Best Road Trip In Ages Pt. 1

We made sure that grand-daughter Logan got to her doctor visit before we got ready for the trip.  Gosh, so long since we went anywhere, and never without the kids before!  First, an instruction sheet to tell the kids our expectations for the dog & the house.  Next, a call to Fifth Third Bank to let them know that the money for our mortgage payment won't be in our account for the forseeable future.  We've been working through the list at http://savethedream.ohio.gov/ to see what can be done.  The Bank says the automatic Billpayer 2000 (woo, sounds futuristic!) is already in action and can't be stopped.  It's the rise of the machines!  So we'll get hit with overdraft fees on the checking account and late fees on the mortgage.  But they said it's realy not even considered delinquent for 30 days.  I said we know, we're working the approved programs, we're just being proactive and communicating, not dodging, but no money.  Please don't beat us to death with overdraft and late fees!  But I hear that's how banks make money these days, aside from bailouts of course.  For the record, we tried.

Dan Johnson, summer 1984

I've known the Johnsons about as long as I can remember. I must have met 2nd-grade Mike on the playground when I started in 1st Grade at Morgan Elementary. No kindergarten at Morgan back then, but we never missed it. Dan started school the year after me. As we grew up we found that we shared some interests in science, music, and country life adventures. He once invited me over to his house for some squid and taught me everything about them but the names of their children.  One summer our work & school schedules converged to allow us to spend many a summer day cruising the back-country roads in my 1967 Mustang Convertible. Did I have an 8-track tape player in that car? Why yes, I do believe I did. Endless loops of Yes and sunshine and King Crimson and cornfields and ELP and big skies.  One day we went to play Frisbee golf and then see the Symphony In The Park, which was all great. On the way home I hit a pothole at the side of the road in Hamilton which flattened both tires on the passenger side. Who carries two spares? The police stopped by to chat about our situation but would not help us. Dan and I ended up walking to Millville and waking his ex-girlfriend's dad to ask for help. Considering the circumstances, he was extremely gracious in giving us both rides to our respective homes in Shandon and Okeana to sort things out the next day. Thanks again, Mr. Bastian. Anyway, Dan graduated from Ross and went on to Wilmington College. When the college sent him away to Mexico for a winter term, he met another student from Wilmington there. Her name was Rosario Iglesias.

Rosario & Erica Johnson, summer 1984

Dan & Rosario fell in love amongst the magic of the ancient Mayan pyramids at Palenque.  Just look at them - how could they not have done so?  Those pictures above may have been the last time we saw them, possibly Dan's college graduation party.  That was the day that he called us out to the garage and hoisted a pillowcase writhing like Medusa's head.  He reached in for a handful and baby boas ran through his fingers like Scrooge McDuck with his gold.  So Dan's life path of raising a family and becoming a doctor took him farther away from "home" and for longer periods, until we rarely heard from each other, until this past year.  Then he sent out the message:  Dan is turning 50 and is calling in his tribe to help celebrate at his place in Ashville, Pennsylvania.!

Mark Schlembach, summer 2010

We probably could not have made the trip had it not been for Mark joining us.  He's been married to Dan's younger sister Sue for some 3 decades now and the whole family is quite close.  In fact, they are neighbors of Dan & Sue's parents, Jerry & Maureen., out there near Shandon.  Well-planted.  Mark just found out that after 15 years of doing corporate accounting for a hospital chain, his job is being eliminated.  Consolidation, you are a satellite office and the funding goes to headquarters.  So if you are looking to hire an experienced corporate accountant, you should interview Mark Schlembach.  I can attest to his good attitude and his energy, his systematic way of thinking, the way he throws himself into a task wholeheartedly, always ready to pitch in.  The company that hires him is a lucky one, but don't get your hopes up.  After seeing him drive our van on the long trek to the Allegheny Mountains and back I told him he should drive a truck.

I drove from Cincinnati up I-71 through a lot of glacially-planed flat land that contained things such as amusement parks, tennis stadiums, outlet malls and cornfields.  We turned east on I-70 and the terrain gradually became more rolling.  I handed over the wheel to Mark around Wheeling, West Virginia, since he was more familiar with the drive ahead, and I was way behind on taking pics.

The beautiful landscape is a treat for my weary, jaded eyes.

See the windmills just above the treeline near the middle of the picture?  They have quite a few of those scattered across the horizon, making at least some attempt at clean & independent energy.

We're there!  It's Dr. Dan's welcoming committee!

Everyone named Dan Johnson who is also having a birthday this weekend please raise your hand.  Strangely enough the guy in the brown hat at the left is also named Dan Johnson.  They're old college buddies, probably had all kinds of document mix-ups back in the day.

Boris is a 1-year-old Doberman who keeps bears out of the yard.  He's still not made his mind up about me.

Mama Rosario soothes the beast.

Little Kings from home, just what Dr. Dan ordered.  Thinking about tearing into those two Crave Cases of White Castle sliders that Mark also brought for him.

Wilderness begins at the edge of the yard.

Mark lights the bonfire to keep evil & beasts at bay.

Dan planted jewel weed to use as a remedy against poison ivy.

The chickens have indeed come home to roost.

Tomorrow's breakfast!  Look at those colors.

Sitting hens are pretty single-minded and sometimes forget to get up off the eggs to eat or drink.  He lost this one.

Fresh free-range eggs.

A gaggle of geese, guarding the garden gateway.

Marcy breathes easier in the clean, fresh mountain air.

It's cool & green everywhere you look!

We spent the evening around the bonfire under starry skies with good people who have long histories together.  Some of the it was catching up and some was new, but it was all good.  Marcy & I hit the hay that night looking forward to tomorrow.