Homecoming

After spending the winter in Charlotte, North Carolina, my husband and I returned home in early April.

Home is Northeast Ohio. It’s where most of our family members and friends live. It’s where we spent decades working before retiring about 5 years ago. It’s the location of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Summit County Metro Parks, where we spend many hours hiking each year. It’s comfortable. It’s easy to navigate. It’s familiar.

When I compare Northeast Ohio to Charlotte, I’m left with wildly opposing images/ideas.

April in Charlotte means azaleas blooming (added to the all-winter-long pansies and early daffodils). April in Ohio means daffodils, snowdrops, and hyacinths...early bloomers that can withstand cold days and nights.

Charlotte traffic is super busy, fast, and congested (maybe some people like to pretend they are driving on the Charlotte Motor Speedway (NASCAR)).
Traffic seems much more manageable when we return to Ohio—trips into Akron, Cleveland, Canton, and other cities is a snap.

Potholes. Precious few in Charlotte...big enough to swallow a small truck in Northeast Ohio.

The weather. In early April, Charlotte days saw temperatures in the 60s and 70s and lots of sunshine. In Ohio...after just 4 days back, we’ve had 3 days of rain, snow, terrific clouds, and a little sunshine. I hauled my sock hat and gloves back out...pulled on warm socks...shrugged into a warm coat...all to feel more comfortable on a walk with temps in the 40s.

Charlotte has a respectable weatherman (Brad Panovich on WCNC-TV...who, incidentally, grew up in Cleveland!) and an excellent local news anchor (Fred Shropshire, also at WCNC).
BUT...Ohio has Betsy Kling (weather) and Jimmy Donovan (sports) on WKYC-TV.

Charlotte’s ballet (the oldest professional ballet company in North Carolina) is fabulous, and so is Theatre Charlotte and so is the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.
BUT... Northeast Ohio has the Cleveland Orchestra (performing at Severance Hall and, in the summer, at Blossom Music Center)...Cleveland Museum of Natural History...Playhouse Square...Porthouse Theatre.

Northeast Ohio has lots and lots of hiking and biking trails!
Charlotte has a robust greenway system for the same.

Charlotte is just 4 hours away from the Atlantic Ocean.
Where we live in Ohio is just 1 hour from the shores of Lake Erie. Beach simply does not compare...

Charlotte has grandsons.
Northeast Ohio does not.

And that just about sums it up! I love Charlotte. I love coming home to Northeast Ohio.