Dear Family and Friends
Another year has come and gone and what a year it has been. So many crazy, scary events in our world, and covid is still very much a part of our lives. But you and I are here. We get to welcome the holidays and hope for a better new year.

But speaking of covid, l spent last Christmas with Shana and family in Vermont—where Christmas magic abounds. I arrived with an extra suitcase full of Christmas cookies and chex mix. I would go on to make probably four additional batches of chex mix and more cookies. We took daily trips to Stowe to watch the boys ski and visited Woodstock where the local scenery looked like a Hallmark Christmas movie.

As I said, a magical place, and Vermont was supposedly the safest state in the nation for covid. We had worn our masks everywhere—or so we thought. You can imagine our surprise when we all fell victim to the Omicron variant on Jan 1. We had mostly cold like symptoms: fever, sore throats, headaches, and fatigue. But here’s the strangest thing: Scotti and family back in Marquette and Adam in Calgary all had it at the same time. With recent news about covid cases increasing, I’m glad I have my booster.

As much as I enjoy watching the Olympics any time, this year was especially exciting as I watched local (as in UP) snow boarder Nick Baumgartner at the age of 40 win gold at the Beijing winter Olympics in the mixed team snowboardcross. He made the rounds of every school showing off his medal, and he was celebrated wherever he went. This is my segue into Pax’s amazing achievement in the world of snowboarding—at least for this eleven-year-old. I loved watching him compete in his snowboarding events at Stowe—after I acclimated to the height. Mike, Shana and I had to hike up the hill to where the competition was taking place. The first time I turned around to look back down the hill, I thought for sure if I fell, I would simply roll all the way down the hill. But of course you wouldn’t, and I didn’t. Here’s the news: Pax qualified for USASA’s Snowboarding Nationals and competed at Copper Mountain in Colorado with Shana, Mike and Raines watching.

I was able to get out of Marquette in March to visit my sister (in-law) Janice and Patrick in Sun City.

Always so good to see them and to meet the many friends they’ve made during their winter stays. A favorite gathering we have had over the years in Arizona is a dinner with Bill’s cousins; he always enjoyed the laughter and story telling that would inevitably take place.

We took in the Chihuly exhibit at the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix—such a different setting among the saguaros. I first fell in love with Chihuly’s glass art after seeing his chandeliers at the Mayo Clinic. I remember it being so hot that day, but that’s why we head to Arizona in March!

My only other travel this year was a trip to North Carolina. Scotti and family were spending March through June in Carolina Beach, where they had enrolled Greenlea in the local elementary school. They left Marquette as soon as Greenlea was through with her five performances of Seussical at Northern; she had a speaking/singing role as little Kangaroo—such a great job.

So they were already well established in Carolina Beach when I arrived for my month stay at a condo just two blocks from their place. The weather was great. I joined in walking Greenlea to and from school every day, strolled the beach, enjoyed dinners and time spent with Scotti and family, and I so loved the famous Britts donuts (The line is always long, and they sell only one type of donut. But everyone is walking away with at least two bags.

Although I was having a good time, here’s the thing: My little Leo was at home struggling. Scotti’s Singapura cat since 2004 had officially become my ESA in 2020. Leo was curious, highly intelligent and loved attention. Even though Leo was officially on the books at Tourville Apartments, many residents in my building are opposed to pets so I kept Leo a secret except for three neighbors I trust. Leo, almost 18, had so many medical issues. While I stayed in NC, these loving individuals and friends agreed to feed, medicate and spend time with Leo. And if you know me, of course I had spreadsheets. Daily news about Leo was not good so after only ten days, I flew back. If Leo needed to be put to sleep, I didn’t want to put that burden on anyone else. With many visits and some amazing steroids, Leo’s vet was able to give Leo an extension.

For a while he was like a magic cat. For a while. Our vet Julie came to the apartment on July 22 and put Leo to sleep while Scotti and I bid farewell. Some might say he was just a cat. That he was, but he was a cat who greeted me every time I came home, cuddled in front of the tv and slept with me every night. I miss him.

Summer was a busy one for me and the kids. After two years of restricted traveling, it seemed the entire nation was ready to fly somewhere. But thousands of flights were canceled or delayed, plane crews and control towers were short staffed, and some flights—like out of Marquette–were completely eliminated. Adam and Krysta were to join us for five days over the fourth of July. Once their flight from Calgary to Chicago was changed, they could no longer make their flight into Marquette. And I know as hard as Krysta tried to get a flight, everything was booked. Marquette is a very popular destination all summer long, but especially for the July 4th weekend.

The best news is that the kids were all able to get together on a chartered Turkish gulet—essentially a sail boat that sleeps 12—and sail around the Mediterranean. Adam’s son had to back out due to work, so guess who the lucky person was who filled the spot? No, not me. Scotti! She couldn’t have been more thrilled. And if the pictures are any indication, the boat trip was beyond amazing. The photo above was taken then.

Shana and family are coming on the 22nd to spend Christmas in Marquette. (I’m baking up a storm, of course.) The other trip here was a long Labor Day weekend. Raines and Pax are involved in so many activities so I was thankful they could all get to camp to see the deck that Zack had spent over a month designing and building.

I think Bill would have loved what he’s done. I plan to post this newsletter and photos of Zack’s deck on billandtinaostwald.com.

I had a great visit from our friends from Winnipeg in late September—their first visit since 2019! Here’s a text I sent to Al Schick’s phone after we said our goodbyes from camp: “Arlene left her purse behind. I tried catching up with you but the police got me. I’m sitting on the side of the road waiting for the officer to run my license.” I won’t write how fast I was going, but the kind officer after hearing my story wrote the ticket for only 5 miles over. I was lucky and have vowed to drive slower, and I’ve kept that promise to myself. As I sit here writing my newsletter with a sprained ankle, I now have to vow to slow down as I walk. I think God is tapping me on my shoulder. Time to listen.

But it’s not always easy to listen. In a world that seems to be filled with pain, I think we have to be more understanding, to have patience and most of all to be kind, for everyone we meet is facing their own battle. I am thankful for the joyful things in my life. The big things are, of course, the love of my children and grandchildren, friends that I can count on, and my health. The small things like watching sunrises and thunder storms, feeding the birds and deer, working a Wordle puzzle, or driving Greenlea and Ozzie to school bring me enormous enjoyment. I pray that 2023 brings you peace and happiness and the gift of time with your loved ones.
Love, Tina