This Friday, my brothers David and Jonathan, Jonathan’s son Jorey, and I will be making the short road trip to Detroit to see the Maple Leafs play the Red Wings. We’ve made a couple of trips like this before, but in the summertime to see the Blue Jays and to visit Cooperstown for Roberto Alomar’s induction.
The first picture I ever took with my iPhone. David,
me, Jonathan, and Jorey at a Jays game in 2016.
For me, I’m pretty sure this will be the first time I’ve seen the Maple Leafs on the road. First time I’ve seen them live anywhere since Barbara and I went to a game so long ago that I can’t remember exactly when except that it was at least 2006. It was Montreal at Toronto and she was dressed in a vintage Canadiens sweater, me in vintage Maple Leafs. It’s hard to believe, but I think the last time I was actually at a hockey game anywhere was in the fall of 2015. Barbara and I were in Boston and the New England Sports Network (NESN) hosted us in a small private box next to their set where I was to be interviewed about my book on Art Ross during the first intermission.
Photos by Barbara from our box at the game in Boston.
This is my second trip of late. Earlier this month, I spent two weeks in Florida. The weather was perfect, and, as I’ve been telling people, the biggest decision I faced each day was “should I get my tan on the beach or by the pool?” (Sure beats the current dilemma of “should I shovel the driveway now or wait until it’s completely stopped snowing!”)
I rode down with my friend Jeff, who has a place on Anna Marie Island, near Sarasota. He was a great host, and I think I was a good guest. So many people had been telling me after Barbara died that I should get away for a while and lie on a beach somewhere. I’m not sure I actually would have if Jeff hadn’t offered. It really was a wonderful break.
Me on the street in Ybor City, Tampa, about two weeks ago.
Barbara loved to travel. Me, not so much. And, really, for the stupidest of reasons. I used to say, “I don’t want to go away anywhere if I have to come back.” By that, I meant you spend a week or two away, and then you come home to a pile of bills, maybe or maybe not some household disaster that needs your immediate attention, and definitely a ton of work you need to catch up on. Two days back, and it’s like you were never away. So, why bother? And, let’s be honest, I was always worried about spending the money…
These days, you can pay your bills online and I don’t really have any work to catch up on. (Though I did just recently agree to write some short hockey pieces for a friend whose work I admire.) Even so, as great as the Florida trip really was, it did make me realize all over again how alone I am when I’m at home. (Don’t worry too much; I’ve got lots of friends looking out for me!)
It felt nice to get away, but it was strange to be on vacation without Barbara. No matter how much I griped about it before agreeing to go somewhere, we always, always, had a great time. Didn’t matter where we went, or how long we stayed. Here are a handful of pictures from some of our trips over the years…
The last big trip Barbara and I took was to Los Angeles and San Francisco
two years ago right about now. I’d never been to L.A. before. We’d both
been to San Francisco, including on our honeymoon. This trip was a belated
20th Anniversary / early Barbara milestone birthday present.
We didn’t have to go far to have fun. The top picture is overlooking the Niagara River
at Lewiston during a weekend in Niagara Falls in 1993. The lower picture is an ostrich farm
in Prince Edward County (near Kingston) about 10 years later. It did NOT smell great!
One of the best trips we ever had was taking Amanda to Disney World in 2000. That’s
me and Amanda in the pool at our hotel on the left and her with Tigger on the right.
In the acknowledgements to my Art Ross book, I thanked his granddaughter
Valerie for saving Barbara and me from the worst hotel we ever almost
spent the night in near Williamstown, MA. This is where Valerie took us instead!
An earlier Ross-related trip. Us with our friend Kathy in Maine.
Chicago. Late in August, 2013. We loved it there!
Cheesy blue screen photos are us! The Red Baron’s Fokker triplane
and Air Force One at the U.S. Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio.
More blue screen fun! The George C. Page Museum at the La Brea tar pits on our
Los Angeles trip. The polar bear is actually real! (Or was.) It’s at the Natural History
Museum in L.A. where we spent an afternoon on a pouring rainy day.
