City of Ashland

Grace and I left Lima and found backroads all of the way to Mansfield, Ohio. We're staying at a State Park Lodge above a reservoir formed with the damming of the Mohican river. Dad and I used to run the Mohican in his homemade fiberglass canoe. Usually he'd invite seven or eight of my scouting friends along. It felt like coming home.

Along the way we saw more and more flowers blooming. Daffodils, Violets, and Spring Beauties. Dogwood and Cherry trees were also showing. It was lovely. At one point we passed a group of Amish kids on recess playing stickball. At one intersection we ran across a sign reminding us of the temporal nature of things. See the black and white photo below. It's five til midnight and time to get things in order.

In the evening we were treated to a dinner by cousins Jim, Judy, and Dennis. Lots of reminiscing. It was great catching up with the extended family and their burgeoning offspring. Dennis even has a 'Granddog' that he's been watching while their daughter Erica is off in St.Thomas for Spring Break.

Today was bittersweet. It marks the second anniversary of my father Bill Brinker's passing. We started off by visiting Grace's oldest sisiter, Bea Henry. The two told stories about their parents and the school principal, Mr. Cobb. It seems their biggest fear was that the principal might call their mom. Bea also forwarded an opinion that the current resident of the White House is crazy. Dangerous territory in this part of Ohio. Grace responded by saying, "You can't say that Bea! You're a Republican!" To which Bea responded, "Well it's true. I wouldn't have brought my kids up to behave like that."

Mom and I then drove on to nearby Olivesburg and had lunch at the Olivesburg General Store. This store was once owned and managed by our Henry relatives back in the day. It now features homemade cauliflower dough pizza and craft beer. They also have ice cream and good coffee which cover most of my major food groups. Might be time to consider a move. I could ride my bicycle down there in the morning and not have to leave until dark. They also sell a Daisy bb gun with a pink stock that I found adorable.

After lunch we headed a mile or two up the road to the farm that our family once owned. It is now owned by the Henry clan. I remember innumerable weekends out at the farm with my dad putting in a five acre lake, planting trees and daffodils. My friend John Panagos even spent a couple of months with me painting the barn and outbuildings. What a wonderful feeling it was to be met with clusters of daffodils spreading all around the lake. It was so special to see Grace walking among them, as I'm sure dad had planted them for her. Here's a link to the field of flowers: https://photos.app.goo.gl/NSpr8U71amiXaSuL6

I may have to check on buying that land back. ;) It was always Pop's dream to put a cottage among the trees looking over the lake.

Tomorrow we're off to Alliance, Ohio where mom and I were born and where she spent her youth. With aunt Bea's admonishion we carry with us a new hope that our Republican friends and family will see just how far things have gotten away from how we were raised and from where we need to be.Read more