Trip Report: Easter with the Fam

The Jazzman and I drove to Columbus on Saturday afternoon to spend Easter with his family. His mother, two brothers and their wives, and one of his nieces (with two daughters) all live in the Columbus area. The [younger] second niece flew in from Minneapolis for the weekend.

We stopped at his brother's office, then grabbed a Reuben at the deli across the street. Next stop, Columbus Museum of Art to feast our eyes on some Chihuly: bowls inspired by Native American blankets and baskets, chandeliers, and Mille Fiore. I try to never pass up an opportunity to admire beautiful glass. Next we checked into the hotel, then headed down to Canal Winchester to visit with his mother, returning back to the brother's house in German Village so I could meet his sister-in-law and the younger niece. The other niece arrived in a few minutes with her boyfriend, and we grabbed a cab to the Short North for the gallery hop, drinks at one bar, dinner at a Greek restaurant, and a birthday party at another bar. By 10:00 I was exhausted and we bowed out of the party, grabbed a cab and settled into our hotel.

Sunday morning, his brother, sister-in-law and the younger niece walked over, and we walked down High Street to First Watch for breakfast. While they attended mass, we checked out of the hotel and headed to the Book Nook for some serious browsing. Soon church was over and the entire family, including the older niece's two daughters and her boyfriend's two daughters, assembled back at the house and drove to the Athletic Club for a way-too-much-food Easter brunch, including Easter bunny and chocolate fountain. Back to the house, where the little girls opened their Easter baskets, I played a few pieces on the piano, the Jazzman and I changed clothes, and we left to drive back to Ytown.

The Jazzman drove for the entire trip, giving me the gift of time to knit. It also gave us lots of uninterrupted time to talk about repairs and repurposing that need to be done around my old home. This is our second trip together, with the third coming up next weekend—a Cirque de Soleil performance in Cleveland and overnight with seven other couples. We've decided we enjoy traveling together and do it well.

I think the nicest thing I got out of the weekend was when one of the sisters-in-law said, "Welcome to the family." The iffiest was when one of the nieces said, "I hope Uncle Jazz keeps you until December so you can play Christmas carols for us to sing." I laughed.

I close with a treat for your eyes: Chihuly Mille Fiore currently on display at the Columbus Museum of Art.