Monday, the 28th, was our travel day to drive from Toledo to Columbus to begin the last leg of our trip. We have seen and experienced much, including many sites, good friends and relatives. We chose to take the old US Route 23 through the small towns and country rather than the interstate. We really enjoyed all of the scenery from this rural drive.
Once in the Columbus area, we went to Mary Anne's old home area around Lockbourne, Ohio. The farm that was home and where she was raised is no longer there; it is now commercial warehouses. The lane, which was their driveway from the road to the house, is now an actual street with a street name sign. So much of the area has changed! The Lockbourne Methodist Church is still there, but many of the shade trees are now gone.
Little old Lockbourne has added a new-to-us, The Village of Lockbourne historical building, honoring its founding in 1831, A historical link in the old Ohio Canal System.
We went by many old sites and then to the cemetery to visit the graves of Mary Anne's family.
Great Grandparents, Fritz (Frederick) and Granny (Sarah) Tope
Grandparents, Grandpa (Russell) and Grandma (Anna) Tope
Parents, Mother (Doris) and Stepfather (Paul - aka: Slim) Norris
Mother's sister, Aunt Mary Jo and Uncle Willie Wilmers
This evening we met up with Sue Douglas for dinner. Sue was my next-door neighbor on Ogden Avenue in Toledo growing up. Our families were close, like being relatives, with her dad and my dad being best friends for life. We have many memories and stories of everything over so many years. What a terrific evening we had being together in person rather than just the emails we often exchange. Sue took us to Valentina's for a fabulous Italian dinner. Valentina's is a Cameron Mitchell restaurant in Downtown Dublin, offering authentic dishes from the kitchens of northern Italy.
Both Sue and I had the special of the day, Lobster Ravioli. Making this dish extra special were chunks of lobster on the plate as well as being in the ravioli stuffing. Exquisite!
After dinner and before returning to Sue's for some delicious ice cream (I had Chocolate Marshmallow and Mary Anne had Peach), Sue drove us around The Ohio State Campus. It has built up so much since I graduated in 1976! It brought back many memories but also we were astounded by the number of new buildings on campus. The OSU Hospital where Mary Anne and I met, is now five large specialty buildings --- unbelievable! We went to our favorite "Shoe" where we see the Buckeyes play their home games. Took some pictures, especially the tributes to Archie Griffith, the two-time Heisman Trophy recipient.
Tuesday, we had blocked out lunch with two high school friends of Mary Anne's who have been dear over these many years, Donna Ciborek and Connie Hart. They are always kind enough to let me crash into the gathering too! These three ladies could go on for hours more than we did, but the hours together will be cherished by all. It was not only a delicious lunch but exquisite in all respects. Now if we can just get these gals and their hubbies to make a trip to California!
Donna, Mary Anne and Connie
Our great friend Karen Lane was the head nurse on 8-West at Ohio State University Hospital, where I met her while working and attending OSU in the early 1970s. For well over 50 years, we have always kept in touch by email and see each other when she makes it to Southern California or we get to Ohio or Arizona when she's there. Karen opened her home and guest quarters for us to stay on this trip. We are staying four nights starting today. One of Karen's beautiful Orchids in bloom:
We did many things with Karen from wine tasting at her local grocery to visiting attractions in Columbus. We meshed well with her time to do her volunteer work and our schedules of things to see and do. One of the places that we went to see with her was the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. We had heard about this museum and were honored to be able to see it. I was given a Veteran Pin for service in my Navy days during the Vietnam era by the Museum. So much to take in; some examples, but not nearly all!
Karen and me at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum
The Draft ... Uncle Sam Wants You
Several of the windows replicate the color stripes of the ribbons awarded to the US Forces
Wednesday evening, July 30th, we had dinner at my cousin Phil and Evelyn Ikehorne's house. Some years ago, when Phil was a director of the Tiger Woods Foundation, we used to see them about every year when they would come to California for the Foundation's awards program. With that job retired, so did the travel!!! It was great to see them both again. There have been some medical problems but recovery has been good and life is good. We enjoyed the talking and the masterful Stromboli dinner that they treated us to!
Phil and Evelyn
Mary Anne, Evelyn, Phil, Larry
Thursday, July 31st, was our day at The Ohio State Fair! Our entire trip started out on the premise that we wanted to go to the fair. Our last visit was in 1975 when Mary Anne was pregnant with Carrie!!! One last hurrah to a memory from years ago. It was fun and delightful; changed? Yes. But still a good fair in our opinion. We dodged rain off and on, but we didn't let it spoil our day.
The Ohio State Fair
First held in Cincinnati in 1850, the Ohio State Fair was organized by the Ohio Board of Agriculture to promote agricultural education and recognize achievements. The second fair was held in Franklinton (now part of Columbus) on the farm of Michael Sullivant. To increase interest and participation during its early years, the Ohio State Fair traveled to various locations around Ohio. In 1874, Columbus won the bid to host the fair for a five-year trial period. The fair remained in Columbus after the trial period and was held at the Franklin County Fairgrounds until the 37th Ohio State Fair began at this location. Conveniently located adjacent to major railroad lines, the Ohio State Fairgrounds were dedicated on August 31, 1886.
OSU Brutus, our Buckeye Guy!!!
The Ohio State Fair
Quilts of the fair
Miscellaneous unique displays
The infamous "Butter Cow" that is presented every year in a different sculpture. This year they added the workmen. In 1903, the first-ever butter cow and calf sculptures were featured at the Ohio State Fair when they were entered into a butter sculpting contest sponsored by The Ohio State University and the Dairy Processors of Ohio. The Butter Cow has been a staple of the fair ever since!
Finishing the fair, we had the evening open. Karen has a membership to The Ohio Theater and invited us to go with her to see the Alfred Hitchcock classic, Marnie. We love the old historical theaters of New York and Los Angeles. The Ohio Theater stands with them! It is absolutely gorgeous. We sat in the balcony and enjoyed the live organ playing for a half hour or so before the movie and also at intermission. Not only is the theater spectacular, but the movie was outstanding too!
All pictures are in the complete album at this link
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