Rocky River II (1973)

Mike graduated from Colo. State with a degree in geology and stayed on for a Masters Degree and certification in education.

Father Ray H with Suki (1973 in Rocky River, OH)

Bert with Suki (1973 in Rocky River, OH)

Bert, Hammy, and Mike, plus friends (1974 in Rocky River, OH)

Hammy and Bert (1976 in Colorado)

Mike and Leslie were married in 1976.  Kent and Mary Jane were in Providence, R.I.  She was the breadwinner teaching at the R.I. School for the Deaf.  He began courses for an MBA at Providence College.

Meanwhile I was still working at Harrison School, and looking after "G’pa" H.  It was too difficult seeing him in Wellsville, so we moved him to a small apartment in Lakewood just a few miles from Harrison School.  My teacher friends and I spent every Fri. with him for lunch.  He never knew what to serve us, but it was usually the "green bean casserole, corn bread, and jello."  They loved it, and it was a break in his dull routine.  Sundays were spent with us, and the routine was beneficial for all of us.

In Rocky River we had a great social life, first with the Erie Rd neighbors the Ss, the Ls, + the s.  We took turns entertaining with potlucks, playing charades, + just having fun.  Then the Ls bought a house with a pool + our parties ended up around the pool.

Another group of friends were the Ls - Cornelia + Tom, Peg + Ray T and Phyllis + Roger W – pot luck + talking.  We added another couple + played bridge.  The Ts - Sue + Jay were smokers + it just got so dense with smoke, we dropped out but remained good friends.

Then we had church friends from R. R. Presby. Church.  Jean + Milt L had a pool, and more pot lucks and pool parties with (later on with the grandchildren.  (Incidentally, Bert sold them the house when he was working for Freeland Realty!)

When Bert retired from the Air Force, we accepted civilian life pretty well.  I missed the travel with so many change of stations, but we became interested in many activities - and it was good to have permanent roots in such a comfortable home + lovely neighborhood.

While teaching at Harrison, Anne + I became friends with our school librarian, Helen S, and she and husband, Fred, had a beautiful home at Put-in-Bay on Lake Erie.  It was located about 70 miles from Cleveland, and we spent many fun weekends there with the Ss - Helen + Fred, Tom + Anne, + Bert + I.  Happy Hour got earlier and earlier.  Helen sometimes had her "health" drink at noon!  She recently passed away at the age of 102 in a nursing home in Westlake, Ohio.

In Aug. of ’76 it was time for Bert + me to plan another trip – this time to England, Scotland, and Wales.  Mike had already had a wonderful semester at Edinburgh, and we thought we’d check it out.

[See the post for Great Britain (1976).]