Saturday, July 16, Cleveland

I was up by 7:00 and let the dogs out, sorry whoever sang that song...(Baja Men K. says)  Made some coffee and pried my lids to a semi open position. 

More coffee and conversation with Dixie who has a refreshingly straight, pragmatic view of the world – don’t waste your time trying to please everyone as it won’t  happen.  Do your best and walk away from those who settle for their worst. And finally, don’t keep them guessing, let folks know what you are thinking.

We left around 10:00 and our first stop as every Jew born in Cleveland can attest was Corky and Lenny’s – a Deli of legend, the home of the 4 inch thick corned beef sandwich.  Their motto, “If we can’t clog your arteries, no one can.”  K had her omelette with a bagel and a smear.  I went more traditional with eggs, onions and chicken livers.  Yes, dear reader, you may be puzzling over the combination but I am here to say, - remarkable!

We then went over to visit my folks and a bunch of my relatives over at Hillside.  I had a very one sided conversation filling folks in on what’s new in my life and introducing K.  Even though Hillside is the local cemetery,  everyone seemed to like K – at least I did not hear any negative comments.

I then took K on a tour of my early years, home, school, shopping, favorite make out spots.  Cleveland has some exceptional neighborhoods with large brick, stone homes, sprawling yards and large parks.  We covered a lot of downtown and then K suggested something that no one in Cleveland has ever done – go to the top of the Terminal Tower – the tallest building in America until the Empire State Building supplanted it.  On the 42^nd floor on a clear day with a 360 view, we could see for miles and appreciate the Cleveland, the mistake on the lake, the armpit of America, the city that never sleeps – it snoozes.

The Terminal Tower

Up we go....

Browns Stadium and Lake Erie

The truck and camper in the big city

Looking South

We had a Chinese dinner and then cruised through parts of town that K politely described as sketchy, I described them as places where no sane white person in a P.U. camper should ever or should be – whoops wrong turn and let’s get the Hell out of here.  Leaving the Wild (mid) West behind, we stopped at the center of Cleveland culture – pronounced call ture – Severence Hall what the Cleveland Orchestra calls home and the Cleveland Art Museum which boasts the only “Thinker” by Rodin that some art critic planted 3 sticks of dynamite and blew off it’s base – classic independent “Thinker”.

Pond in front of Art Museum

Nice Ass

Nice Ta-Ta's

We then stopped by my Aunt and Uncle’s home for a visit but cut it short due to exhaustion and over stimulation.  On the way home, K mentioned how good some ice cream might be for the soul as well as the mind.  Me, always being cooperative and kind ,as well as in serious need of cool mint chocolate in a sugar cone medication,  complied.  We headed East to Chagrin Falls, a sleepy picturesque town who boasts Tim Conway as being a native son.  Chagrin Falls has been “discovered and it was wall to wall tourists complimented by large African American men on large Harley’s whose one joy and purpose in life was to fill the air with noise and potent exhaust that did not mix well with any flavor of frozen dessert.  We moved off to enjoy our cone and then headed back.  Unfortunately, 33 years of being an Oregonian has faded and in places, erased my sense of direction.  I proceeded to make a 10 minute ride into a 45 minute jaunt of "f" squared – fear and frustration.  We survived and I give K much credit as the term “stupid m-f” was never used once although I cannot totally vouch that the thought was unspoken.