It’s easy to get a bit nervous heading over the U.S. border given the power federal border guards have yet I’m seldom bothered by it. My daughter Angelica however was worried; she had some (totally legal) herbal remedy capsules break open in her purse. She was afraid the Customs officer might look inside and see the white powder remnants gathered on the bottom. As we drove past Niagara Falls she was wildly shaking her empty upside down purse out the car window to amused passers-by.
“You have nothing to feel guilty about,” I said. “But quick, finish eating that pear because this I know – guns are a-okay in the U.S. of A. but absolutely no fruit can be transported across the border!”
Then I reminded her of a previous crossing on our way to the Albright Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo. When the border guard asked our destination in the U.S. we said,
“The Albright Knox.”
After declaring our Canadian citizenship and showing our ID, he said. “Carry on, enjoy the Olive Garden!”
Woman With Black Cravat - 1917. A. ModiglianiOn The Road To The Hall of Fame
This time crossing the mighty Niagara river we had a few more questions to answer. Being a family with three different last names can sometimes get in the way. You see Jack was dropping us off in Buffalo where Angelica and I were catching a Greyhound to Cleveland; a hassle-free driving experience from my perspective. The border official seemed suspicious asking why Jack wasn’t going with us. Since kidnapping and hostage taking is not in his blood, Jack said, “It’s a mother-daughter thing.”
The guard looked perplexed but waved us on.
We arrived at the Buffalo bus station with time to spare. Not having too much experience with interstate bus travel, I asked the ticket seller for ‘priority seating’ and he laughed. I’m not sure what was so funny, but before I knew it both my girl and I received the student advantage price. A pretty good way to start our trip with smiles all round and a savings of thirty dollars. Thanks, cool dude ticket man for giving a student pass to a fifty year-old woman. You rock.
To my surprise the warm leatherette of the Greyhound was comfortable and clean. Having only slept a few hours the night prior, I was looking forward to some shuteye while we rolled into Ohio, but Buffalo's decaying urban scenery outside the window held my strange sleep-deprived attention.
When the driver announced he was stopping for a driver safety break - soon revealed as a smoke break - I downed a McDonald’s coffee just to seal the deal that there’d be no Zzzz’s for me on this trip. I did however gaze lovingly at my sleeping girl in a purple hoodie beside me jostling along with the rhythm of the road.
I’ll skip the details of the long stretch of the I-90 and its sparse view of leafless, sepia-toned forests under grey February skies because 20 minutes outside of Cleveland, blue sky started to peek through. By the time we hit the south shore of Lake Erie the sun was shining.
When we arrived at the Double Tree we were happy to see a view of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame outside our hotel window. The last time I was there The Rolling Stones' exhibit was not furbished as advertised. So, I was eligible for a complimentary ticket upon my return.
After a short walk Angelica and I got to the Hall.
Me on the way into the Hall.
My girl prefers not to be identified on my blog.
Giant replicas of John Lennon’s and George Harrison’s guitar were sitting in the lobby. And to my surprise not one, but two, free tickets were waiting for us. We took it as a message the Gods were smiling down upon us.
Being There
It has taken me almost a week to process our visit to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. I invested mentally, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually, absorbing the sights and sounds of the Women Who Rock exhibit along with my daughter. Music is a love we both share and our visit is committed to our mutual memory as no were cameras allowed.
Last Spring, Jack and I took a whirlwind trip to Nashville, Tennessee where we visited the Country Music Hall of Fame. Driving back through the Ohio Valley we stopped at the Rock 'n' Roll Museum as a finale to our musical journey. This time the museum’s collection was mostly the same as our previous sojourn but Joan Jett’s black Jaguar in the lobby replaced Janis Joplin’s psychedelic Porsche.
Of course, the real difference, was attending with my daughter. Her and I combed the Hall for over six hours viewing the permanent collection and mixed media exhibits. The two top floors housed the first of its kind Women Who Rock show. There were some omissions in the exhibit that stood out to me personally, but then again I’m not the easiest person to please. Overall, it was wonderful.
That night back at the hotel, queen-size beds with fluffy pillows embroidered with the words Sweet Dreams were a welcome treat. My daughter surfed late night TV and I ... fell alseep in seconds.
© Scarlett Sumac 2012
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Comments
OMoM
cc Darling: Glad you picked up on the Grace Jones reference. She came to mind on the trip because of the "warm leatherette" bus seats but thematically she fit in too!
jmac1949: These road trips with the young ones take a little recovery time, I've found.
Use to go there before the Museum and hang out with friends. Cleveland is the first time I dumpster dived with Food not Bombs.
Wish I had been there with you.
HUGGGGGGGGGGGGG
BTW, I didn't know you could carry a gun into the U.S. from Canada, nor did I know you could even own a gun in Canada.
Trilogy: I'd love to come to Seattle's museums too. The Hendrix Gallery at the RnRHofF is pretty moving. Let's just say looking at his drawings started the waterworks. I'm a sap that way!
