While in Bally PA I loved seeing the old farms and their lands.

Stella's 1st Birthday, Great Niece Laura,

To Pennsylvania to visit my birth family. My Great-niece, Stella (named after my mother Estella Fitzgerald Frank-she would be so happy) had her 1st Birthday party. Stella's Grandma Cheryl was gracious enough to have me as a house guest and to hold the party at her house. Stella's

cousin Sammy brought his mother to the party. Sam and Stella both liked to touch Tucker's fluffy tail. We all had a fun time.

Another Great-niece, whom I hadn't yet met, was on my visit agenda; Laura Emma Swiegart. Laura warmed up to her Great-Aunt Fran quickly after the initial introduction. She has the face of a finely painted China Doll and loves to bounce in her bounce-chair. Her sister Courtney is a fine big sister. Laura and Courtney's mom presented Laura's dad with a huge labor of love when she carried Laura for the long nine months it takes a baby to grow in her mother's womb and endure the labor of birth. Laura is the only child born to her daddy, who was 45 when Laura was born. He is a very happy and precious father.

Crystal Mountain Mamas concert

After leaving Cincinnati, I spent two days with friend Pat in Athens, Ohio; home of Ohio University. I got to meet her new dog friend, Cobbs; and reunite with big, black Rocky. They are sweet boy dogs who welcomed me with opened paws and wagging tails.

Pat and I then drove to Abingdon, VA, exploring the small, tender town in the rain. The highlight was delectable deserts at Anthony's.

The next day we twisted through the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, beside a rushing mountain stream to stay with dear friend, Marsha, at Crystal Mountain Mamas cabin. Cabin! It's a giant log home in a mountain development named Carefree Cove. She and her partner are co-owners with Carol and Jan, my other dear friends.

When Marsha and her partner, Ruth, helped other friends in Ohio care for me in 2007 in the throes of chemotherapy, I helped Marsha choose her first guitar. We went to the local mall in Cincy and spent several evenings in Music Stores. I'd be stoned from chemo and the other drugs that go with it, somewhat clear-headed enough to test the neck and string action on numerous instruments until we found the best one. Then, Marsha couldn't even play one cord.

Now, she is a talented song writer and singer/performer.

Marsha and I planned a concert for the cove women. Lissa, the local banjo picker, joined us. She was an instrumental (pardon the pun) part of our successful concert. We performed original songs written by both Marsha and I. Lissa taught us some good old mountain tunes.

Our audience was grateful for our gifts. Bayley, Marsha's dog, couldn't tolerate sitting with the audience. He took his place at our feet as though one of the performers.

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.