Jamestown to Cleveland and Holzheimers

We left the lake about 3:00PM on Wednesday, April 7th, and went into Euclid, to stay with Linda and Rich for the night, and celebrate Linda’s 70th birthday. We arrived about five, and relaxed till about 6:45, when the Gails and Richie arrived, just as we were about ready to sit down for dinner, a typical occurrence at Linda’s, I might add. It doesn’t seem right to be there unless at least one family, and two or three kids are around. We had a nice dinner, lamb chops, and the kids, Connor and Emily, even seemed to enjoy sitting down at the table and talking with us. Connor, especially, was effusive, a funny kid, so different from his usually quiet self. Emily, too, was cute, sitting on my lap happily during dinner, calling me Santa Claus. Kirstin and Kevin seem to be doing well, though Kirstin has to teach in Cleveland a couple times a week. The boys are really cute, involved insports, Danny with baseball, Connor with track right now though he loves volleyball. It’s hard to believe he will be in high school next year. He still has a special place for Evie, hugs here, and likes talking to her. We went to bed about 11:00 and I got up at 6:00, and had about an hour before Linda and Rich got up. We talked until about 8:30 when we headed off for the West, a rainy gray day unfortunately, though I don’t really mind it. It is interesting when we get together with Linda and Rich. As usual Rich dominates, telling numerous stories we have already heard. And we feel a bit reiticent talking about our kids, as we don’t want to come off as bragging. And real or not, we get the feeling that they resent(too strong of word) our kids success. Rich especially can say though terrible things, about his grandchildren mostly. It makes you wonder about what kind of a doctor he might have been. I assume, when in an office, he assumes an entirely different persona, which is not unusual. I know I am a different person in the classroom, working with students, much mor e patient and seeking understanding than at home, where my reactions are often more colored by emotion and past experience. They are very fortunate to have their grandkids so close, and they are equally fortunate in the fact they all get along so well, and are all so well behaved and doing well, whether socially or in school and athletics. In fact, a lot of their time is spent with the grandkids, driving them around, attending sporting events, even helping to coach, as Rich often does with volleyball. Earlier in the day Grace and Sophie came over, bringing daffodils for Linda; Sophie was in a mood, wouldn’t smile until, when they left, Rich gave her some chocolate lollipops which put a huge grin on her face. Grace is growing up, turning into a young woman, still a bit quiet, getting taller, and her face is filling out a bit. As I write this, we are driving around Columbus, on our way to Tommy’s. We will stop somewhere short of St. Louis, relax, maybe watch some of the Masters on tv, and no doubt, head off West early in the morning.