Jul. 23rd, 2004 04:32 pm
Day 1 of the Ohio Pilgrimage
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mizarchivistThis has been an entirely fantastic day so far, and it's not even over
I got in last night on time to the Akron/Canton airport. Isabelluna picked me up (thanks again!) and we stopped by her house to look over the art, kitties, and projects- very nice. I forget how fast it is to get from one place to another here- one can travel some decent distances in what feels like no time flat.
We took the new exit off the highway and within moments of being in Mentor I was reminded why it is I don't ever ever ever ever want to move back. A once 2 lane road is now 4. Looks like a major thoroughfare, not a sleepy road cutting through the horse fields anymore. The church that I grew up in- an old manor house from days of yore (UU) is gone. Sad. Ah well.
My grandmother has been brought up from Pittsburgh. She is cheerful, but doesn't remember much. I don't expect her to call anybody but Dad by their name, or where I live or what I do. When I was describing one of our latest collections in the archive- gay activist's papers, she did share the (known to me) tidbit that she used to be a social worker back in the day and had many gay clients. I told her that I remembered and that I thought of her when I worked on said collection.
I did not manage to sleep in today- back in my old room that's the library/ tv room/ sewing room now-
My mother is doing some fantastic silk painting as her latest project. The job in particular is a gauzy silk that she'll sew into a kimono styled coat. Beautiful turquoise, purples, and ocres. I desparately wish I had the space for silk painting. But it's messy as hell and has a lot of components that would require dedicated space for use and storage. Well, when I'm rich . . .
I stopped by the flowershop I worked at in college to say hi to Lucia. She's a fun woman. She gave me her Woodstock shirt- original vintage! It looks silk screened- the pattern is a crowd shot- all over: lots and lots of hippies. I love it and am honored she wants me to have it. She is doing well, although likely to sell the flower shop (or at least the property) as soon as she can and decamp to the country. She's had it with the craptastic zoning decisions and the way this town is run. I don't blame her.
Have I mentioned I'm never moving back here?
Mom's throwing a party for me tonight, so we went off to get the last of the supplies. Right before we left, my cousin, Kate, called from the beach. She and some other high schoolers have been working w/ Mom to do murals on the changing room huts (imagine 20x20 cinder block shacks). She looks so grown up. It's disconcerting as hell, since my mental picture of her has her pegged at 7, not 17. Or whatever she actually is. Fubar, you stay the hell away, m'kay?! ;)
I really love Lake Erie. It was a perfect day for me. Not too hot, the waves breaking pretty merrily, the sky a fantastic shade of blue behind puffy clouds. I didn't think to bring my suit, so got Mom to promise we'd come back. Which we did after supplies were procured. It was really quite amazing, although by the time we did get back, I don't think the waves were quite as rowdy. My cousin, Jean Guy, and I would spend hours body surfing. The water is pretty clean, very warm, and doesn't sting the eyes like ocean water. Bleh.
Post beach, we met Dad at Brennan's for perch sandwiches and french fries. Oh, that is perfect food. Fresh grease- yum. Naturally Mom happened to see someone she knows at the restaurant. My former aunt's brother in law. A bit of a stretch? Yeah. Ah well. He's a nice guy. I guess former Aunt Linda's mom just died last night, which is quite sad, but I suspect she was in her 80s for sure. I used to go over her house as a wee pre-schooler. I remember she had the best collection of avon lipstick samples ever. I don't know if Avon still does those mini lipsticks, but those always seemed a nice way to have lots and lots of lipstick.
Well, it's 5 now- the party starts in 2 hours. I'm pleased I'm still so alert. I got the fixings for pomagranite margeritas. There's rumor that my first friend from this neighborhood, Stacy, might grace us with her presence. I haven't seen her in years. Quiet Elegance should be in by 9:30 or 10. Then we're off to Bowling Green tomorrow for more family picnics.
Oh yeah- I love this house. They've made it so so pretty. I'm sitting at my dad's old office desk looking out into a lush, green garden with lots of flowers, listening to the wind in the trees- (the audio being a bit marred at the moment by having to hear the train go by a half mile away). It's no wonder I like the suburbs. My parents live in a very nice corner of this dreadful little town.
