Back Home in Ohio

Jerry With Uncle Mike, 
a WW II Veteran

Airstreams from Yesteryear at the Factory

After arriving in Jackson Center, Ohio, the Airstream factory concluded that our trailer slide problem (see previous post) had to do with a faulty circuit board, and they did not have one in stock. It would take several days for the part to arrive. Seems strange that the board was not available, but it should be noted that Airstream had not made a slide since 2006. While parked at their wonderful shaded terraport with full hookups at no cost, we took advantage of the down-time to visit several family members and friends. We were born and raised in Ohio, so it was good to renew old acquaintances. We probably will never get to see a few of them again. Gloria’s uncle Mike in Lima is 92, alert, and still drives. He is still an interesting conversationalist. An old friend, Mildred, also 92, was one of our favorite inmates at the Ohio Reformatory for Women where Jerry worked as Supervisor of Social Services in the early 1960s. She loved interacting with our little children when Gloria frequently visited the Reformatory. She has sent an annual Christmas present ever since she was paroled. Mildred is still very sharp mentally, is a devout Catholic, and resides in a Columbus nursing facility. She held the anti-poverty job she took upon her parole until retirement and never married. She’s rooting for the President to win the election in November.

Judy and Terry

While in Columbus we visited his second cousin, Judy, and her husband, Terry. Judy followed in her mother’s footsteps and retired as a career teacher. Her parents were special Christians. They gave generously of their time and talents to many of the less fortunate of their community. They had big hearts for retarded children and their parents. Judy’s younger sister, Mary, had many special needs, and she was her parents’ inspiration. Judy’s dad, Chuck, a WW II hero and veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, was Jerry’s scoutmaster. Bernadine, Judy’s mother, was the one who first introduced Jerry to church and Sunday school during the War. No couple did more to positively influence Jerry’s values that still guide his life.

Gary, Gloria, and Dale Ann

In Dublin, Ohio, we had dinner at the home of Gloria’s niece, Dale Ann, and her husband Gary. Dale Ann is a true gourmet cook, and her delectable, colorful veggie menu was one to remember. We dined on the patio of their lovely, newly purchased home, and the late afternoon weather was perfect. Not one insect intruded the premises.

Each year we get our truck’s red paint resealed at Ziebart, and after four years, it still glows like new. Since there is no Ziebart outlet near us, we always try to visit the one in Lima. Having accomplished the paint protection task this time, we drove on to the Olive Garden to have dinner with more of Gloria’s family members. In all there were 14 of us: 

Dale and Laurane

Lowell and Linda

Included were Gloria’s younger brother, Lowell, and sister, Laurane, with their spouses, Linda and Dale. Also present were Dale and Laurane’s three sons, their spouses, and two grandchildren.

Gloria's Family at the Olive Garden

 With so many great visits and meals with our Ohio friends and family, Jerry’s head began to calculate some northern ventures where the weather would be cool. Gloria was doing well, and our travels seemed to agree with her. Maybe we should drive on up to Michigan to have our Hensley Hitch inspected. While there we could visit Jerry’s cousin in Dearborn and Gloria’s older brother, Carroll, in Northern Michigan. We began to reminisce about the Airstream caravan we had led back in 2001 when we took 15 RVs across the Mackinaw Bridge to the Upper Peninsula and on into Canada. We had followed Route 17 east to Manitoulin Island, Ontario. Wouldn’t it be fun to relive part of that wonderful tour?  Let’s give it a shot! If Gloria falters we can always turn back and head home. As soon as our trailer slide was repaired we headed north to the Hensley Hitch factory in Romeo, MI.