Thanks Eric,
A pretty special story and with lots of great memories. Enjoy the game in Detroit.
Bill
Thank you Eric.
Thanks for sending this, Eric. Great to see you carrying on with your life while still remembering Barbara. Lovely photos.
Great read. Thanks for sharing all of these memories. It is still hard to believe that Barbara is gone.
Eric,
Great photos..
I was curious about the Owen Sound t-shirt from the Maine photos.
Kevin
If I recall correctly, it’s based on a design Tom Thomson did when he worked as a graphic illustrator.
Definitely bought it at the Tom Thomson Art Gallery here in Owen Sound. I like to wear it when I’m travelling!
Thanks for sharing Eric. A lovely read on a snowy day. Let me know if you figure out the answer to our current question “Do I shovel now or wait until it finishes snowing?”
In my old Toronto days, I always waited until it stopped. Here, if you wait, you’re likely to get buried!
So good to “read you” again! Wonderful photos!! Glad you enjoyed your two weeks away. Have a great trip this coming weekend. Sending hugs, Linda
Enjoyed the travelogue, Eric. Did you and Barbara ever do Hawaii? Just spent a week there in early January which included a one day jaunt to Maui. If you haven’t I’d highly recommend. Yes, there is a rink there with adult/youth programs.
Never got there … and did NOT know about the rink!
Great read! Memories are a wonderful thing. Did I ever mention we lived in Dayton from ’62-’66? Just behind Wright-Pat AFB. B-52s scrambled every couple of weeks (it was the Cold War) right above our house. As a 12 year old, never got tired of that awesomeness!
What a lovely piece filled with amazing memories. Thank you for sharing Eric! xo
So nice seeing your pictures. Makes me want to visit Chicago, where I‘ve never been. I guess it’s time to decide on
shovelling rather than location of beach chair! ☀️ Or ☃️
Awesome memories, thank you for sharing. And enjoy the hockey trip … much better there than here maybe (-44 here at times lately 🙁 ).
Dar
Great read, Eric! Thanks so much for sharing your travels and memories with Barbara with us.
Thanks for giving me something entertaining to read so I could take a break form shoveling 26.5 cm of &***^% snow…Mike
Thank you for sharing all the great travel photos. Very nice. I hope you have a lot of travels ahead.
So our dinner was around this time 2 years ago? That was a nice night in Beverly Hills — Glad to see you’re carrying on day by day.
We went to Anna Maria a couple of times in the early 1990’s. We were there when the Storm of the Century hit. A lovely “quiet” part of Florida – at least back then.
Still pretty quiet … but probably not like it was!
Hi Eric:
Glad to receive a new story from you.
Not too sure about your planned road trip in the height of this extreme cold weather…hope your car is well maintained…keep topping up the gas tank…. and allow extra time.
As for whether to shovel the snow now, or, wait till later. When I was much younger and still living in my parents’ house, my “logic” was leave it…. it will melt by March or April.
Cheers, Les
So bitter-sweet to read your memories of trips with Barbara. Every time I see a photo of Barbara it brings me both delight and sorrow. She would have loved to be the “star” of your writings. Hope your break from winter is still restorative. Sending much love … Sarah
Funny thing about the heart and friends… In your email about “On the Road Again” you said it was “nothing special,” and yet, unless I’m wrong, it has had just about the best response of any of your pieces. Thanks for sharing Barbara with us again.
Happy New Year back from all us Rosses!
So good to read your stories again. The travels-with-Barbara ones, though, are a reminder to cherish the moments as they occur. Keep saying yes when friends make offers. It does help (as I’m learning).
Hi Eric. Lovely to see your vacations with Barbara. One of the joys of knowing Barbara as a young woman, and living in her home, was sharing travels we had been on. Miss her Eric. Love to you from over the pond XX.
Beautiful memorial post to Barbara & to your love for each other! You two had something so unique & special. Lovely photos…..lovely memories…
I am glad you went to Florida w/ Jeff. It did you a world of good to go away & let healing happen….in its way. And now you are back with all of us & all the snow….LOL…..
Sincerely, Sherri-Ellen & BellaDharma =^,,^=