J and K Adventures: More pictures and adventures from Michigan/Ohio

I've been gone for 2 weeks and I am amazed at the amount of stuff I have crammed in to such a short time. I went to Cleveland for a week and enjoyed driving around my old stomping grounds, connecting with various taste treats and above all, spending a load of quality time with family. I have realized that time is finite and it is best to share a laugh today then a tear tomorrow.

Getting to know Rylee, such a joy

Nieces Carrie and Megan with Rylee and Maia

Cousins Rory, Amy and Sheldon with my Aunt Jan, great food, better company

My Uncle Fred, aka 2nd Dad with daughter Amy

Magda and Sam, holocaust survivors, their stories too harsh for words

Kylee, Ms. I'm just too cute

Uncle Jerry and Aunt Dixie, laughs between bites of outrageous Chinese

Cousins Amy and Alan

Dear friend Ruthie

Ruthie's $5,000 dog, nice dog but $5,000?

One amazing experience was going over to visit Lamont Robinson. He is a former Harlem Globetrotter who decided to open the "Leo's Casino Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame. Leo's was a night club my father opened in 1963 - 1972. He had all of the biggest acts - Marvin Gaye, Supremes, Ray Charles, Temptations, Otis Redding and just about every major act you could name in Motown, Blues and Jazz. The thing that made it so special was that it was the first night club in the country that was totally integrated - as Freddy Arrington, the MC (who was there last Sunday) would say and I paraphrase, "People, look to your brothers on the left, look to your brothers on the right, looks like a checker board! Black, white, it don't matter, the only color we care about is green."

So I arrive at 1:30 and was welcomed as a honored guest. Besides Lamont and Freddy, there was Dr. Fred Wheatt, a city councilman who played in the house band, Maggie, a woman who was married to a musician who played at Leo's and David Brown, a network and video producer who is working on several projects concerning Leo's.

Maggie, Lamont and Freddie

We sat around swapping stories. It was wonderful hearing tales from the past, some I knew, some forgotten and some, I heard for the first time. They even laughed when I told the story of picking Moms Mabley up at the airport and driving her to her hotel. I'm a 16 year old innocent and this seemingly ancient black woman is hitting on me, rubbing my thigh and making me squirm. Everyone laughed as I told them the story and how I tried to be a gentleman and explain to her how I had a girlfriend. I now find out that Moms liked girls and she was playing me. So much for the thought that I was so irresistible back then.

Lamont then escorted us down to his basement which was a shrine to Leo's. So much memorabilia, so many memories.

Me and my Dad, way cool!!!

The two Fred's and me share the moment

Freddie and Maggie swapping stories

After more conversation, laughter and genuine love, Lamont asked us to sit down in front of his 60" flat screen for another treat. He loaded up a DVD that was a tribute to Leo's, complete with entertainers and news coverage from 1995 when Leo's was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There even was a cut of me giving a statement to the press - very cool and very moving.

All said, it was a very interesting afternoon, and that is an understatement!

I drove back to Detroit on the 6th and have continued my amazing journey. My only sadness was going to a baseball game where the Tigers beat my Indians 7 - 5. My brother soothed my feeling by taking me to Greek town where those folks know how to make a palate scream for more.

Maia is such a loving sister

Rick aka Dad has a moment or two with Maia

We are now in Bayfield, relaxing. My brother and I just went for a mile walk on the beach where my blood pressure dropped 10 points as the sun descended into Lake Huron to close another wonderful day.