Monday, February 28, 2005

ODE TO NORTHERN KENTUCKY

 

Preview

THE SUSPENSION BRIDGE (during the flood of Jan. 2005)

Poo-Poo, his youngest daughter and myself made the journey to Newport to move him back home yesterday. The furniture and household things we have been accumulating over the past three months were packed into the U-Haul. Some of the furniture we placed close to the dumpster, officially putting it up for grabs. That was a stroke of genius for the grateful recipient helped us carry the remaining stuff into the U-Haul.

It took only two hours to clean the place out. Then they headed for home while I went on one last shopping spree. The sadness I felt was unexpected. We had arrived with Winter and were leaving with the beginning of Spring. I had grown  increasingly fond of my weekends there and was looking forward to the beauty and enjoyment that the warmer weather was sure to bring. Now we were leaving.

 My first stop was Trader Joe's where I  stocked up on Two Buck Chuck, scones, pineapple salsa, pizza dough, chocolate covered bing cherries.

Then I went to the Party Source  which opens at 11am on Sunday morning. I love to walk down the aisle of beer. So tempting and mind boggling. The cave is the cold vault full of icy beer. The flavor rum selection was fabulous. The array of fancy foods divine! I will most certainly miss the Party Source.

I ended up my shopping spree with a trip to Superior Candy and Nuts. Candy sold by the pound. This was the much anticipated stop every week end for my step daughter and I to get our $2.99 bag of treats. Everything from jaw breakers to salt water taffy, caramels to sweet tarts. I purchased the ceremonial last bags for each of us. I also purchased a pound of licorice assorts! The very difficult and  hard to find delights that I love maybe a bit too much. Last time I found them was in a shop in Galway.

I have become very attached to the area. I believe it had a lot to do with it being a major metropolis. I am going to miss it very much. Especially the cheap thrills....such as...

Driving into the valley of the Ohio river rounding the big hill on I-75, you come around and the city of Cincinnati is laid out in front of you like a crown jewel. At night time, this view will take you breath away with its beauty.

There are seven bridges that span the Ohio River into Kentucky. Each one has a demonstrative name attached. The Suspension Bridge, the Mac Bridge, the Purple People Bridge. I loved to photograph them and will miss their mystic and the  dreaminess that they always opened up in me.

I'll miss the walks I took. And finding the great sources for picture taking. From Covington you  cross the "little bridge" over the Licking River and it becomes Newport, which merges into Bellevue which in turn becomes Dayton (KY). Each small ( at one time a frontier town) city attached together like jewels on a necklace.
The Levee with the Newport Aquarium and the multitude of fancy restaurants and shops. The actual levee with the wonderful Riverfront area for walking, skipping rocks into the Ohio, the Veterans park, the floating restaurants on the river, the running track. The barges. The abandoned boats on the ground wrapped in blue vinyl blankets for the winter. The ducks.

I'll miss the bars that are everywhere and I did not have enough time to visit the ones I wanted. The Southgate House will be a source of fond memories   The public radio stations especially the one out of Batavia Ohio which played the most off the wall stuff! Polka music, old Big Band Sounds, Celtic music, and old Cowboy music! The DJ's were grandma's & grandpa's sharing their record collections! Sometimes sounding as if broadcasing from their basements! I will miss that very much.

I'll miss most of all the excitement and the anticipation. It was an area where anything could happen. Of  bursting color, sounds, smells and interesting people everywhere.

It was a good three months.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mary, this is an ode and as poetic as anything I've ever read. I wish you all well in your new home, and I hope you love it as much.

Anonymous said...

Happy trails!

Anonymous said...

OH such a  sad entry. I feel so sad for you. MAYBe there will benew stuff and adventures where you go. I m sure wtih you there will be many things. You see are in everything Lori

Anonymous said...

Oh, how sad :-(   I love the picture though!   Pamela

Anonymous said...

I am glad you enjoyed your stay there. Hopefully your future experiences will also become fond memories :)
xoxo

Anonymous said...

My daughter spent some time in Cinncinati and still speaks fondly of it. She wants to return and had even thought of going to grad school there. Funny how certain places resonate with us...sit in our hearts.

Anonymous said...

The wonderful thing about you is your spirit of exploration and adventure.....well ONE of the wonderful things. You will always take that spirit wherever you go and I am sure that you will have many more wonderful explorations ahead of you...whether on vacation or whatever. I think it's more what you bring to the experience than the places that you visit. I have vicarious adventures and I thank you for that. Nelle

Anonymous said...

Great entry Mary. I think you did have an exciting time there. If fact, I think everywhere you have been and lived was an excitment for you. Your sense of wonder and exploring is embedded in your soul. So I will say to you, "journey on"  there's more excitment to be found. PLUS, you must share the story of going from zoro to poo poo!   Anne

Anonymous said...

You certainly grew attached to that area in a short amount of time!  It's okay, you'll be starting a new adventure soon.  You have the great talent of being able to scout out the best places, wherever you are.  I can't wait to read about what you find in your new home city.  Lisa  :-]

Anonymous said...

You found so much in the three months you had available...and we were lucky enough to be taken on the journey with you!  JAE

Anonymous said...

what  a great photo and tale full of memories...~JerseyGirl

Anonymous said...

and now you are off on a whole new adventure!
marti

Anonymous said...

Great photo.  I hope you have as much fun wherever you're headed.  It's always hard saying goodbye...

Anonymous said...

Someone was telling me the other day that "Two Buck Chuck" is actually $3 at the local (Scottsdale, AZ) Trader Joe's. But... it's 80 degrees & sunny so I won't complain.

Anonymous said...

Awesome entry Mary!  There are places I've been that have been hard to leave and I can still see and smell them to this day.  Thanks for reminding me to take some time to do an armchair road trip!

Anonymous said...

I love Trader Joe !  He has some of the best stuff in those stores. Saltwater Taffy is my Favorite !!!!! Sounds like a great shopping spree.

NJLB
http://journals.aol.com/njlittlebear/MyBigFatGeekLife

Anonymous said...

I love bridges, and you made me all sniffly this morning. I am thinking of you and know that a new adventure is just around the bend. Hang in there and thank you for sharing with us. judi

Anonymous said...

Bridges are something else aren't they?  This bridge looks interesting.

Monica
http://journals.aol.com/sonensmilinmon/SmilinMonsAdventures/

Anonymous said...

I haven't been up to that area in about seven or eight years, not since they built the aquarium, I think...you've made me realize how much I'm missing, and it being so close to me...I know you'll miss it but I'm glad you enjoyed your time there.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like good memories. The bridge in the picture looks strangly like the Manhatten Bridge in NY. I think your shopping trip was a good one. I like Trader Joe's too. My Regards, Bill.

Anonymous said...

When I was in Nashville for the Southern Festival of Books, I got to go to some great bars and hear great music.  Those southern bars are so different from the midwestern bars, the college town bars.  Your descriptions are lovely.  

Anonymous said...

Mary, Hope everything is going well....haven't heard from you in awhile.  Anne