A little Ditty about Chuck and Diane; and hail

I hadn't seen Chuck since about 1990. He was living an alternative life style that leaned more heavily on one side of the Kinsey Scale than the other; you figure it out. He, his then partner, I and my then girlfriend sat nearly every summer evening on the shore of Rocky Fork Lake fishing for who knows what. One evening I had two lures left, cast in one and, thinking I'd hooked a big one, lost it on an underwater log. I reluctantly cast with my last lure and, again, caught a big one. It was a big one alright, I'd caughtand reeled in the lure I'd previously lost on the log.

As then, Chuck remains the incredibly creative man he was when I shared friendship with him in Hillsboro, Ohio. He now lives on the other side of the Kinsey Scale in a smaller Ohio town, married to Diane and passionately in love with all there is about her. They are a fine fit, yet complimentaries to one another. They fell in love over Bridge and remain competent Bridge players.

Chuck has been an Optician since his Hillsboro days and Diane has been a star employee of a candle-producing company for 30 years. They also own a lovely home in Gatlenburg, Tennessee, which they rent out when they are not there.

During this visit with Chuck and Diane, I was pleasured with the beautiful aesthetics of their home. The entire space was designed, created and installed by Chuck, primarily alone. He described how he fashioned various pulley systems to erect the outside deck and transport heavy boulders into their garden. He revealed how he formed the most wonderful catheral ceiling and skylights in the open-space. Most of their furniture is constructed by Chuck as well. He and Diane have equal taste in art, which is displayed throughout their home.

Chuck is an interesting man with whom to have discussion. He is philosophical, sensitive, and deeply spiritual. He will always remain a favorite person in my life.

When Diane was on her way home to a yummy dinner cooked by Chuck, she drove through a horrendous thunderstorm complete with heavy hail. After we finished our meal, another storm blew through Sardinia, with teeming hail. (see photos) The hailstones were 1/2 inch in diameter and covered the ground like snow.

The Energizer Bunnies and Love

Will and Ruth Wolf have been married for 70 years. He is 95 and she is 90. They are the most indelible people I know. I refer to them as the Energizer Bunnies. Each have struggled through so many health challenges, some you or I might not be able to pass through. Having known them for 25 years, I see the power of love pulling them through each event; they simply do not want to leave the other. Often I believe they never will.

Ruth tells the humorous story of their early married years when she invited her mother for dinner. Will's mother was an excellent cook, says Ruth. So, Ruth cooked a roast with gravy, and saw a beautiful cherry pie at the local bakery. She bought it and heated it up before serving it. After dishing out a delectable slice on her mother's then Will's plate, her mother expressed her joy for the flavor of the pie. Ruth, being a natural trickster, said, "Thank you, I sweated all day making it." Will, who told this writer, "That was my big mistake," said at the time, 'Well, it's not as good as my mother's pies." With that, Ruth plopped each of the slices onto one plate and aimed it across the room, hoping to land it in the sink. The pie slices chose their own course, however, and cherries decorated the window and walls which in those days, Ruth reminds me, were covered with wallpaper; hence forever cherry stains. Ruth then told her dinner guests, and in particular Will, ",Don't ever ask me to bake a pie as long as we're married,," "And I never did" she added.

The best product of their long love story is their daughter Carol. She and her partner Jan and the rest of the family you see here share in the care of both Will and Ruth's medical, emotional, and social needs. Carol has recently enrolled them in the local gym. Ruth says she sometimes is concerned for Will when in the gym because he utilizes the exercise equipment to such vigor. His only problem, she says, it that he's blind.

They are each very beautiful people, personalities and physically. I admire their will to continue walking through life with such fortitude. I admire their family, who show such patience, tenderness, and respect for their elders and modeling this same respect to the young children in the family and their community.

When helping Carol walk her parents from the parking garage into the Aronoff Center fortheir great-grandaughter's My Nose Is Red performance, I noticed how few people in our walking path paid no or little attention to the presence of two incredible people and the fact that they might need to step out of the way to make Will and Ruth's walk safe. I was saddened by the fact that our society shows little respect for our Elders, very important citizens who have much wisdom to share with us to make our paths easier.

Cincinnati Sights

Cincinnati is known as the Queen City; named after the Roman farmer, Cincinnatus after whom a club was formed to preserve the ideals of the people's independence The street layouts were modeled after Philadelphia.

The tallest skyscraper, called The Great American Tower, is one-year-old and houses an insurance company, do tell! We know who has much of the people's money.

Barges transport coal and other commodities on The Mighty Ohio River that forms a semi-circle around Cincinnati and divides Ohio from Kentucky.

The Cincinnati skyline is most impressive from Kentucky, however.

I was unable to capture the lavender bridge; it is a people-only bridge, no vehicles.

Dog Bath and helping the painter and Chuckrina.

Ruth and Marsha lodged me in a bedroom that is as furnished as a top line Hyatt Hotel room. But.....high on a wardrobe, starring menacingly down at me through the night is the twin to Chuckie the clown. We named her Chuckrina. How can a girl get any sleep?

To see under her kitchen counter to paint, Marsha donned a clip-on light to her ballcap. Bayley helped.

