Steubenville

Steubenville, OH—6/11-6/12

Waukesha to Steubenville (in Eastern Ohio) is something like 10 hours on the road, so we were up early from the Morrison’s to get things going early. We made it through Chicago (our main cause for concern) without too much trouble and spent most of the day on the Illinois/Indiana/Ohio turnpike. We’re not all that used to paying to use roads, so I have to admit I was a little bitter every time we rolled in to a tollbooth. That, and next time you get a chance, check out the width of Ohio. Seriously, all these states back East are supposed to be little, right? We cruised through Indiana in no time but Ohio stretched on forever! It is wider than you think. Once we turned south at Youngstown though—beautiful road. You follow the Ohio River right along the road the entire way down to Steubenville…gorgeous.

My aunt and uncle had a delicious dinner prepared as we caught up on the last 11 years of life and happenings. My family was last back East in 1998, so I literally hadn’t seen these relatives since then! It was really great to just spend time with them over the next two days: the first two days we spent in the same beds consecutively on the trip thus far!

The time in Steubenville was a much-need break for the both of us. We really had no agenda other than catching up with my aunt and uncle, so we were able to relax for the first time in almost two weeks. For me though, Friday was an opportunity to run up to Greenville, PA to visit my dad’s hometown and see cousins (and maybe an uncle) I hadn’t seen since the last time we were out. I have to admit…it was such a cool feeling just entering an area that I just knew carried so much family history. I saw a yard sale on the way into town and almost stopped—not only because I love yard sales, but because I wanted to toss the Rembold name out there and see if I could stir up any stories (Greenville is a small town!).

I came into Greenville and found my cousin’s house without much trouble and was warmly welcomed by my cousin Denise and her three kids: Kevin, Kyle, and Chasey. Chasey is 11 and was literally a newborn the last time I’d seen her, so I was basically meeting her for the first time, and neither of the boys remembered me from our previous visit. A little awkward at first, to be sure, but we soon going strong talking about our dads and their histories in the small little town and what has been new in our lives (for the last 11 years). We even took a little walk around the downtown area (which has been getting remodeled) to check out the latest improvements.

Greenville has been hit hard by the recent recession, as have many of the industrial towns out East. Denise had been working at one of the last remaining large industrial companies until it recently went out of business as well. It was so hard to walk around town and hear Denise pointing out various friends who, like her, had been laid off. She said that basically any job opening in the area was met with over 300 applicants, all people desperate for jobs in a difficult economic time. Suddenly an economic crisis that seemed foreign and a little distant to me was hitting very close to home.

It was really great to see Denise and the kids. Family is an amazing thing…you can pick up after 11 years and really have no problem connecting. Such a unique and special feeling.

I was back in Steubenville that night to watch the Penguins win the Stanley Cup! We were only about 40 minutes from Pittsburgh, so all the local channels carried stories on the parties breaking out in the streets! 2 titles (Steelers and Penguins) have Pittsburgh fans feeling like pretty lucky folks right now.