Steve's Ohio Family

Fred, Steve’s stepfather, passed away in 1989. Steve always considered Fred to be his "father" since he never actually lived with his real father.

Steve’s mother, Agnes, still lives in the same house in Springfield where they had moved in 1950 when his mother remarried. [Steve had taken this photo of his mother—as well as the one of Fred to the left—at Christmas in 1985.]

One of Steve’s favorite photos of his mother and Fred together was taken in his San Diego yard during 1983 when they visited. Steve has always remembered how Fred was TOTALLY impressed with the SIZE of the lemons growing on Steve’s tree!

I had taken Lena to Springfield in January, 2000, to meet my mother. While most people would probably not get too excited about seeing Ohio in JANUARY, Lena (being from Moscow) felt right at home being exposed to the snow and cold weather we had during our visit.

Steve LIKED this BOX of Russian candy---BOTH the COVER and the CONTENTS! Lena explains Russian chocolates to Mom and Aunt Mary...

Beef TONGUE is a FAVORITE dish...BOTH in Springfield, Ohio and in MOSCOW!

One of the things about Mom and (especially) Aunt Mary is both of them are able to laugh at themselves and not take things too seriously.

Mom’s kitchen is small by today’s standards, but it served her well in preparing meals for the three of us as I grew up—and she still does not have a garbage disposal!

Brother Dave gets dragged (kicking and screaming) into the 21st Century...and buys a computer!

Lena really loved seeing Cheryl’s collection of Longaberger baskets which she has gotten at various times over the years.

Brother Dave and his wife, Cheryl, treat us to STEAK. It’s NOT all just fish & chicken & salad in OHIO!

Both Steve's mother and his Aunt Mary enjoyed eating at Applebees.

Steve’s mother has always been kidded about having had a PIG as a PET when she was a child (and lived on the farm). Lena just could not resist giving her a stuffed memento of her “old friend” when we visited this time.

Bob Smith (a high school friend) and his wife, Carolyn, treated us to MORE STEAKS! Those people in Ohio certainly know how to EAT!

After dinner, we had gone to see Bob & Carolyn’s house and Steve had taken along his new digital camera. Bob took this photo of us on his couch—and it has turned out to be one of our most favorite pictures taken of us as a couple!

Mom enjoyed the Russian doll we had sent to her after visiting Moscow.

Having enjoyed going to Applebee's on my previous trip with Lena, Mom, and Aunt Mary, I went there again with Dave and Cheryl for another enjoyable meal.

Rather than go out for dinner during this visit, I decided to order Chinese food and bring it back to the house.

During my trip to Ohio in September of 2001, I decided to get a photo of Mom's house when the sun was out and there was no snow on the grass. [This is NOT usually possible when I visit Ohio during the winter—see the following photos taken on my next trip to Springfield 4-5 months later!]

Fortunately, I had picked up a Russian fur hat (while Lena and I were in Moscow during the previous summer) as a gift for my brother. Needless to say, I did not actually give Dave the fur hat until he dropped us off at the Columbus airport for our return flight to San Diego!

These Russian fur hats are rather unique in Springfield, Ohio, and everywhere we went around town, people would stop or pause to stare at us. Mom is wearing Lena's hat in this photo.

Aunt Mary also got a kick out of trying on the fur hats, but...