If you've read Every Crooked Pot then you know the story takes place in Akron, Ohio and tucked in between the pages are all kinds of references to my hometown.  Just last week I was home for a week of book promotions, peppered with readings, signings, a radio and newspaper interview and a chance to visit with family and friends. And before I go any further, let me just take a moment to say that there's a lot more to Akron, Ohio than you might think. For example, my high school, Firestone High School was attended by Chrissy Hines, the members of DEVO and a singer by the name of Rachel Sweet, who as I remember  it performed (among other things) the original rendition of "I'm Chiquita Banana and I'm Here To Say..." Could be urban myth, but that's the way I remember it.

For me, going back to Akron was a trip down memory lane.  So take a wander with me as I hit upon the highlights of a return to my hometown... It started out with a bang (though thank God not literally) as my sixteen year old nephew picked me up at the airport and drove me back to my mother's.

Sunday...

The next morning bright and early, I arrived at the Beth El Sisterhood Brunch. I was nervous about speaking there, but all my jitters disappeared when I saw so many familiar faces, including Mrs. Portman's.  I grew up with her twin daughters and for those of you who read the book,  it was her dryer that we rode around in. Turns out, all these years we thought no one knew about our dryer runs, but not only did Mrs. Portman know, but she also informed me that it was a gas dryer--oy! 

Another treat was to see my next door neighbors, Mrs. Glauberman and her daughter Susan  who was in visiting from New York.  Even as a teenager, Susan was always more New York than Akron. I have vivid memories of her forward fashion sense which included a dress made entirely of paper.

Thanks to Ellen Moss and other members of the Beth El Sisterhood for having me to their brunch!

Monday...
The torrential downpour the next morning didn't stop my mother and I from heading up to Cleveland for a radio interview with Jim McIntyre on WDOK FM 102.  Jim was great, put me very much as ease and just as soon as we have an air date, I will let you all know.

Then I got back to Akron just in time to meet up with Ellie and Lori for lunch at the Sandwich Board. Ellie is a real trouper, too, having just completed a 60 mile Breast Cancer Walk the day before.  See, now here's one big difference between Ellie and Me. She walks to find a cure for Breast Cancer and I walk for cake (referencing an earlier blog entry for those of you who are new here).  Anyway, so Ellie, Lori and I were reminiscing and even before our salads arrived (and by the way, I highly recommend their Pea Salad!) Lori had Stephanie on the her cell phone down in Columbus.  "You have to come up this weekend, Stephie!"  Ah, I sensed a reunion was in the works... 

But first, I had a special evening with my mother and two couples (The Weins and the Ekuses--plural of Ekus)who have been part of my extended family for as long as I can remember.  They took me to a lovely restaurant, the Big City Chophouse  and we had a great meal and laughed till we cried, remembering my father, who really was just as outrageous as Artie Goldman.

Tuesday...

 I spent the bulk of the day writing and then went with my mother  for dinner with the Tuesday Night Spaghetti Club. This is worthy of its own blog entry if not an entire novel...

Picture if you will, a restaurant that hasn't changed a single thing since the 70s--and that includes the prices.  My mother and about a dozen of her friends go there every Tuesday night for their Spaghetti Special: salad (iceberg lettuce), spaghetti (not pasta) with a meatball (if you're lucky) garlic bread (one piece per customer) and a beverage (no wine or hard suff) for $5.00.  I of course blew the budget by ordering the blue cheese (.95 cents extra).

Now keep in mind, that all members of the Tuesday Night Spaghetti Club are fairly affluent--they could have blue cheese dressing whenever they wanted. They could actually go to a real restaurant and have a real meal. But instead they go  to this place each week because...well, come to think of it, they're not even sure why they keep going back. But they do and if I could, I would bring in a film crew to capture it all.  I may have to circle back and elaborate on it all in order to do it justice. But for now, take my word what goes on at the Tuesday Night Spaghetti Club is priceless stuff.

It ws hard breaking away, but after the big supper, I met up with some long lost friends, Michelle and Eliot, Harvey and his wife, Kim. We sat on Eliot and Michelle's beautiful back porch, had some wine and caught up. More on Harvey in the next installment as I make a visit to 170 Muffin Lane...

Check back tomorrow for Back To Ohio Part Two...