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Rocky River Musings

I flew to the charming suburb of Rocky River, Ohio, last week to visit my friend Barbara. Rocky River is about 15 minutes from Cleveland, and a short drive to Lake Erie.

Barbara and I met in California through a non-profit we were both involved in and remained friends through the years. Three years ago, she sold her Santa Clara home and moved back to the community where she grew up, rekindling hobbies and friendships.

When planning my visit, we penned it as “part work, part play” so I could help her organize parts of her spacious home. In between projects we drove to an Amish community, 

attended a fabulous production of Fiddler on the Roof, and I got to hear her perform with her 35-piece ensemble band, the Rocky River Community Band.

As with most travel, the trip’s highlights are often the unexpected. When I arrived, I had fun watching a pair of robins caring for four hatchlings on Barbara’s back patio. By week’s end, the birds fledged! Robins grow to adult size in two short weeks.

I slept through the first three leaving the nest, but I saw the last of the four robins begin exploring a new world.

Fiddler on the Roof was extraordinary! The ensemble performed at the Allen Theater in nearby Cleveland, a theater once used for silent movies. The building is a stunner.

The production included color-blind casting, a main character in a wheelchair, and a few audience members seated on stage, all contributing to an inclusivity not currently celebrated in the US. We were encouraged to take photos during intermission. The well-reviewed production received a standing ovation. It was all the things good theater evokes, uplifting us as we made our way to the street.

I enjoyed the cooler weather, a bit of rain, and a rare-to-us Californians, thunderstorm. I was less crazy about the storms when they delayed both connecting flights, but so it goes. Travel days are always tedious but worth it once you arrive at your destination.

I had a nice time away, and while I missed our San Jose felines, I got to spend time with sweet Ophelia.

Ophelia

28 thoughts on “Rocky River Musings”

  4. Looks as though it was a wonderful trip! Never thought about thunderstors being a rarity in some parts of the country. But I suppose thunderstorms require humidity.

    Love the description of inclusivity of that production of Fidler. Yes, yes, a thousand times yes.

    Finally, Ophelia is one beautiful cat.

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    • Hi Laurie, It was indeed.I could have stayed longer, but I also miss famiily and felines when I’m away. I hope to go back.

      Here’s what AI had to say about storms;

      “San Jose’s infrequent thunderstorms are due to a combination of factors, including its location in a rain shadow, the cool marine layer that influences the Bay Area’s climate, and the general lack of warm, moist air needed to fuel thunderstorms.”

      Ophelia is a sweet kitty with fur as soft as a rabbiit. She is a gentle companion for my friend.

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  9. I so enjoyed your trip vicariously. You are loved everywhere you go by humans and creatures alike. Ohio is beautiful country but the storms can be a challenge. We get lightning without rain often. It comes out of blue and hits hard. Scares the bejezus out of me! I could tell you stories. We rarely got lightning in Portland so I was happy with that. I bet Barbara had more fun sharing all of those experiences with you..

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  10. It’s lovely to catch up with friends and do lovely things together.

    i did the same last week but only took a train (into London) not a plane and we had mostly glorious weather although I too was delayed on the return journey by cows on the line.

    i have, with that and the hen do, lots of blog post fodder just need to get my act together and write one 🙄

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      • I’ve got as far as uploading some photos, just need to add some text.
        No progress on the sewing room I’m afraid – quote “too much to do in the garden at this time of year” 🙄
        I’d get on with it myself but there’s some plastering to be done 🫣

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        • Ah yes. I spent hours in our garden today, so I understand. I don’t suppose you could hire a handy person to do the plaster work, syaing that “the plaster will drive faster this time of year.”

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