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

Dear Family and Friends

I am ok; my family is ok; and I’m hoping that you, too, are all ok.  While this year was not yet “normal,” due to the coronavirus and its variants, 2021 certainly was different from 2020.  It took us most of this year, however, to feel comfortable enough to enter a restaurant.  We still wear our masks when indoors in public places, because although we’ve been vaccinated and boosted, we have 3-yr-old Ozzie to protect.  As I write this, the number of hospitalizations in the UP due to covid continue to set records for 2021.

Looking back at New Year’s Eve 2020, I think everyone was ready to say good riddance to that tragic, chaotic, stressful year.  I know we were.  But 2020 had one more big surprise: Scotti was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  Of course we were shocked.  But it was New Year’s Eve; Scotti suggested we all get dressed up and have a party. She did our makeup, everyone dressed in fancy clothes, we ate good food, drank champagne, and sang karaoke in her living room. (This pic was taken that night).  A fitting end to the heartbreaking year 2020.

During the spring, Scotti underwent many tests at the University of Michigan hospital; the final diagnosis was an acoustic neuroma.  The 12-hour surgery happened in July, and the doctors felt strongly that most, if not all, of the tumor was removed.  I stayed at the hospital’s hotel, and was able to see Scotti in the ICU after her surgery.   She was awake and animated (obviously on good meds), entertaining the nurse with a story about a dream she had, insisting that she was, “so funny!  I’m really so funny!” After I had gone to bed that night, Scotti called. She needed her phone so she could put on white noise to sleep.  Like any good mom, I got dressed and walked her phone back to her.  It’s a long walk.  In fact, during my stay, I averaged 18,000 steps per day, going back and forth to her room. 

Because of covid, only one person per day was allowed to be with a patient, so Zack and I took turns for the five days she was in the hospital.  After her release, my sole job was to help Scotti keep track and take the many meds that were prescribed (31 pills that first day).  Zack and family helped care for Greenlea and Ozzie so Scotti could get her rest.  Ozzie, not quite three, was a little wary of mom at first.  Too many bandages.  When the largest bandages came off, he was able to give his mom the biggest hug.  I’m still so thankful for all the help she and Zack received from family and friends who flew in, drove down, or simply sent encouraging messages for the three weeks she needed to be in Ann Arbor. 

It was a frightening time—a serious surgery, but Scotti has come through this so well.  Although her face is still not where it should be—some doctors say it takes three months; others, one year—it’s coming.   She’s healthy and stronger each day as she deals with some of the side effects of this surgery.

In case you know someone who could benefit from reading about Scotti’s experience, go to themomedit.com and search for Scotti Acoustic Neuroma, and her post in her own words will pop up.  She read about the experience of others before her surgery; I’m sure her post will be of help as well.

Shana and Mike are getting ready to move from having children in elementary school to high school next year.  Big changes. They bought a house in Vermont that they’re using as an Airbnb when not using it for themselves.  The boys are on a ski team at the Stowe ski resort from January through March.  Because Shana and Mike can both work from home, the boys will attend school in Morristown for those three months and then return to Philly.  I get to see their new house as I’m flying to Vermont on the 21^st to join them for Christmas. So excited.  I know that Pax is eagerly awaiting my arrival.  We have a bet that he will be taller than me by Christmas.  In 2020 Raines and I would go back to back, and I would stretch up as tall as my short stature allowed.  As you can see in the photo, like the Grinch, he grew “three sizes one day.”  Now Pax is gunning for me.  We last measured in October (when we were all together in Philly for a special friend’s wedding).  We will see. 

Greenlea is back in school so we have to be more creative in getting some time together.  Sleepovers have helped.  We usually have popcorn and watch a movie and in the morning we make pancakes.  Greenlea delivers the extra ones to my next door neighbor.  I love the fuss he makes over her and the pancakes.  I get to spend time with Ozzie two afternoons a week as he attends preschool the other three.  We enjoy lunch, play with toys, read books, and play hide and seek. During one game of hide and seek, I was hiding in my closet, but he wouldn’t open the door (even when slightly ajar).  So I would open the door slowly and softly whisper, “Boo.”  I think it scared him, because when it was my turn to hide again, he told me, “Nana, you hide, I count.  And, Nana, no boo!  Diz hide and seek!”

