Goodbye, Cleveland!

Whew… so it’s been a long week hauling all of my stuff out of my (now former) residence in Cleveland, OH. It’s been a long month, even, as the packing and sorting process was kicking into high gear as early as the first week of May. Well, here we are. It’s the end of May, and after nearly nine years of residence there, I have moved out of Cleveland.

It’s been a crazy weekend of partying, packing and driving; so I sit here, weary and waxing philosophical (and sipping on some tasty Highland Park 18yo single malt scotch — thanks, Kelly). Now, I’m not gone for good, mind you. I’m sure to be passing through Cleveland on occasion. We’ll meet again, Cleveland. Don’t know where. Don’t know when.

Despite my crazy schedule of packing for the weekend, I made sure to hit up a couple parties so that I had a chance to hang out with my friends in Cleveland one last time before heading out. Two nights in a row of staying out past 2am, followed by a 500 mile drive today makes for an interesting headspace.

And this morning was not lacking for strangeness.

My bed had shipped out yesterday, and so, in a bizarrely empty house (with new and strange echoes that I haven’t heard since I first moved into the place three years ago), I rolled out my sleeping bag for my last night living in Cleveland. After a big brunch and an hour jamming my poor Honda with as much crap as I could fit in there, I was on the road, heading out of Cleveland, and rocking out to some Johnny Cash (American IV), some Leonard Cohen (Essential, Disc 1), and some Warren Zevon (Excitable Boy and My Ride’s Here).

I haven’t listened to American IV is quite some time. It was good to hear it again, and it felt just right for the ride down Interstate 90 out of Cleveland. Johnny Cash’s voice at that point in his career still staggers me. The emotion that rides on that bass-baritone… I can only hope to be able to generate that kind of emotion in my music some day. Listening to Cash reminds me that I should be practicing my guitar more than I am these days. The things I give up to enjoy the open road…

Not that I mind. The adventure ahead is great, and my music will still be there when I’m done. There is (hopefully) much future ahead of me for such things.

Honestly, there are many things I won’t miss about Cleveland. The weather, of course, leaves much to be desired, and it’s hardly the most bicycle-friendly of cities (nor Ohio the most bicycle-friendly of states). Still, there are things I will miss. As much as I’m looking forward to going west, to settling who knows where, I do look upon these last nine years in Cleveland with fond memories of good times and good friendship.

And so, the day is done. I have traveled far, and though the local clock here only reads 10:30, I’ve an extra hour to make up for. Off I go to rest up, and begin planning the next (much bigger) bicycle adventure…