rajafacesbothways

Question of the Week

Someone asked if I asked the fire department for permission to have our little campfire on the rooftop!

What are the chances I would have gotten approval? Zilch! I learned long ago that asking permission for most things only resulted in all the many ways available to hear "no". Better to go ahead and do things using my own common sense than checking out the judgment of those who go by staying inside their box.

Saves a lot of trouble and offers a lot more fun.

NPR's Bob Edwards

Heard Bob Edwards speak at the Carnegie Center in New Albany. For years I was a constant listener of his Morning Edition and All Thing Considered NPR programs. Now I thoroughly enjoy Bob Edwards Weekend on Sirius XM Satellite radio where he interviews mostly well-known people who live creative lives. When telling others I was going to hear Bob Edwards they either had never heard of him or were very excited about it, indicating a lot about their listening habits.

I gave him cards from our accidentalhighway.com site and told him he would want to interview Karen and me on his Saturday morning show someday. After all, we too spoke at the Carnegie Center for our exhibit.

Hmmm. I'm sure he'll regret it if he doesn't follow up on this opportunity.

Or not.

 

Company Here

Karen and friend Kathryn arrived Thursday evening to live music from the square and the First Friday group on the rooftop, telling stories and anticipating their arrival. People from Chicago are considered celebrities here.

Yesterday  we had BLTs among the darting hummingbirds and then toured the Four Roses distilery, followed by the opening of the Sunny Sixteen photo exhibit. Weather has been delightful--finally!

Today began with Frickles (fried dill pickles) eggs, biscuits and sausage gravy at Favas, followed by a stop at Grannies Goodies to get another stash of pimento cheese and a new product to us--corn bread salad--a spicy combo of crumbled up corn bread, mayo and unknown ingredients that had no identity to salad. But one taste, and we were sold.

All Kentucky health foods.

I Am Not Aging Well

Squeezed in between family reunion activities I touched base with my high school class reunion--a class of 40 graduates from decades ago; now down about 70 percent and also a much larger reunion of Ridgeville High school classes that graduated 50 or more years ago.

Everyone came disguised as their grandparents as was expected but it was the level of conservative thinking, lack of interest in even using computers, and safe approach to life that made me realize that I'm a total misfit.

If I moved back to this area, I'd have a membership to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; it pulsates with energy. No one shared my enthusiasm. I've got to learn this aging gracefully stuff--I'm running out of time.

 

Family Guys

Family reunion weekend has drawn to a close; it included trips to the Cleveland Science Museum, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the incredible heaven for foodies of Cleveland's West side Market. We came from 7 states, from coast to coast and border to border, proving that the family that doesn't stay together has much more fun when it gets together.

Lots of food, beer, s'mores and "side splitting" stories revealed; no past history is sacred in this family!

 

Outside of my "Box"

A  call from friends for an afternoon dinner yesterday was a welcome surprise.They have a lovely house out in the country and the drive there was beautiful, (thanks to cleared roads)--black cows and deteriorating tobacco barns contrasted against the snow-covered hills. And an actual treat to be in a house.

He is an architect and artist, she has raised goats and authored a book about her battle with cancer, Bleating Heart, How A Little Goat Saved My Life, Lillian Kinsey.

Despite Kentucky leading the country in several worst health issues, idiotic politicians, and meth labs, it has offered me a banquet of unique bright people--yin to the yang.

The Social Network

When I moved here over 10 years ago, I knew no one. Meeting others was at the bottom of my priorities--I already had enough friends to last a lifetime-- living in a charming old house on a beautiful thoroughbred horse farm was my only goal.  Nevertheless many people filtered through my experiences and I just realized I know more people here than I left behind in Chicago.

Along with the periphery of colorful local characters that the Chicago burbs lacked, I now enjoy a mix of funny, intelligent friends-- including artists, professors, book lovers, all with sharp wit and love of good food. Some are Kentuckians, many are transplants from other areas along with a few from Europe. And the vast majority are younger than me; perhaps they feel I present an element of dignity into their lives.

Although that's doubtful.

Two Bobs

I've reached the age where I know more people who are dying than those who are giving birth. This morning I heard the obits of Bob Feller, the great Cleveland Indians pitcher. I was a fan of him and the Indians when I was a little kid and knew him as the "strike-out king". The Indians offered about the only outside enertainment in the rural area where I grew up.

And a dear friend, Bob Rhea just died after a difficult illness. This connection goes back many decades to another era in Ohio, where everyone had babies and entertainment was neighborhood gatherings. Bob and Ida moved onward and upward, ending with developing and owning 250 McDonalds units in the United Kingdom. He and Ida never forgot their early friendships and generously shared their lives in London with me over several visits. I would have lived a lesser life not knowing him.

Both of the men lived long rewarding lives to the hilt and contributed in many ways. Can't do much better than that.

Bob Rhea in London

Hope For the Future

Spent a stimulating, lovely evening with some new-found friends (it's amazing the scope of unique people I find in KY!) who originally are from Poland but have lived in 5 states and throughout Europe. I met their twenty-something son, who studied in Budapest and is compiling statistics on the effects of brutality inflicted on women in Africa and post Katrina New Orleans, and daughter who writes and is majoring in archeology at Univ of Louisville. My grandson, Cory, is now an officer in the US Army fulfilling his ROTC commitment, Jesse is expanding his knowledge and talents at Loyola University in Chicago and granddaughter Kayla is off to San Francisco to be a student at a Buddist Seminary.

Despite the narrow, greedy, uninspired leadership I see from many in power now, it gives me hope that there are smart, dedicated and idealistic young who want to improve the world. They certainly have their work cut out for them.

My strongest hope is that the selfish "old farts" die off early, and before their Medicare benefits kick in.

Curses! Foiled Again---

It seems insane, but my trip to Washington DC for the "March to Restore Sanity" on Saturday had to be canceled. Since her mother is slipping away rapidly, Ellen can't leave and in all decency  we can't prop her 88-year-old Alzheimer Mom in the back seat and take her along. (although I admit to that very fleeting thought--and would want my kids to do that for me)

I guess there is a plus to staying here however. I'll be able to view the "Thriller" dance in the Halloween parade down Main Street on Saturday night. And avoid a crowd of over a quarter million marchers and the possibility of being the oldest one there..