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.