Our US/Canadian border didn’t reopen until the beginning of November so we didn’t get to see Adam or Krysta.  But they’re coming here next July!  In the meantime, we continue to see them on our family Zoom calls.  Zach is a sophomore in college and Jakob has started his first year of law school in Victoria.  They’ll be so glad to have the boys home for the holidays.

It will be four years in January since Bill passed.  Sometimes it feels like yesterday.  I miss him terribly, but I remind myself how lucky I was to have had him for almost 45 years.  I am so thankful for the blessings in my life, the precious connections that I have, and the love of family and friends.  Wishing you a Merry Christmas and hoping you enjoy the gift of time with your loved ones.

Love, Tina (& Bill in spirit)

PS:  A Greenlea story from when we attended the wedding of one of Shana’s best friends, whom we all love. 

Greenlea:  Where are those people going? 

Nana:  They are going up for communion.  Like we do at our church–to have some bread and wine.

Greenlea: Why aren’t we going up? 

Nana:  Because we’re not catholic.

Greenlea:  Oh, Nana, I would give anything to be a catholic so I could get some of that food.

Dear Family and Friends

As years go, 2020 started out pretty well.    I went to pilates, P.E.O. meetings, Bunco games—the normal stuff.  I walked in the Dome, had my nails and hair done.  Went to church on Sundays.  I took Greenlea to school once or twice a week and I babysat for Ozzie often.   Scotti and I had a standing weekly date at the Delft to have a quick bite with Greenlea before her dance lesson.  Yup, normal.  But then the news reported the United States’ first case of coronavirus on January 21, and the World Health Organization declared a global emergency at the end of January.  These were our first signs that things were about to change.

Still, February brought more normal events:  Shana and family were here for the UP 200 Sled Dog race.  Ozzie and I went to the Wonder Babies program at the library once a week.   I had breakfast, lunch and dinner dates with friends.  But by the end of February, the US cases numbered 60; we had our first case of community spread and our death toll was one. 

In March, the wind shifted quickly.   I had been planning to fly to Arizona for two weeks, but was starting to get nervous about going.  There was so much in the news about COVID-19.  We were given daily reports of the number of new cases and deaths worldwide.  I was shaken when I heard the news about the lockdown in Italy and then again when Mike called a few days later, “Hell, no, Mom; you’re not flying to Arizona,” he said.  (Mike and his team had been working around the clock, developing a tool to be used for hospital capacity planning for COVID-19—forgive me, I’m sure I’m being too simplistic.)  But Mike knew.

Seemingly overnight, everything changed.  Once Michigan schools closed, everything closed. No meetings, library, church, restaurants, Bunco, hair, nails, etc.  Only my ultrasound at the hospital was still on, but going there—with all the new protocols in place—was scary.  And, well, we all know the rest of this story, don’t we?  Greenlea now calls the time before the pandemic, the “good old days.”  (Greenlea also told me, “I can say ‘poop poop poop,’ anytime I want except in church.”  And she also recently remarked, “So, Nana, I hear you color your hair.”  But I digress.)

It’s tough to find a 2020 highlight among all the overwhelming sadness.  No big trips, no large parties, no larger than life events, but there were many little things for which we were grateful:  like our camp; it was a safe refuge for all of us.  The fourth of July found us standing in Lake Independence (so warm) close to the dropoff watching the parade of boats go by.  As we cheered and waved hello to each boat (social distancing in place), we couldn’t help but feel we had the best seats in the house to a “real” 4^th of July parade.  We grilled that day and sat around a fire at night.  The bonus was seeing fireworks that night from a few places around the lake.  A parade and fireworks on the fourth this year?  Priceless.

Shana and family came in July—driving nonstop from Philly until they reached the UP, and after they had self-quarantined, they joined us at camp for some of the hottest days of the summer. 

So I continue to wear my masks (I now have an assortment), wash my hands, social distance and Zoom and FaceTime with family and friends.  I do curbside pickup for groceries and take out.  It’s what everyone is calling the new normal.  I continue to babysit for Greenlea and Ozzie as my social bubble of 5 includes them.  And for that I am so thankful, so blessed.  We will sometimes have dinner together at Scotti’s and for a change of pace, they’ll come to my apartment.  The Canadian border is still closed, but I’m looking forward to seeing Adam and Krysta sometime in 2021.  Jakob and Zachary are both in college and will be home for the holidays.  I think Adam said Zachary will be home in time for our next Zoom meeting. 

