I traveled back to Ohio this past weekend to celebrate my brother’s fiftieth birthday. My sister-in-law and I had been planning this weekend for him for the past four months. The property had a hot tub, which got a whole lot of use throughout the two days we stayed there. We had so much fun visiting, laughing, eating, and reminiscing.
No trip home would be complete without taking mom for lunch at Bendi Wok N Bar. This has become tradition for us since 2020 and was the first restaurant we all ate in together after the Pandemic lockdown was lifted.
This particular Airbnb was in MacArther, Ohio. It was situated close to one of the Hocking Hills' parks called, "Old Man's Cave" that my brother and I used to visit with my dad when we were kids. This place holds a lot of wonderful memories for our family and it was great to revisit it for the first time in almost thirty years. The town of MacArther also holds special significance for us because our paternal great-grandmother, Flossie, was born there in the 1880's. This entire area holds deep Walton roots.
Old Man's Cave was just as gorgeous as I remembered, although it's way more crowded than it used to be (thanks to Insta and TikTok).
I always forget what a national treasure this part of Ohio is. My dad used to wake my brother and I up before sunrise at 4:30am and we'd make the ninety minute drive to the Hocking Hills. Once there he'd make us breakfast on a campfire before hiking the trails that connect the different parks. On this trip we spread some of my dad's ashes near the Upper Falls so a part of him could remain in this unique place he felt such a deep connection with.
As my plane was ascending out of the airport in Columbus I was able to capture this shot of the Shoe (short for horseshoe) at The Ohio State University. It was such a lucky shot and one that I may have to have printed and frame in my new office.
Our New Chapter!
Yesterday was the big day and the new house is officially ours! We're looking very forward to this new chapter in our lives. I'm cracking my knuckles and stretching out these fingers because I have a feeling I'll be getting a million times more writing done in this new house once we move in towards the end of November.
We keep getting all of these reminders from the Universe that we've made the right decision. Just two days ago there were three fentanyl addicts nodding off on the kids' playground across the street from our current condo. I'm afraid our beloved Cathedral Hill neighborhood of St. Paul is going to get way worse before it gets better.
Like Christmas Morning
Tesla extended the full-self driving free trail again for another month and I got the invite! After using this for a few days I can honestly say it's infinitely better than it was during the last free trial back in April. It drives better than I do and is, undoubtedly, ready for the RoboTaxi. I mean, it is shockingly good.
Be well and make the most of this day. Thank you for reading!
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