I had thought that the weather was conspiring against me until Saturday, May 24, the kickoff to Memorial Day weekend. The weather suddenly became beautiful and warm and sparkly. For some reason that I cannot explain though, after plans fell through to meet up with an old friend, I made my weekly afternoon trip to the library and then spent the rest of the days indoors, vegetating in front of the television. Perhaps this was because I knew that the rest of the weekend would be filled with activity.
And so it was. Sunday the 25th was equally gorgeous - so I was rarin’ to go that morning. I made my website posting, cut the back lawn, and then Jackie, Ashleigh, Grace, and I headed out for our annual family outing and picnic. Karen and Joe were the hosts and this was my first return to their house on Coke Avenue since they had moved in last June. It was the standard family fare, lots and lots of burgers, hot dogs, dips, oriental salad, and fabulous desserts. I planned for this weekend to be my last hurrah for scarfing down before I began my pre-vacation stringent deprivation diet come Tuesday. And scarf down I did.
Mom makes the tragic, fatal mistake of taking some of my food
Lovely ladies Ashleigh and Jackie on a lovely afternoon
Mom and Bob relate the tale of Bob’s Island, and other stories about poop
Most all of the families were represented - although none were complete - although strangely not one of Diana and Tom’s family were present. Grandpa, Mom, Bob, Bev, Susan, Charles, Charley, Sammy, Jim, Jan, Eric, Darlene, and Zac all were there, but it wasn’t quite enough to make a dent in the heaping portions of food that we had.
Four generations: Grandpa, Bev, Karen, and Abby
Charles and Susan, in her standard picnic pose
The Murphy clan: Jan, Eric, and Jim - abandoned by Nikki once again
Zac forgoes the standard lewd gesture whilst posing with his Mom Darlene. He held his bat at the ready though.
Ashleigh and her tattered jeans. Adult indeed.
Andrew and Grace play with flashcards featuring some very odd children on them
Some played cornhole although I did not. Grace had a good time playing with the other kids on the new swingset. And I got to finally hear the story of how Grandpa met President Eisenhower (as my cousin Chris commented on here). In London where he was stationed during the war he met General Ike one night in the pitch black and Ike asked him for directions to the Officers’ Club. Grandpa gave them to him and then was invited by him to come have drinks with him. Grandpa advised him that he wasn’t an officer, so Ike woke up Grandpa’s Major and demanded that he lend him his uniform.
Years later, while on vacation with his brother-in-law Carroll, they ran into Eisenhower again - this time while he was President. As Eisenhower and his entourage drove by in their motorcade, they suddenly stopped and a Secret Serviceman asked Grandpa to get out of his car. After questioning him on why he was carrying a firearm in his glove compartment (it was because he was a Dayton police officer), the secret service escorted him to Ike’s car. President Eisenhower told Grandpa that he recognized him but couldn’t place the name. When Grandpa reminded him where they had met, Ike asked Grandpa and Carroll to play a round of golf with him - which they did…and won.
Grandpa relates the tales of how he met President Eisenhower and President Reagan
Grandpa also told me how he met actor Ronald Reagan, while on layover in Los Angeles following basic training. He was the one millionth G.I. to enter the Hollywood Canteen and got to have dinner with Joan Leslie and meet other celebs - including Reagan - at the Canteen. Interesting tales indeed.
Ashleigh had to work by 4pm, so we only stayed for a couple of hours at Karen and Joe’s. On the way out, someone at one of their neighbor’s houses called out my name and when I turned around, I found that it was my old boss from the Miamisburg Kroger, Tim Quinlan. Amazingly, his son Kevan now lives right next door to Karen and Joe and knows them quite well. Regardless of the coincidence, it was great to see Tim for the first time since her retired last year.
Not long after arriving home, I headed out for the second event of the day - meeting up with my longtime friend George Willeman, who had moved away last June and I hadn’t seen since vacationing in Virginia in August 2007. Naturally it was great to see him as we met up at his Mom’s place. This was the same house where George lived when I first met him in 1986. It was rather nostalgic to look around the place where I hadn’t been in many many years. I was surprised to see that the kitchen had been expanded into their old garage!
George’s Mom still had his Dad’s 1931 Model A Ford and George decided that it might be fun to take it out. So we took a short (and slow) Sunday evening drive in the old Model A. Despite the backfire and difficulty getting it to move at times, it was really cool to take a ride with George in his late father’s pride and joy. Afterward, we had a nice dinner at Frisch’s where we caught up on our of latest goings-on. I miss the days of being able to see George regularly.
George and I go for a ride…
…in a car you don’t see on the road everyday.
Monday, May 26 was the Memorial Day holiday itself. We had another picnic planned for this day which was a combination holiday picnic at Taylorsville Park and 36th birthday party for my friend Jason Heaton. Again, it was a very nice day so it was great to be alive and outside. There was an array of great food - but I think unbeknownst to us, we were supposed to bring our own meat for the grill. It was okay though as Jason’s Dad, whom I knew well from when we played trivia, hooked us up with some burgers. We snatched the occasional weiner and soda when others weren’t looking.
Jason turns 36 and is just as mature as ever
Grace had a great time playing with water balloons and a huge water squirter. It’s funny to watch her ingratiate herself with other kids and even plop down on a blanket full of strange babies. I think Jason had a good time also - opening presents, walking the traditional birthday tightrope (?) and somehow getting a chocolate cake smashed in his face.
Jason’s Mom Kathy helps him get the candles lit
Out of nowhere, Jason is forcefully attacked by a stray cake
Peace out, Mammy
Jason’s girlfriend Wendy assists the temporarily blinded victim
The traditional Heaton birthday tightrope walk of death. Jason’s brother Mitch assists.
I had more trouble doing this than Grace did
Grace relaxes amidst a bevy of babies
A bird’s-eye view of Jackie and me on the grassy knoll
When Jason is around, my wiener is never safe…
After we got home from this picnic, the party continued at our house when Christi and Creed came over to hang out with the ‘other’ children Ashleigh, Derek, and Kyle. I just had a nice time putting a couple of chairs outside and enjoying a cold beer in the warm evening. It appeared that Summer was finally here.
Some of theeeee best captions ever!
Dave Chasteen
May 29th, 2008
It looks like you guys had fun! I miss being in the states!!!
Amber
May 30th, 2008
It’s not Coke Avenue. It’s Pepsi Lane, like the Beatles song.
Chris
May 30th, 2008
After painting my porch room for two solid days and having my arm really hurting from it, I, too really enjoyed the beautiful weekend weather. I enjoyed spending time with the few family members we had present at Karen and Joe’s, and even played cornhole with my sore arm. Monday, I just relaxed at the Beach Waterpark most of the day and began my summer tan. Hard to believe that just the week before it was in the 30’s and 40’s at night. I too am ready for the summertime and more beautiful weekends like this one and more family picnics and get-togethers.
Mom/Barb
May 30th, 2008
I am not sure I want to know how to play “cornhole”!
Bob
June 2nd, 2008