Best news:  Shana and family are here for the month of December.  They quarantined for 3 weeks before arriving here, and they’ve rented a lovely place across from the Ore Dock.  Mike and Shana both work remotely and Raines and Pax are doing virtual schooling.  So being here works for them and us.  Of course, they’re hoping for snow.

I don’t know what 2021 will bring, but I am hopeful that it will be better than 2020.  This past year has been an especially painful one for the United States—on many levels.  Selfishly, I had wished that Willie were still here—someone to take care of, to chat with, to love and hug.  I know how difficult it would have been for him with all of his doctor appointments, but you know, the heart wants what it wants.  The missing will never go away, and I’m ok with that.  Virtual hugs have become the norm for some of us, but if you have your loved one with you, please give her/him a big hug for me and Willie.   I pray to God this is the last time I will need to end my newsletter with these words:  Please stay safe, wear your mask and wash your hands.   

Wishing you a blessed Christmas.  I truly hope that you and your family are indeed safe, and that you are able to enjoy the gift of time with your loving family—in whatever form that takes this year.  Big virtual and loving hugs, ♥️  Tina

Dear Family and Friends

The last time I wrote a letter like this was the Christmas of 2017 before Bill left us in January 2018.  I thought about skipping this year (so overwhelming), but I’ve been writing one since 1983.  I love Christmas and everything about it, but many things now make me sad.  I thought my second Christmas without Bill would be better.  But as Dr. Phil says, “time heals nothing.”  I’m accepting as best I can the sadness that surrounds me while enjoying the joys my family and friends bring me—for there are many.  Thank you for your comforting notes, cards, and letters over these past two years.

Spending time at camp is one of those joys.  Camp can sometimes be my quiet time with my grandkitty Leo or a fun, happy time with lots of family and friends enjoying the water and sunshine.  With lots of help, camp upkeep gets done, starting in May.  As the days get shorter and darker, it’s time to close up and move back to the apartment, where I won’t have to shovel snow.   I’m not sure whether I will head to Lake Havasu City for February or March.  Rentals are hard to find when you want just a month or two.  I will enjoy some time in Sun City with Janice and Patrick.  There’s plenty to do in Marquette over the winter, and there’s nothing better than watching a blizzard from my third-floor balcony.

Adam and Krysta are enjoying life in Calgary but are already imagining their empty nest when Zachary (17) starts college next fall.  Their oldest, Jakob, is in his junior year at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, majoring in history.   I last saw Zachary and Jakob when we all traveled to East Berlin and Athens in August 2018.  Thanks to Krysta’s advance planning and tenacity, I got on the plane, albeit reluctantly, and proceeded to have an experience of a lifetime.  Shana’s entire family and I were in East Berlin for almost a week without luggage, but Krysta to the rescue with dresses for us to wear.  We walked to the Berlin Wall Memorial and to the Prater Garten, the oldest beer garden in East Berlin.  We took the U-Bahn to museums, the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, the powerful Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Germany among so many other sites.  One trip on the U-Bahn was especially memorable.  As the train was nearing our stop, it slowed down but didn’t stop to let us off.  An announcement in German came on, and we heard audible gasps.  A passenger must have seen our confused faces for she told us in English that our train couldn’t stop because of a bomb threat.  I more fondly recall enjoying our morning coffee and croissants on our hotel’s sidewalk café and watching the German people ride their bikes or walk to work.  It was hot!  90s as I remember.  On our final day in Berlin the last of our suitcases arrived just hours before our flight to Athens.

It’s hard to put into words the trip to Athens.  It was hot, but the history, the buildings, the food– all so incredible.  We stayed at The New Hotel, which was modern and beautiful.  We walked just about everywhere.  We had rooftop happy hours and dinners at our hotel after we had spent the day experiencing all that we could.  We did a mythology highlights walk and a tour of the Acropolis Museum.  We walked the grounds of the Acropolis and marveled at the Parthenon and visited other sites like the Temple of Olympian Zeus.  Mike’s most eagerly anticipated site was walking around the ancient agora in Athens to find the site marked “House of Simon,” where the philosopher Socrates spent a great deal of his time.  We were all excited at having found this ancient site.  And, of course, the food in Athens was exactly what you would expect:  incredibly tasty, fresh, and reasonably priced.  Adam found a tucked-away garden restaurant, Ama Lechei at Nefeli’s, and we savored the many small plates we all shared.  It was so good, we went back!

