Luke Perry died today. He was 52 and had suffered a massive stroke. I didn’t imagine celebrity news being a big part of this site when I started writing here. But for all his heartthrob glamor and Hollywood fame, he did seem to remain true to his Ohio roots.
“Start a blog about Ohio,” they said.
“What’s the worst that could happen?” they said.
Ohio proudly boasts that it has been home to eight United States presidents. Some may say it’s only seven because William Henry Harrison—most famous for refusing to wear hat or overcoat during his overly-long speech on an overly-cold Inauguration Day then catching pneumonia and dying 31 days into his presidency—was actually born in Virginia. But of course Ohio is going to fight for the right to claim a president who literally didn’t have the sense to come in out of the rain.
The lakeside city of Sandusky recently began garnering national headlines for its decision to make Election Day a citywide paid holiday. If I were to start naming Ohio cities likely to take this step, Sandusky—best known for being home to Cedar Point amusement park—is not one that would have been high on my list.
I have been told that, in simpler times, when I was but a child, I had two imaginary friends. Their names were Johnny Bench and Pete Rose. So, yeah, I may have some interest in watching Bench, the new documentary from the MLB Network.
“This song is about my beautiful home town. Akron, Ohio.”
That’s how Chrissie Hynde kicks off the performance of “My City Was Gone” in the video. It’s not said ironically or in a mawkish “hello (insert random tour city here)!” way. It’s straightforward, honest, and heartfelt which is how she says most everything.
“2019 is going to be the year of the blog,” said nobody ever.
Still, I was looking for an outlet. A way to pass some time and exercise some muscles that had got a little rusty. A means to vent, promote, and reminisce. But what would I write about? That blank canvas question had been rolling around in my mind for a few weeks last fall when I found myself driving south on I-71.