Bayley-boy is a sweet and loving member of the Acheson-Rowan family. Here are Marsha and her daughter, Tammy, bathing him. When Marsha tells him it's time for his bath, he runs away, rolls over on his back with legs splayed, making himself heavier to pick up. When in the bath, he forgets his earlier defiance, almost humming with pleasure (notice his pink tongue sticking out.)

Ruthie passed on the opportunity to have her photo taken. I had an opportune shot when she was awaiting new color to absorb into her hair; sorry, I was not granted permission to photograph her then either even though she looked so cute. Use your imagination.

Miami Whitewater Park, Harrison, Ohio

Today I walked the banks of The Great Miami River in the Miami Whitewater Park in Harrison, Ohio, just shy of the Ohio/Indiana border. The weather was warm with a soft, cooling breeze. I hoped to find an arrowhead but found fossil rocks and one stone that appears to have been worked by the Shawnee Indians into a tool for scraping hides.

This tree has a clear face with intense eyes.

Snaggle Puss

Marsha, Tammy, and I sat down to a hearty meal at Walt's, barbeque restaurant. I had ground beef barbeque, which was crispy and yummy; until I heard the pop and knew that yet another tooth had broken. That makes three in less than one year. The entire outer point of my right eye-tooth must have slid down my gullet. It is no longer in my mouth. Off to find a Cincinnati dentist today.

My daughter born through another woman

Her 9th birthday was the last time I saw Tishia. I had fallen in love with her the instant I saw her in her hospital basinette; she oozed old wisdom and peaceful countenance in her new body. After her birthday party, I'd sent photos of her with the football I gave her, and which she'd requested. The photos were returned by the P. O. as she and her mother had moved shortly after that day. I tried several times over the next 13 years to locate Tishia so I could give her the photos and once again see her, with no resolve. Last October I opened my e-mail to find a Facebook message from Tishia Lynn stating, "Fran, I think I've got the right person; I have so many fond memories of you. I'm sure it's you." My heart was filled with such pleasure. We made phone contact. Tishia remembers when as a toddler her mother brought her to my home in Yellow Springs, Ohio and we blew bubbles on my front porch. She remembers me carrying her on my shoulders in the Glen and teaching her to hug trees. On this trip to Ohio, Tishia and I reunited after all these years. It felt like we'd never been apart. Our connection seems important. Tishia grew to become a very wise and fine young woman, despite many harsh and difficult childhood challenges. She went on to graduate school, acquiring her MSW, masters' degree in Social Work, and works with challenged youth, exactly my professional path. Like my brother Sam once said because my nieces and nephews favored me in facial appearance as babies, ".....Fran your genes are strong." (I was so excited in spending time with Tishia that I forgot to get out my camera and photograph her. I will try to include one later.)

Women Drumming

Pam always treats me like a Goddess; holding "my room" for each visit, engaging me in community activites like in the old days when I lived in Yellow Springs, and cooking me nutritional and delectable meals such as the home-made chicken enchelada, pearl couscous, and broccoli salad, YUM!

An altar welcoming our women drummer ancestors.

Karen, Pam and Margaret.
Pam played drumming music, beats to which we all aspire, and we danced as though we'd never danced. Karen donned her monkey hat and struck a pose.

Karen calling in the ancient ones!

This was Karen's first time at our drumming sessions; she added wonderful tones with her Dirigidoo and her strong spiritual nature.

I, Pam, and Margaret began our Yellow Springs Women's Drumming Group in the early 1990s. They are still united and each time I visit my "girls" they arrange a drumming session. We've still got the beat!

Birth Family

My big Sis and her husband graciously put me up at their home for two nights. My sister quickly whipped up a tasty meal on the first night. On the second day I indulged in my first Oyster Pie at Emille's restaurant, formerly the East Rockhill Tavern. The broth was wonderful; just like mom's oyster stew. I enjoyed the chopped oyster mixed within the pie, but the stewed oysters on top I shifted onto Bernd's plate; not as tasty to me. My younger brother, Dennis, and I visited our now oldest brother, Linton and his wife, Nancy. Nancy was caring for four of their grandchildren; Maggie, Jonas, Eva, and baby Clayton. It was so fun being around grand nieces and nephews again. They always bring joy into my life. Linton was recovering from recent surgery to have a stone removed from his bladder - ouch! He was still somewhat stoned himself from anesthesia. I forgot to get out my camera to photograph all this fun!

Fond Reunions

St. Patty's Day - Cathie and Rick worked with me at Eagle Shirt Outlet Store in Quakertown, Penna, in the 1970s. She was 17 and he 19, as I recall. They were young sweeties madly in love. We had many good times at work and in Cathie's home. I sang John Denver's song, Sunshine on My Shoulders for their beautiful wedding on a hill above Lake Nockamixon. Until last week, I last saw them in the 1980's when their first daughter was an infant. Eva later welcomed a sister, Katie. When recently visiting Rick and Cathie, I got to meet Katie, a now lovely young woman who looks just like her Uncle Buster. Eva was a college on that day. Cathie baked a delicious quiche and rum cake, which we all devoured ravenously. She, Rick and I recalled all our good times and spoke about how thankful we are to still share friendship love. Cathie later wrote to me stating how important she believes our reunion was. I feel it too.