Category: life

Angeline and I spent yesterday afternoon in the home of Will Smith and Benjamin “DJ Bizzy” Franklin: Philadelphia, PA. Unfortunately I forgot my camera, so you don’t get any pictures. This being my first visit to Philly, we had to go see the large, bronze, cracked…hot steamy bread with gooey cheesy meat and onions … where was I? Oh yes, the Liberty Bell. So we looked at the bell, then headed off for lunch.

After much research we decided to try out Jim’s on 4th and South for an authentic bite. Much has been said by Philly natives about how there is something special about their sandwiches that can’t be duplicated in any other place, but I think this is mostly bunk. That said, Jim’s may well have taken the top spot on my list. The differentiating factor is mainly the rolls, and Jim doesn’t disappoint on that score.

After lunch, we hit the Rodin museum. Here you can see one of the casts of The Thinker, the Gates of Hell, and lots of hands and people in uncomfortable somersault embraces. Victor Hugo figures prominently. And there’s a walrus-looking thing by some lesser sculptor, too.

Anyway, Philadelphia is a nice city and worth the occasional three hour drive. I’m sure I’ll be back sometime this year.

I’ve been derelict in my duties to describe the magic of Ohio. So I’ll let you know when I figure it out. Just kidding. Canton is nice enough, the people are friendly except for the guy at Radio Shack, and where else can you visit the home of Goodyear, the birthplace of Hoover vacuum cleaners, and the Pro football hall of fame all in one day? I didn’t manage to visit any of these though.

On July 1st I hit the road about 3pm. The trip was supposed to take about seven hours; it ultimately took eight and a half. Congratulations to the highway designer who saved so many taxpayer dollars by making the only road out of town a single-laner. I arrived at 11:30, crashed. I spent most of the next morning just driving around the vast shopping mall that is North Canton.

Of course the real magic that drew me there was the official legal union between Scott and Jill. Their wedding was lovely and I know they will have a wonderful life together. Also it was good to see a number of people whom I haven’t seen in a while; I shall have to do a better job so that we don’t have to make a 14 hour round trip to catch up. I forgot my camera so no pictures this time.

I resisted the urge to make a side trip to Cleveland on Sunday to see plastinated corpses and the rock & roll hall of fame. Perhaps next time I am in town.