Ohio

I’ve lived in Ohio on three different occasions. The first time was for six years, the second time, two years and the last, eight months. I’ve lived in northeast Ohio, northwest Ohio and central Ohio. We moved back to Colorado a couple of months ago so I thought it might be a good occasion to reflect on my time there.

Act 1
It is the mid 1970s, I’m in high school and we just moved to Ohio. I remember blizzards, football games (and football games in blizzards), good friends, bad roads and rust eaten cars that we constantly fussed over because they were ours. I remember school, folks wondering why I moved from Colorado, gym class, and a school system way behind where I came from. I remember the theme from Rocky, Saturday Night Fever, disco, rock and roll, eight track tapes and WMMS, the home of the Buzzard. I remember making new friends and fireflies. I remember Star Wars, Animal House, Saturday Night Live and the Blues Brothers. I remember trying to learn new ethnic names and places that didn’t exist in the west. I learned how racial tensions divide and how getting to know a person eliminates divides and tensions. I remember all the great times my friends and I had in the park systems including a walk on the frozen Chagrin river, in the middle of winter, when there were huge multicolored pillars of ice on each side of the river valley. I learned that snow, that falls in December, is still there in March and I learned that Browns fans are as dedicated as Bronco fans. I learned that a cop that rides a motorcycle, may look the other way when you and your motorcycle buddy are going a little fast on the first nice day of spring. I remember the 135th MP Company, guarding air shows, Mr. Benson and to never drink on an empty stomach. I learned Chagrin Falls is one of my favorite places.

I learned many, many more things in those informative years, but you get the gist. Overall, the Cleveland area had become home and I knew it well. It had and has a special place in my heart.

Act 2
Some 30 years later, I was back in Ohio, this time for work. I was working remotely and would fly home every month or so for a weekend. I was now in northwest Ohio and found it flat and cold. And hot, And flat. Very flat. It seemed everything to do was a drive somewhere. It was a cold and cloudy January when I first moved there. It felt desolate and lonely.

I did eventually discover things to do in the area. Things like Dietsch’s, college plays, the Toledo Zoo, visiting little mom and pop restaurants and bicycle rides in the country. I hiked Kelly’s Island, Hocking Hills and visited old friends. I discovered or rediscovered towns nearby. I rediscovered fireflies and humidity too. Lots of humidity.

Act 3
Fifteen years later, I was back in Ohio again. This time the Columbus area. I found that folks in Columbus seem to have a big chip on their shoulder. Not sure where it came from or why. Maybe it was just me. Some of the most aggressive drivers along with some of the more interesting highway interchanges were there as well. While Columbus has Ohio State, the city seemed far “behind the times”, at least people’s attitudes seemed that way.

Then there was the weather. No sun in the winter (I’m talking heavy clouds for weeks at a time) and humidity in the summer. Covid didn’t help either. Neither did one of the worst healthcare systems I’ve had to deal with.

It wasn’t all bad though. There were great restaurants, great friends, good bicycle roads and fireflies. And, on those rare occasions, beautiful evenings with stunning sunsets.

If I had to guess, we won’t be moving back to Ohio anytime soon. We do have friends, family and work still there so I know we will visit!

On one of my last days in Ohio, we had one of those special summer evenings where it wasn’t too hot and not too much humidity. I sat on the back patio and watched the sun slowly descend while the fireflies came out to play. This was one of the best summer evenings I’ve ever enjoyed. I can feel it now…

Ohio does have a special place in my heart, especially Cleveland. After all, it was home for many years.