Getting Back to My Roots and Major Life Changes
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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You celebrated your brother's birthday in style and happy birthday to him and many more years of wealth and happiness. It's certain you made a lot of cherished memories during the trips you made particularly the one to Old Man's Cave. Old Man's Cave is a beautiful place no wonder your dad spent time with you and your brother there in your younger years. Congratulations on the new house and I hope this new chapter of your life brings you lots of happiness.
Thank you!
Interesting place, it was good idea to visit there with your bro during your bro's birthday ;)
It brought back a lot of memories!
Such beautiful pictures! Especially the cave, what a magical place ✨
You really got some stunning Nature sights over there in the US, I would love to go one day and explore some of them 🤗
Congrats to your new home!!
Thank you! We're lucky here to have such a variety of landscapes.
Congrats on the new house! We loved our time down in Hocking Hills when we were there a couple of years ago. There were so many areas that we didn't even get the chance to explore. I found that most the areas were crowded as you did. There was one section further north where we hardly saw anyone though.
I appreciate it! We're getting moved in little by little and she be totally moved by the third week of November. We decided to have a few contractors do their work before we moved everything in. There's a lot to see down there. This Airbnb worked out well, it was only ten minutes from most of the parks. There are some of them that aren't as popular. We would always park at Old Man's Cave then use it as a home base to hike to the others when we were kids.
That makes a lot of sense. We were surprised at how dead Rock House seemed when we visited. We saw maybe two other groups of people the whole time. Cantwell Cliffs is an area I wanted to visit but we ran out of time.
Ahhh family times, always special, Eric. Your Mom must have been in her element!
Old Man's Cave looks magnificent, wonderful to go back to places that hold special memories.
What a beautiful world we live in, but it's awfully sad how people are turning many inner cities, that once were full of charm and grace, into slums!
All your photos are stunning, but I can see why you want to frame the one you took from the plane, it's brilliant!
Enjoy the new chapter in your life!
We had a lot of fun! She stayed at the Airbnb the day we hiked but came with us for everything else we did. This part of Ohio is magnificently beautiful. It's very reminiscent of parts of England and Ireland. I can see why so many people from that part of the world settled there, it reminded them of "home". It makes us very sad to see what this area has become since 2020. It used to be the worst part of the city from the 1940's through the 1960's but was refurbished by the younger generation in the 1970's who moved in and bought up the cheap houses. I'm afraid the cycle is repeating itself now, everyone is moving out who can afford to. I really hope the city leaders can find a way to save it before it's too late. Thank you Lizelle! I hope you're enjoying your weekend.
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What a great post! Wish you some nice writing in the new house :)
Thank you! I have big plans. : )
What a great birthday celebration you and your SIL pulled off. Beautiful, and I bet your mom loved having you all together for the occasion. Old Man's Cave looks glorious, can you imagine living in a cave that grand? Speaking of which....Congratulations to you both on the new digs!! Talk about a nice cave to live in...you'll be very, very productive.
Thanks! Mom always lights up when the family converges. She's still living by herself at 80! I wish we could talk her into moving in with us but she'll never move to Minnesota. That man had nearly a mansion in that cave! Everything someone would need is right there...a freshwater stream and lots of open land to grow things.
That looks like a beautiful place to spend time with family.
...and congrats on the new home. Almost there !
It was the perfect weekend! Thank you! Just three more weeks and we'll be totally moved in.
A wonderful landscape! It is always good to go back to the places where we were happy. I can imagine how happy your mother must have been to be with you and to be back in that place. Many congratulations on the new house! I wish you lots of good news, lots of creativity, inspiration, new books. This house will be the nest to create new dreams. A hug and a nice weekend, my friend.
I agree! Oddly, my Mom never used to join us on our hikes when we were kids. I think she enjoyed having a few hours to herself at home with all of the testosterone out of the house. Lol. Thank you, Nancy! We really want to take the time and make the effort to make this place feel like home. It feels like we've been in limbo since we sold our last home in 2015. I wish you a wonderful weekend, I hope you're enjoying it!
Very nice pictures, I love the Old Man's Cave, I wonder how he kept warm in the winter, it looks all open.
How beautiful to still have your Mom, I bet she enjoyed having you all together.
Thank you! There are tons of little offshoots and tunnels dug into the rock. I bet he slept and kept himself warm in one of those with a fire. It can get might cold there in the wintertime. We always have so much fun when we get together. Everything is so effortless and easy, no drama.
The place is quite nice in the picture your friend showed.You look very happy to be there and can still hope that you are all healthy and well.And always have beautiful days.
Thanks!
Happy belated b-day to your brother! Hope you had a good time!
Much appreciated!
Congrats on being a home owner too! That's such a huge milestone.
Thank you!
Happy birthday to your brother and happy Celebrations. Wishing him more fruitful and prosperous years.
Thank you, Christy!
Beautiful ohio. Thanks for the beautiful photos, Eric. You are truly lucky to be able to reminisce with your beloved family in a city with whom you have many happy memories. God bless you, friend.