My Aunt Opal. She was married to Dad's brother, Jimmy.
We made it back to Ashland and we met up with the rest of the family over at Aunt Ellen’s. Aunt Ellen and Uncle Tom’s place was the gathering place, because they were more or less the senior member’s of the family and had a large home. Uncle Delbert was too feeble to much hosting and Aunt Ann & Uncle Bill had moved into an apartment years ago. When we got back, Dad let me know that he want to visit with Aunt Opal. Aunt Opal is his sister-in-law. She had married his brother, Jimmy. She was family and all, but as Dad is not a social butterfly, I really didn’t understand why he was making a point to see her. I mean the only other trip I had take with him, we made a stop in a city, in which a guy he worked with for nearly 20 years had retired to, we made arrangements to meet him, and at the last minute Dad changed his mind and we didn’t make the appointment.
A view from the top of the hill. Ashland in the summer is very beautiful. I have never seen it in the fall.
I was a bit dumbfounded, but I had no problems with his request.
So shortly after we got back, Me, Margo, Mom, and Dad all hoped in Uncle Bill’s car and he drove us the few blocks over to Aunt Opal’s. Aunt Opal was widowed back in 1995 when my Uncle Jimmy died. This was particularly tragic for Dad in a couple of ways. First, as I was to find out, Jimmy was the brother closest to Dad in age, so he spent a lot of time with him even though Jimmy was nine years older. Dad really looked up to him. The second, we came to Ashland to visit in 1994, the year before he died. I tried everything I could to talk Dad into going, but I couldn’t. He had not been back home in nearly 20 years, back then, and if he had gone he could have seen Jimmy one last time.
Dad's boyhood home used to be in the foreground of this picture
But, he wasn’t going to miss seeing Aunt Opal on last time. We got there and it was explained to me that Aunt Opal’s place is on the land, and right next door to the house that Dad grew up in. When my grandfather died, my grandmother had moved the whole lot from Van Lear and bought this land, and a shack of a house. When Uncle Jimmy got out of the service and started his family, he built a home right next door to his mother. He lived there until he died. The house that Dad remembered as home is long gone. The pictures I have seen didn’t show it as much, but that was the time of the Great Depression. But, that was immaterial. Dad and Aunt Opal visited. We all mainly listened. I would ask an occasional question to spur things along, as Dad is good listener, and prefers that end of a conversation.
Mom kept falling asleep at odd time thoughout the trip. When we got back home she was diagnosed with sleep apnea
A lot of the talk was catching up on people that Dad remembered from the area. It was a bit depressing to find out that almost all of them were dead. But, he was happy to tell a few stories about hunting in the woods behind the house or about one of his many dogs. We went on in that direction for quite awhile. It was after 5 PM when Uncle Bill came around to pick us up.
Aunt Ellen and Aunt Ann, with plenty of help from their daughters and daughter-in-laws, had organized a Family Reunion at Armco Park in Ashland. We were actually the last to arrive, ten minutes later and were greeted by many members of the family I hadn’t seen since I was a kid.
We held a reunion this evening. It was our last full day in KY. We would leave in the AM. We had a good visit, and there were tearful goodbyes the next morning.
There were also a few I can never recall meeting. I think all told there were about 35 people. Considering this was a late Thursday afternoon, that was a pretty good turn out. We really didn’t have a lot of choice on the days were in Ashland, as I wanted to make sure I got Dad to the Grand Ole Opry. There show is only on Friday and Saturday nights. There were other factors, like when coordinating mine and Margo’s work schedule, so this was the best we could do.
We had a good time visiting with everyone. Both Mom and Dad got to visit with everyone. I visited some and took plenty of pictures. And of course there was the food. There was a variety of things and all of it good. Nothing fancy, your standard burgers, hot dogs, and potato salad kind of thing, but it was a good way to spend an early evening.
Aunt Ann. She looked so thin.
It was over in about three hours. The park closes at dusk, so when the sun started getting low people started to say their good-byes. As the out of town guests we got plenty of attention, Dad most of all. Soon we were about the last ones there.
We climbed in to the car and headed back to Aunt Ellen’s to pick up our car. Margo, the kids and I left Mom and Dad, at Aunt Ellen’s, while we went to run a few errands. There were things we needed to stock up on for tomorrow, and we wanted to have the mini-van all gassed up. So they got to visit alone for another hour or so. We visited for awhile too, once we got back. Aunt Ann and Uncle Bill were there by now. But it was getting late by now, and we had to get an early start. Everyone knew, but no one commented, that this was it.
Aunt Ellen
When we left, Dad and his family would never see each other again. They all put up a good face, but Aunt Ann spent the last few minutes telling me the virtues of Ashland. She wanted me to move down here.
I hate good-byes in general. They are awkward to begin with. But this one was worse. Aunt Ellen got pretty misty and was in tears. Aunt Ann didn’t want let Dad’s arm go, as they walked us out to the car. And all of the men folk were stoic and matter of fact. But there was no getting around it, and no way to make it easy. So after plenty of hugs, handshakes, good-bys, and I love yous, we got in the car and we drove away.
Nice Hotel with Friendly People
As Best Western in the largest hotel chain in the world their properties can be hit or miss. I have had mostly pleasant experiences and this hotel definitely ranks there. The desk people were friendly and helpful. The hotel was very clean and the beds were comfortable. It is located right off of Highway 23 near the Ohio River.
The hotel has the standard room amentities, plus a small fitness center, a meeting room, complimentary breakfast and an outdoor pool.
There is a Golden Corral restaurant right next door and several other restaurants within a mile.
We had two rooms when we stayed, with my folks having a handicap accessible room. They agreed with my accessment as well. Comfortable beds and a very pleasant experience.
Photo courtesy of http://www.bes
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