Friday was our longest day on the road – NYC to Cleveland. All I can say is the Pennsylvania is both beautiful and remarkable desolate. I-80, which traverses the northern part of the state, is basically miles and miles of modestly mountainous, heavily wooded terrain, interrupted sporadically with rest stops and a few exits. Our objective was Canton and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, before closing time. We pulled into the parking lot around 4:30 and landed right in the middle preparations for the induction ceremonies for the class of 2008, which included Emmitt Thomas of the Chiefs. The Hall is distinctive an instantly recognizable but still small and unassuming. Our first question was, why Canton? While I don’t remember all the details, exhibits clearly indicate that professional football got it start in and around northeastern Ohio, and Canton makes perfect sense. The Hall is very well done, with excellent use of videos and a rotating theater that takes you from the training camp experience to the Super Bowl. The actual hall with the busts of the HOFers is really impressive – understated yet powerful. I got the feeling that Canton lives for this weekend.
We then ventured further west to Wooster, Ohio, to pay a long overdue visit to another Fiji, Greg Grambush. It’s been 10-15 years but, as Greg pointed out, the great thing about our faternity and college days is that, regardless how long the time apart is, you can easily fall back into these old friendships with so much in common and lots of memories to share. Wooster is a town of 25,000, and Greg and his partner Ann seem to know everyone there. We arrived in the midst of their bicentennial celebration, with the town square blocked off, every building hung with red, white and blue bunting, and music and food everywhere. We had a great dinner at the Elks Club (where Greg is a past president) and a good time catching up on old friends and lives in general. Matthew got a bit more Fiji history as well, and recognized, once again, that the old fiji motto, “not for college days alone”, really means something.
With a quick trip up the road, we landed in Cleveland, made the pin run 10 minutes before closing, and got ready for the last leg back to Chicago. However, before heading west one last time, and with the Indians out of town, we did what everyone should do in Cleveland, now that they don’t light the Cuyahoga anymore, visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Cleveland, like Chicago, enjoys the benefits of a Great Lake. The Hall is on Lake Erie, adjacent to what looks like an excellent science museum and the home of the Cleveland Browns. It was a beautiful day for a lake cruise, with several options departing from the pier at the Hall, but we didn’t have time for that.
The facility that houses the Hall is an architectual wonder – sort of a glass pyramid with other shapes appended to it, centered in a large plaze, with music playing everywhere. Most of the exhibits are in a lower room that is dark and somewhat convoluted. However, the overall effect is excellent. The amount and variety of memorabilia is impressive, with handwritten lyrics, clothes, and tons of instruments. It is really a lot to take in, but really cool.
Then, it was a quick stop for Cleveland BBQ at Bubbas (still not KC) and on west to … South Bend. We had to make a detour to see Matthew’s new home, beginning next month. I’ve never been to Notre Dame, and I was very impressed. I think I expected a little more “hallowed halls” and ivy, but the overall impression for me was of a newer campus, still a lot of construction and new facilities, but also great looking architecture and history. Also, this is still the northern midwest and like northern Ohio, flat as a board. I think he’s going to enjoy it there.
Two more hours and – FAMILY REUNION IN CHICAGO!