Chicken Maan: You can blame my sentence syntax -- I wasn't suggesting we (as travellers) could carry a gun into the States, just that you definitely can't take fruit. (Though the right people with the right permit probably could take guns, I suppose). You can legally have registered fire arms in Canada. I'm not the right person to know the intricacies, not being up on my gun laws and all. And I do understand why you can't take fruit en masse across borders. It's kind of a inside joke since I had my orange confiscated once!
AKA: It'd be more like ... hand over the pear. See final sentence in my response to Chicken Man. :)
A lovely serendipitous trip.
Sounds like a great show ~ was there a Mary Travers exhibit ?
BTW, Eight O'Five Jive sounds really cool.
Yes, enjoy that Olive Garden.
R♥
It sounds like you had a great time with your daughter. Looking forward to Part Two. Also much thanks for Grace, Annie, and Eight O'Five Jive, who I enjoyed.
Fernsy: Yes, take no hostages but my innocent fellow Jack has been pulled into Customs a few times. Never when I was with him though. They're askeered of me. :)
Crankster: Janis's Porsche is still there just not in the lobby. It's near Elvis's Cadillac. :) Still, I regret not getting a pic of JJ's Jag ...
Btw, there is a pic of Janis's car at the end my Nashville post. Yes, Eight O'Five Jive is a classy act. Thanks for checking it out.
Bleue: There may not be too much on the web since the exhibit was over this past Sunday the 26th which was why we had to get there before it was finished. Otherwise, Ohio in Feb. would not be in my travel plans either. Yes, may the Gods smile on us all. Sounds like you might have some travels plans in the future... and that is good!
Erika: Yes, now that OS is back in working order I can finish this up ... thanks!
Owl: Lovely to see you. You've been MIA. Hope all is well.
BO: Here's the thing ... you could take pics at the Country Music Museum Hall but not the R 'n' Roll. That strikes me as funny!
Lisa schmoopie: Special Grateful Dead Show is coming up and the permanent collection steady eddy. Women Who Rock exhibit is over - I might add - it took them long enough to get one!
Rita! Thanks. Thought of you driving thru Penn. although I know you're way on the other side.
Kim: I think there was something from Mary Travers -- some hand-written lyrics or clothing but I then again maybe I was dreaming. There are SO many artifacts, it's somewhat overwhelming. I do know Peter, Paul and Mary are Hall of Fame inductees.
Catch 22 - You're so patient a poet. Can you send some my way? I have little patience though I'm tested on a regular basis. No guilt, yes that's the spirit and the key.
Belle: Can't say I've ever been to the Olive Garden. Are there olives trees? If so I'm on my way!!
Maybe it was the plethora of architectural gems that dot Buffalo city proper that held your attention. This past November, Buffalo hosted the National Preservation Conference. 4,000 architectural preservationists from the US and abroad traveled hear to tour and marvel at the unique and important buildings and structures that make our city a desirable travel destination.
Our City Hall, for one, is an Art Deco building that was completed in 1931 by Dietel, Wade & Jones. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
You seem to see the world through an artists eye, that's why I suspect our city captured your attention..
Lovely essay. R
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Inspired by Linda S.
Various Artists: I always love being read by a music lover such as yourself. I get to watch the videos with you -- kind of. I think there will be more of those in Part 2. And oh, the border crossing, you know that one too. And the Albright-Knox ...Cheers!
Firechick: Yes, a fun place indeed! Janis's porsche is still there though just not in the lobby. Check my comment to Cranky. Thanks for coming by.
Asia rein: Yes, sleeping girl in purple hoodie. Do they realize how beautiful they are? ... Especially when they're asleep. :)
Luminous: Cleveland has some great public art; a Claes Oldenburg right near the Hall and some great memorials and statuaries. You & the Ms. should go sometime!
Margaret: Ha. During dinner I imagined our [imagined] conversation. Is that weird? Anyhoo, I'll be good to Cleveland; it was good to us. I'll give NF 's the word you're coming! They'll light up the Falls at night for you.:)
icyhighs: Nice to meet you. I've done a few mother-daughter road trips and can never do them justice but wrote this out while I could. Hope there are some travelogues from you in the future.
Algis: I remember your post about mentor Bernice Abbott. I'll be googling more about her. Thanks for the invite to your show ... in Turkey!
R
But, we wish that you Canadians would stop putting your crappy coins in our vending machines.
I mean what are those dimes made of, aluminum?
.
BTW, I love coming across OS'rs that live in my region!!
most importantly...also the somewhat superior attitude
you seem to have to us dumb Americans...which i share...
(what, do they only hire irony-deficient dullards for borderwork?)
and the travelogue, which you ought to write more of,
in the great tradition of...you know, those great writers
who wrote travelogues...which were eagerly read by
agoraphobic-spectrum folks like me
(i have just made agoraphobia a spectrum,
but that isnt big news, cuz everything is a damn spectrum,
including, ha, 'spectrums'...)
Women who rock, hm? I enjoy Grace Slick from way back.
Also of course Janis, but Joan intimidated me as
an 80's teenager, so i never went back to her,
which i should i guess...oh but stevie nicks...wowsy dowsy...'sarah'.
Damn buttons.
Sounds like a wonderful bonding trip, made better by the presence of comfy pillows (and two discounts). What's not to love??
Small world!
:^)