So suddenly I find myself, at age 42, getting married and becoming step-father to this beautiful 4 year old girl. While the concept of parenthood had been the farthest thing on my mind for most of my life, I suddenly found myself wanting to introduce her to so much that is wonderful…music, art, culture, volunteerism, and more.
Then I began looking around the city and realizing that my life going to the bars and restaurants would have to change. That the kinds of plays and concerts I attend won't work for a 4 year old. It was time to take a different look at our town…from a pre-schooler's point of view.
Growing up north of Cincinnati, coming to the big city was always a big deal. I remember driving down 75 and being awed by the tall buildings, the density of people and places, going the first time into Riverfront Stadium and seeing the greenest plastic I had ever seen. To this day, I catch myself occasionally wondering how it all has become so mundane to me. I rarely notice the buildings, even driving through the Cut in the Hill on a sunny day. It's just where I go to work and to look for entertainment.
Shortly after our wedding, I had the chance for a one-on-one date with my new step-daughter. Because of my association with the arts community, I knew about the Lollipop Concerts by the
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. I got about the last two tickets available for that concert (who knew there were so many kids around and so many parents who took them to concerts?) so we were in the last row of the gallery. She had never been in such a bustling place…huge lobby, lots of noise (because there were lots of kids), the Youth Symphony out in the lobby with instruments for the kids to touch and play. Then we walked in and I showed her the chandelier. I'd seen it plenty of times, and yes it is lovely…but the look on her face was completely enthralled by the size and the shimmer of it. I had never really looked at it that way.
Our next outing was to a
Cincinnati Children's Theatre production at the Taft Theater. While the physical building doesn't inspire the awe that Music Hall does, the lights, music, costumes and acting presented by Cincinnati Children's Theatre certainly inspired wide eyes, laughing and singing, and an enjoyable conversation after the show about our favorite parts.
Suddenly I found myself in a world of
Madcap Puppets,
Linton Chamber's Peanut Butter & Jam,
Behringer Crawford and
Cincinnati Museum Center holiday train exhibits. This town is full of amazing, intelligent, creative, interactive and (sneakily) educational opportunities that are NOT offensive to adults! Ever see the
Zoo through a child's eyes? Check it out…you learn a lot about the animals that you never knew (okay, perhaps not completely factual…but entertaining nonetheless!) Oh, and the rotunda of Union Terminal, where you can stand on opposite sides and hear each other talk…never ending fascination.
Of course, we wanted to expand her horizons, and this is where the free summer concerts and outstanding local music comes in handy. We couldn't take her to see our friends The Menus at the Blue Note, but on stage at Sawyer Point is a great time for all of us. The Mystics at Newport on the Levee, or the Northern Kentucky Brotherhood Singers in concert at The Carnegie. Sure, I know she'll eventually go ga-ga for the Jonas Brothers or some other packaged act, but it won't be before we expose her to plenty of other musical genres and performers.
I enjoy being able to expose her to so much in our area. She's also been to the Reds, Freedom and Swarm games…we go every year to
Summerfair (where she takes her saved allowance to buy some art)…she's been to concerts at Boone Woods Park as well as
The Lion King and
Stomp at the Aronoff…and of course, the Newport Aquarium, King's Island and Coney Island. I hope she sees this area as a great place to live, with plenty to do and a wealth of diversity. I hope she'll embrace Cincinnati as an interesting, challenging and engaging community.
Mostly, I want her to succeed and prosper…and take very good care of me in my golden years!