A weekend in Ohio.

[saxikath]

Well, not only in Ohio, but I'm getting ahead of myself.


Friday night, I tried driving into downtown Dayton to find someplace for dinner. After getting thoroughly turned around, I found a restaurant that a coworker had recommmended. I confess I didn't feel entirely comfortable in the neighborhood. But, the restaurant looked nice enough. So I went in. It was about 6:30, and the woman, looking a bit down her nose at me, said they wouldn't have a table until 8:45 or 9. This with empty tables in the place.

I've noticed that, at least around here, people at restaurants are a little taken aback by a woman dining alone. No one's ever been explicitly rude, and I haven't had bad service, but there's this momentary hesitation when I say "One, please."

Anyway, I decided to drive north to Troy, another town where a coworker had recommended some restaurants. Good choice. I found an Italian place called La Piazza, where I had a bowl of minestrone and linguine and clams made properly -- no red sauce, no cream sauce, just a garlic and wine sauce. Wasn't quite as good as my mother's, but it was pretty good, and a much more friendly and less pretentious place than the one in Dayton.




Yesterday, I started with breakfast at a Waffle House. Once again, it was odd being a woman eating alone; the others eating at the counter seemed to be locals, mostly older men. Anyway, leighjen was right to recommend the pecan waffle.

Then I drove to Indianapolis. My mother is from Indiana, and I still have relatives there. I didn't manage to connect with them when I was there in July, so I decided that since I was two hours' drive away, I should really do it now. So I spent the afternoon chatting with my mother's first cousin and her husband at their house.

Then I headed back west, and stopped in Greenfield, Indiana, where my mother grew up and where my grandmother lived. I called my mother from there, and got directions to Grandma's old house and to the cemetery where she's buried. I went and saw both. I miss her. She was a lively, sassy, independent woman, who loved us like nobody else ever will.

Then I started driving back. I wasn't looking forward to another night sitting alone in my hotel room, so I decided to take myself to a movie. I finally saw RotK! Damn, what a ride. I mean, I more or less know the story, and I still discovered, after it was over, that I hadn't taken a deep breath in at least an hour. And yeah, I was snuffling at the end. I was a bit fragile anyway, with visiting Greenfield and being alone all the time this week, so I was probably more susceptible than usual -- but I suspect I would have cried anyway.


Today I think I'm going to drive into Columbus and wander around there. I also want to go to Nordstrom's and see what they have for formal wear. I may also go back to Yellow Springs, a town I was in for dinner the other night and looked like it'd be a good place to wander around in the daylight. It'd be more fun with company, but at least it will get me moving -- I've had very little exercise since I've been here.

Comments

[greenlily.livejournal.com]

I remember visiting Yellow Springs, 13 years ago (!) when I was applying to Antioch. There was an early music shop there. I can't remember what it's called, unfortunately, but I remember the town being small enough that you might just be able to ask for 'the music store' and someone will point you there. :)

[zenala.livejournal.com]

Do try to walk along the river when you're in Columbus if it's not insanely cold. Of course, it's probably insanely cold this time of year. But if you're ever there in the summer, the downtown riverfront is quite nice.

yellow springs

[totient]

... reminded me of a small version of Boulder. In that oasis sort of way.

[kayre]

Probably too late to say this, but if you have a chance to get to a Young's Jersey Dairy (the original north of Yellow Springs, or there's at least one other in Springfield) get yourself a milkshake! Pure heaven.