Hanging with the Boys

     We dashed out the door Friday morning together with the boys. While Ed was in meetings, I would hang with the kids.  It was supposed to be an exciting day. From the parking garage we walked across the skywalk into the corporate building. After getting visitor passes, Ed took the boys in an elevator to the top so they could check out the birds eye view of Columbus. I waited on the ground floor with the water fountains, sipped my coffee and picked out the plants I wished I could take home with me. When they returned, Ed took off for meetings and we headed for an exciting tour of the statehouse a few blocks down the street. Woo Hoo!
     Ten minutes into the tour Noah was whispering that he wished he had brought the Game boy while David scowled at the tour guide who was grilling him for the third time about Ohio factoids. Forty-five minutes into the tour I was thanking God for the balcony above the House chamber. The boys thought it was the coolest. Somehow the prospect of falling over the railings was awe-inspiring. Ed called to find out where we were and he met up with us at the tail end of the tour - about lunchtime. Convenient.
     (Seriously, the Ohio Statehouse is an amazing piece of history and architecture when 2 young sons aren't present to sabotage your perspective. From the dome of the cupola to the marble floors, limestone exterior of the Atrium, arches and vaults in the Crypt, 88 Ohio counties cut from 6 types of marble from around the world and inlaid on the floor of the Map Room, massive columns, sculptures, busts, grand staircases and so much more -  it's a phenomenal must-see.)
     The Nationwide Arena Theater is a fun place to lunch because during the noon hour, movie trailers play on the big screens. Noah was especially excited about being allowed to eat lunch in the balcony. (Something about those balconies.) Meanwhile David was thoroughly engrossed in the Superman movie that was running on a TV screen in the cafe. Remember the scene in Superman where the woman loses control of her vehicle? She screams as she heads into a crowd of people? The car careens toward buildings just before going airborne. She continues to scream until she realizes she's sailing smoother than a schooner on calm seas. Then her car descends in a controlled dive. She gazes into the romantic face of  Superman in her rearview mirror as she glides into a perfect landing. You feel the changing pace of her heart as it shifts from sheer panic to breathtaking flutter. Superman opens her door. She emerges mesmerized, wraps her arms around his neck and throws her legs up into his arms. He's cradling all of her easily in his genteel Superman biceps, but the look on his face suggests he's contemplating what to do with her and then my 5th grade son bursts out as though he's reading Superman's mind--or lines, "Uh....does this belong to anyone?"
     Lately it seems David has had a growing unfondness for females. I'm not psychic, but I'm pretty sure that will change in the next few years. In the meantime, I'm (mostly) thoroughly enjoying escorting him and Noah around this summer doing the fun things  boys like to do - and thinking how way cool it is being one of the few females on the planet they don't equate with the plague.

Governor Ted Strickland, Ohio


Columns, Columbus, Ohio Statehouse

Cupola in the Rotuda of the Columbus, Ohio Statehouse

Looking into the Rotunda of the Ohio Statehouse, a circular room