I got in last night on time to the Akron/Canton airport. Isabelluna picked me up (thanks again!) and we stopped by her house to look over the art, kitties, and projects- very nice. I forget how fast it is to get from one place to another here- one can travel some decent distances in what feels like no time flat.
We took the new exit off the highway and within moments of being in Mentor I was reminded why it is I don't ever ever ever ever want to move back. A once 2 lane road is now 4. Looks like a major thoroughfare, not a sleepy road cutting through the horse fields anymore. The church that I grew up in- an old manor house from days of yore (UU) is gone. Sad. Ah well.
My grandmother has been brought up from Pittsburgh. She is cheerful, but doesn't remember much. I don't expect her to call anybody but Dad by their name, or where I live or what I do. When I was describing one of our latest collections in the archive- gay activist's papers, she did share the (known to me) tidbit that she used to be a social worker back in the day and had many gay clients. I told her that I remembered and that I thought of her when I worked on said collection.
I did not manage to sleep in today- back in my old room that's the library/ tv room/ sewing room now-
My mother is doing some fantastic silk painting as her latest project. The job in particular is a gauzy silk that she'll sew into a kimono styled coat. Beautiful turquoise, purples, and ocres. I desparately wish I had the space for silk painting. But it's messy as hell and has a lot of components that would require dedicated space for use and storage. Well, when I'm rich . . .
I stopped by the flowershop I worked at in college to say hi to Lucia. She's a fun woman. She gave me her Woodstock shirt- original vintage! It looks silk screened- the pattern is a crowd shot- all over: lots and lots of hippies. I love it and am honored she wants me to have it. She is doing well, although likely to sell the flower shop (or at least the property) as soon as she can and decamp to the country. She's had it with the craptastic zoning decisions and the way this town is run. I don't blame her.
Have I mentioned I'm never moving back here?
Mom's throwing a party for me tonight, so we went off to get the last of the supplies. Right before we left, my cousin, Kate, called from the beach. She and some other high schoolers have been working w/ Mom to do murals on the changing room huts (imagine 20x20 cinder block shacks). She looks so grown up. It's disconcerting as hell, since my mental picture of her has her pegged at 7, not 17. Or whatever she actually is. Fubar, you stay the hell away, m'kay?! ;)
I really love Lake Erie. It was a perfect day for me. Not too hot, the waves breaking pretty merrily, the sky a fantastic shade of blue behind puffy clouds. I didn't think to bring my suit, so got Mom to promise we'd come back. Which we did after supplies were procured. It was really quite amazing, although by the time we did get back, I don't think the waves were quite as rowdy. My cousin, Jean Guy, and I would spend hours body surfing. The water is pretty clean, very warm, and doesn't sting the eyes like ocean water. Bleh.
Post beach, we met Dad at Brennan's for perch sandwiches and french fries. Oh, that is perfect food. Fresh grease- yum. Naturally Mom happened to see someone she knows at the restaurant. My former aunt's brother in law. A bit of a stretch? Yeah. Ah well. He's a nice guy. I guess former Aunt Linda's mom just died last night, which is quite sad, but I suspect she was in her 80s for sure. I used to go over her house as a wee pre-schooler. I remember she had the best collection of avon lipstick samples ever. I don't know if Avon still does those mini lipsticks, but those always seemed a nice way to have lots and lots of lipstick.
Well, it's 5 now- the party starts in 2 hours. I'm pleased I'm still so alert. I got the fixings for pomagranite margeritas. There's rumor that my first friend from this neighborhood, Stacy, might grace us with her presence. I haven't seen her in years. Quiet Elegance should be in by 9:30 or 10. Then we're off to Bowling Green tomorrow for more family picnics.
Oh yeah- I love this house. They've made it so so pretty. I'm sitting at my dad's old office desk looking out into a lush, green garden with lots of flowers, listening to the wind in the trees- (the audio being a bit marred at the moment by having to hear the train go by a half mile away). It's no wonder I like the suburbs. My parents live in a very nice corner of this dreadful little town.
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no subject
Why, is she hot?
Oh, the rest of your contacts arrived today.
no subject
Yay contacts!
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Whoa. Haven't thought of those things for decades.
That was the first and last time I remember enjoying wearing lippy. I think my shade choice hasn't changed much; still tend toward the darker browns. Basically, I got all the ones my mom didn't want. Heh.