Friends & Family

A view of the Arts Castle

 Monday-Tuesday, May 9-10, 2022

Monday was our day to spend with friends, Gary and Jan, who we have known since Joe’s medical residency in Chapel Hill. We had plans to go over to their house at noon for lunch. So we decided to run to Walgreens to pick up a few items we needed. That took up about 45 minutes, and then we got ourselves and Cassie together and walked over to their house, only about 4 blocks away.

The weather was absolutely glorious, and we ended up sitting outside on the deck almost all afternoon, chatting and catching up. Around 2:30, we went for a walk around the neighborhood, including a stop at the Arts Castle, a gorgeous large estate which has been made into an arts center offering classes in everything from painting to dance. Jan showed us around the inside of the building--she had been on the committee which had decided to buy it--while Gary waited outside with Cassie. Then we walked to the local park and sat on a bench for a while before heading back to their house.

We were all tired by then, and not really in the mood to go out for dinner--it turned out that they, like we, seldom eat out anyway. So we decided to order a pizza instead. Joe reminded me that we’d planned to pick up some Graeter’s Ice Cream, which is fantastic. So I drove with Gary to the Kroger where we bought several pints of Graeter’s, and then we got the pizza, and then drove back. After dinner (out on the deck again--the weather was still fantastic), we went inside and watched Jeopardy. After that, they walked us back “home” to our RV, renewing their acquaintance with Sarah and John before goodbye hugs. It was a very lovely day with old friends.

Today we got a late-morning start. We drove the two vehicles separately as far as the Walmart. Then Joe went into Walmart and Kroger to pick up a few items, including more Graeter’s and a new walkie talkie. Our old one seems to have stopped working. Meanwhile, I drove the Jeep back to the center of town and visited two small antique malls as well as stopping at the Goodwill Store on the way. I didn’t find any Roseville, but I bought 4 jigsaw puzzles for a combined total of $7.00. That was a score for me!

Stocked Up on Graeter's!

 

I went back to the RV, and Joe and I had some lunch, then hooked the Jeep back to the RV. We spent the next couple of hours driving up to Cleveland. We did make one stop on the way, at Sweeties Chocolates/Grandpa’s Cheese Barn. Gary had mentioned that Sweeties ice cream was really good too. So we picked up some cheese and crackers to bring with us to Kent & Tom (our “in-laws”, as well as a LOT of chocolate!

We got to Kent & Tom’s place in Kirtland, OH, outside of Cleveland, at about 6:30. We unhooked the Jeep and carefully backed the RV down their long driveway. Then we had a delicious dinner and chat, before Joe and I went “home” to our RV, only a few yards away.

Tomorrow’s plan: the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.