Lake Effect

A few days ago my firstborn and I crammed a bunch of her stuff into the back of my jeep and drove south through the pre-dawn darkness of a gorgeous rainstorm; away from the lake; away from the storm; away from home and family; towards the crisp cool sunshine of her new college campus. Several hours later, after a ramshackle day of cleaning, unpacking, organizing, setting up, eating, meeting and parting, I was headed back to the north coast alone. The early evening sky was such a brilliant blue; and the slanting sun was doing that cool thing to the trees where the leaves all shine golden green where the sun hits them (until a breeze makes their undersides flash deep silver grey). I always find that polarizing effect of light and dark at the end of the day intoxicating.

I found a channel playing 70's music and turned it up loud. Between the tear drops I sang along and reminded myself how fun it was to be her age, and what great times were ahead for her. There are so many places along 71 where you have an absolutely panoramic view of the beautiful woodlands, rolling hills and river gorges of this part of Ohio; unobstructed by pesky mountains or tall buidings.If it wasn't for the curvature of the earth you could see forever. It's difficult to avoid feeling like you're on top of the world, when you actually are. So even though I could feel that tug of connective tissue pulling me back to where she was, I just kept driving away. As I took the 271 ramp North towards Cleveland, I saw that all that was left of the morning's rainstorm were a few tattered clouds lit by the setting sun. Just another beautiful cloudy day in Cleveland.