoon our friends started to roll in. Betty and Dick from Arizona, Mona and Darrell from California, Lynn, Susan and Nick from North Carolina, Lovie and Jay from our old street in Solon. A fun fact is that Susan is Nick's first wife and Lynn his second! 

We planned to eat out only one night (Saturday) in Nashville, followed by a visit to the Grand Ole Opry. Lovie and Deidre (helped by Jay and Lovie) were responsible for the first night's dinner.

The country house

The beaver dam

Friday May 26, 2023

We spent most of the next 3 days sleeping, eating, drinking, telling old stories and visiting a couple of the local towns - Franklin and Leiper's Fork - for some touristy shopping. But mostly eating, drinking and talking. 

All the guys have been friends since our days of living in Solon, Ohio - so about 42 years. Sadly, Nick has a bad case of cancer and is currently being treated with chemotherapy. In this photo we are all "showing respect" for his new hairdo. (We were all too vain to do it the real way!)

Nick and his two wives - Lynn and Susan

Mona and Darrell

Deidre and some old guy

Jay and Lovie

Dick and Betty

Saturday May 27, 2023

We all loaded into 3 cars at about 4 PM and headed to Nashville for dinner at the Gaylord Opryland Resort followed by a performance of the Grand Ole Opry. I was amazed at how big and busy the resort turned out to be. Dinner was expensive and OK. 

The GOO performance was just as expected, just like the TV show, but without Minnie Pearl. Quite entertaining.

Sunday May 28, 2023

More of the same fun. I am so lucky to have such good and steady friends. 

Cooking dinner

The ladies resting while the guys cleaned up

Monday May 29, 2023

Today is Memorial Day and "clean up, pack and depart" day. We were all out by 11 AM as required. 

Deidre and I headed over to Franklin, TN where will catch up with boating friends (Mike and Kathleen) and stay the night before heading to Ohio. We met them at the local common field where Memorial Day activities were underway.