Touring Spring Valley

My mom and I went to Spring Valley a couple of weeks ago to see Grandpa Charlie's house and check in on the hot spots around town. I hadn't been there since Grandpa's funeral -- hard to believe it was over 2 years ago already. Not much has changed and it certainly didn't feel like so much time had passed since my last visit. It was strange to drive around town without seeing Grandpa or having him in the front seat offering up humorous one-liners about famous SV residents. I do miss him. A lot. I miss Grandma Bene a lot, too. I wish they could both be here to enjoy the happy silliness their great grandchildren (all 9 of them - wow!) bring to our family. Miles still talks about Great Grandpa Charlie. He asks a lot of questions and tells stories about visits that I can't believe he remembers. He's also been asking about his Great Grandma Bene -- thinks her name is great, of course. Bene! I can hear her laugh over it.

On to the grand tour. We drove past the house on Hillcrest Drive at least 4 times. Maybe 9. I lost count. Part of the reason why we kept driving around the block was because we would forget to look for something - like the shed in the backyard, or the garden or the mailbox - to see if it is still the same. For anyone who'd been here before, the most obvious change to the house is the color. We love it and think Grandma and Grandpa would have appreciated the fresh look, too :) Anyway, we also circled the block multiple times because school had just let out and kids were getting in our way. I wanted to snap pictures but was getting glared at by teenage girls who were probably texting their friends about the creepos stalking so-and-so's house. Little did they know we have an in with the Chief of Police of Ostrander just up the street. He's got our backs. Next time we'll just get out of the car and walk around the yard like mom suggested. Sorry I chickened out, mom!

After seeing the house and overcoming the urge to peep in the windows, we headed out to Saint Ignatius cemetary. Here are the old gates that once graced the main entrance --

Mom noticed the letters have probably been replaced many times over the years. It's neat - adds a little character, don't you think?!

Here's the "new" entrance. Much more modern :)

Here's a look at Grandma and Grandpa's headstone. Uncle Mike couldn't have created a better design for them...it's perfect. The cemetary was quiet as usual while we were there. A couple of school buses drove by and stirred up some dust, but otherwise a lovely and peaceful place.

The back side. Nice tribute to C. Reps!

And this is what's etched into the headstone of another resident of St. Ignatius cemetary...I left his name off because it's quite possible someone reading this blog would have some kind of connection to him and I hate to cause weirdness (believe it or not), so I just captured the line that we always go read for a good laugh before leaving. Better here than the post office. What would yours say?!

Grandma Bene's spirit was with us that day and forced us to drive through dog town. She always told stories about "dog town". Over the years I picked up on bits and pieces.... One might think of it as the south side. I swear I used to see trailers double stacked. Maybe triple stacked. Mom suggested I take some pictures in dog town so people could get a sense of what it's like (as if there's a line that's crossed -- and if there is, it's quite blurry now!). Again, I was concerned that maybe there are some O-town Blog followers in dog town and I'd hate to offend by posting a photo of their...ummmm....yard. I know, the odds are probably pretty slim. But never say never! So here's the look into dog town. That's all I'm gonna say about it. Ask Lar if you want more details - he always laughed at Grandma Bene's jokes about the place, so she fed more lines to him than anyone else.

Next up - downtown! Since when did Main Street become a one-way street? Okay, it's been a while. But still. What's the deal?

Best. Bakery. Ever. Every town needs one of these shops. Grandpa and Grandma always had snowflake rolls and garlic toast from the bakery for holiday meals. Grandpa kept the tradition going after Grandma passed away, but he added a few more donuts to the mix. He also made us cookies from his own kitchen, but the last few years he was alive he filled our bellies with donuts more than anything else. He'd bring dozens of them to us. Dozens. Dozens. He quickly learned Tanner's favorite flavors, and would bring an extra bag of them along and give them to Tanner when nobody else was around -- he'd instruct Tanner to hide them and not share. I think Charlie caught on and was a bit irritated, but what can you do? Per a request from several children (mostly Tanner, but a little bit me and Charlie), mom called ahead and put in a special order for crescent donuts to pick up during this particular visit to SV. They were delicious. As were the other baked goods we purchased!

Down the street is the Community Center. I remember a celebration here once upon a time. I want to say it was a retirement party for Grandma...but I feel like there was a lot of hoopla about Grandpa too (surprise surprise), so maybe it was an anniversary party? I would call my mom and ask right now, but that would be cheating. Who remembers the occasion? It was the late 80s. Karla and I ran around and made friends with people. I think Matthew was a baby. Elisabeth was a smarty pants and Charlie was a brute - that much I know is true. We had a big family picture taken on the stage. It was a fun retireversary party :)

Here's the hotel that has changed names (and probably owners) more times than we can count over the years. It's right across from a gas station where the Amish like to stop, which is odd because I don't think their horses run on gasoline. Hmmmm. Charlie also likes to stop at the gas station to buy a DMD on the way out of town. I suppose Grandpa filled up his car once in a while there, but when I was with him he always stopped in at a smaller filling station closer to downtown, near the Subway. He'd get gas and check his tire pressure. Well...not his tire pressure...but the tires on his car. Then we'd usually stop at the DQ across the street and get a blizzard. But now I'm wandering off topic.
Back to the hotel. What is so sentimental about this place? It's where Charlie and Elisabeth lit up some stogies the night before Grandma Bene's funeral. What rebels. I was horrified. They just laughed in my face. I couldn't believe it! They were probably drinking as well, and I was just too naive to realize it was really vodka in their water bottles. Look at it now - the sign says it's a smoke free Inn. Probably thanks to those hooligans back in 1999.

See that little wooden fence in front of the entrance? They sat near there, on the curb, and smoked away.

And finally, we kept up with our tradition of driving past Reps Field on our way out of town. The Boys of Fall were practicing hard, just as C. Reps would expect. He'd settle for nothing less! Our assessment of the team? Just as he'd always say... They may be short, but they're slow.

Hugs and smooches to you, Grandpa C. Reps. And to you too, Grandma Bene. We love you. Thanks for the wonderful memories.