Friday, Jose and I went with our dear friend, Valerie Lockhart, and her two children, Jackson and Sophie, to visit Ohio Caverns, about 60 miles northeast of Dayton. Jackson and Sophie are both piano students of mine, and Jackson and Jose are both in the same grade.

When I was director of music at Faith In Christ Lutheran Church, I was good friends with the Post Family – Bill & Cindy, and their children, Stacey, Elaine and Simon – all grown up now. Cindy’s younger sister came to visit from Evansville, IN one August and brought her new baby boy – a firey red head named Jackson. About four years ago I received a call that the Lockharts had moved to Kettering and were looking for a piano teacher. Now, we live just a few blocks apart.

Yesterday, Valerie and I had a delightful visit while riding to Ohio Caverns, and of course, the three children were easily entertained, mostly Jose. If you have never been to the caverns (especially all your local Buckeyes), it is worth the drive just to see the beautiful rolling hills. I think Valerie and I could have just driven up there for that view. It was so refreshing.

Inside the cave, we began moving slowlly through the narrow pathway and stopped for the group to catch up so the tour guide could begin his dialogue. Now, I have a major phobia with bats. My birth father was terrified of them and this of course, was instilled in me. So, as we are standing there, the crowd began oohing and ahhing at a bat hanging about ten feet from where I was standing. Immediately my stomach was in my throat. As we walked through the cave, I thoroughly enjoyed the beauty, and was in awe that it had been formed over 800,000 years ago. Still, I kept a close eye on the ceiling and anything that happened to hang. At one point, after passing several more bats, a child asked the guide how the bats got into the cave – there was a little gap in the rear exit of the cave. WELL, FIX THE STUPID GAP!!! Everytime we would come to a bat, Valerie would turn and say, “It’s nothing. They are just looking at more crystals.”

Despite the guests who hang out in the cave, I strongly reccomend visiting the Ohio Caverns. Take a picnic lunch and enjoy the surrounding view of rolling hills and beautiful Ohio farmland.

For more information, please visit: http://cavern.com/ohiocaverns/