Finding Our Way Home

Are you travel-weary, having joined us for a wedding and more in the past few posts? Well, I have to just finish up! Our last day was our travel day, but it wasn't without an important mission and delightful surprise. It started off with a delicious breakfast at Luna Bakery in the Cedar/Fairmount area of Cleveland Heights.

 

 With crepes and treats like this, what wasn't to love?

And the conversation wasn't bad, either!



After bidding Jane and Kevin farewell, we headed to Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Cleveland. The sun was out as we passed Playhouse Square. Someday I'll tour all those terrific theatres!

Our purpose was two-fold. First, we enjoyed a lovely service with an inspiring sermon in an environment that was simply beautiful, a rival to many of the fine churches I've seen.

 

But the main reason for our trip was to see the organist/music director, Todd Wilson.



In his youth, Rick was a boy soprano at Toledo's Trinity Church. One of his fellow choristers was a boy named Todd Wilson who also played the organ. Years later, Rick heard him as a soloist on a Christmas selection on public radio and after some Inspector Googling found it was the same guy he hadn't seen since he was nine years old. They've aged.

 But not much else had changed. It was clear that these two had a remarkable shared history of diligent music instruction, tough love from a tough taskmaster -- and they both grew up to love music and continue to pursue it.



For Rick, his classical guitar is a passionate hobby. For Todd, it is a profession, as he not only is music director at Trinity but organmaster for Severance Hall, home of the Cleveland Orchestra. The day we met he had to run.

He was off to play a silent movie in Youngstown! Meanwhile, we enjoyed a few more minutes at this beautiful church before heading toward home.



It was a gorgeous day so rather than taking the turnpike, we chose to follow the Lake Erie shore on the old road and our trip took us through the town of Vermillion, Ohio. It was there that we discovered the Old Prague restaurant. This Czechoslovakian restaurant came complete with a keyboardist who offered music from that country. She was very chatty!

Shall I tell you we belonged to the "clean plate club" -- or can you see it yourself?!



Then it was back in the car, back on the road and home. I have to say, for those of you who have been so kind to follow our journey over these few posts, thank you. It was a special time for us -- time to relax with each other, to see old friends and meet new ones, rekindle long-past relationships and share in the joy of love with family. It's a trip we won't forget.