Day of Hope #101
Thursday May 13 – Day of Hope #101
Goal: Find my own hope while traveling to different states
Quote: “Hope travels with me. Showing up in sunsets, slow mornings, and every peaceful pause I allow myself to take.” – Kayla Jones
May 13th, 2021, found me in Cleveland, Ohio which was the kickoff to my Day of Hope. I’m actually writing this from a back patio on Saturday, May 15th, sitting in Bemus Point, New York. I’m at a friend’s house out in the country, surrounded by trees for miles. It’s so peaceful here. Everyone else is off doing their own thing, napping, chatting, or playing cribbage with the locals, so I wanted to take a quiet moment and get my Day of Hope down on paper.
We flew into Cleveland on Wednesday the 12th and checked into a beautiful hotel right on the water by Lake Erie. The view was incredible. I could see huge ships moving in and out, two lighthouses, and even the Browns football stadium from our window. After settling in, we walked around the city and ended up having dinner at Lindey’s Lake House on the waterfront. The food was delicious, and it felt good to explore. We wandered downtown for a bit afterward, but once things started to feel a little sketchy with the locals out at night, we headed back. Just in time to catch the sunset right from our room.
On the 13th, I slept in until 10:00 a.m., a luxury in itself. After a shower, we headed to breakfast at Yours Truly, and it was such a fun, delicious spot. We walked around downtown afterward, and you could really feel how hard COVID had hit Cleveland. So many places were closed, boarded up, or permanently shut down. Masks were required everywhere. We were also among the very few white people around, but everyone we met was friendly and welcoming.
After exploring the city, we walked across the street to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It felt surreal to be visiting such an iconic place on my Day of Hope. When we returned to the hotel, it was time for the rooftop bar drinks, food, and the most spectacular sunset. We sat on the patio for nearly three hours, front row seats to a sky that felt like it was painted just for us.
The next few days took us into New York for more time with friends, and then back to Cleveland before flying home to Boise.
My lesson of hope: Even on vacation, my Day of Hope is mine. It’s a day to do what I love, slow down, explore, savor the moment, and find peace, no matter where in the world I happen to be.