I returned from Athens while the family spent another week on a boat touring the islands off Turkey.  (I’m laughing at the word “boat.”  Both the boat and their week on it was unbelievable.)    I flew 13 hours back to Toronto and was to connect there for my flight home.  But sometimes flights get delayed or canceled and sometimes you can’t get another flight for a couple of days and sometimes you have to go through customs twice and sometimes you’re walking around like a zombie because you haven’t slept in 24 hours.  So, yes, at Canada’s largest and busiest airport, all of those things happened.  I was like a chicken with my head off until Scotti helped navigate that huge airport with me via phone.  Something serendipitous was certainly afoot.  With the help of Facebook, iPhones, and who knows what J, I flew to Winnipeg and stayed with our good friends, Al and Arlene Schick.  The next day, Bill’s sister Janice and Patrick picked me up.  They had been in Winnipeg for a reunion, and they were driving down to visit me anyway.  We had two extra days together!

Just this past summer, Shana and Mike celebrated their 20th anniversary with a lovely party in Philly.  We all flew in for the special occasion, got all gussied up and watched as Mike & Shana had a super sweet vow renewal with Raines, Pax and their friends’ children as the bridal party.  In fact, their friends planned the party for them—decorations, food, music.  Shana wore a super fancy dress that Scotti found for her, and we danced and ate fabulous food for the rest of the evening.  Shana wrote on themomedit.com:      “… our families flew in, and it was literally just perfect.”  And it was.

Raines is turning 12 in January and Pax just turned 9.  They are both avid skiers and on ski teams.  We all flew to Philly just a week ago for a quick trip for work and to see the Christmas lights.  Lucky us, they join us on December 19 for Christmas in Marquette.

Greenlea (age 5 and in Kindergarten) just completed five performances of the youth theatre production of Frozen at NMU.  Scotti and I attended four of them!  She was one of the little townspeople and as cute as you can imagine (the young talent in Marquette is amazing).  Even her brother Ozzie (15 months) attended one.  He certainly loves his Nana and laughs at my being silly with him.  Everyone says he looks just like Scotti and/or Bill, which I love to hear.  Scotti works for Shana’s blog, along with 8 other contributors, but I happen to know that Scotti is the best writer.  J   Zack is now a stay-at-home Dad, which is working out so well.  I often watch Ozzie so Zack can get some work done.

There are any number of events that I could write about, but I would rather ask that you give your love a big hug for me because I truly wish for you to cherish the time you have with your family, with each other.  Such a simple thing.  But it’s the simple things I miss the most.  The shared laughter, the “I can’t wait to get home to share this story with him” moments, the loving look in his eyes, his quiet breathing at night.  Some friends want to know if it’s getting better.  I still have that “kicked in the gut” feeling whenever I think about him.  But perhaps they’re really asking if my life is getting better.  Life is different, and I can honestly say that the ability to see, feel and enjoy the blessings and joy in my life is getting better.  I’m so grateful to be here, to be spending time with my family and friends. The missing him will never go away.   I wish he were here to enjoy his children and grandchildren; he would be so proud of Adam, Shana, and Scotti as the wonderful parents they have become.  So, at this very special time of the year, I remember the wonderful years we had and am thankful for the loving support and care of my family and friends.  Wishing you the gift of time with your loved ones.

 

Dear Family and Friends

In lieu of my annual Christmas letter, I am printing Willie’s writeup that appeared in The Mining Journal on February 1, 2018.  Shana and Scotti wrote most of this obituary, and it’s a wonderful reminder for me of all that he was.  I hope it is for you, too.    May you all enjoy the gift of time with your loved ones this holiday season, for what a gift it is.

Love, Tina

MARQUETTE, MI:  William Ostwald, fomer hockey player and retired Marquette Area Public Schools administrator (affectionately known as Dr. O.) died peacefully at his home on January 29, 2018, at the age of 73 in the loving care of his wife and family.

 

 

 

Bill was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on April 11, 1944, to Margaret (Kerr) and Henry Ostwald.  He dropped out of high school in his senior year to play professional hockey, moving to the United States in the process.  After signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and later playing for the Johnstown Jets, Bill moved to Marquette to play for the Marquette Iron Rangers. Despite his lack of a high school diploma, he graduated from Northern Michigan University with a BA in Social Work/Psychology.  During his early years in Marquette, he served as Jr. Hockey Director, Probation Officer, and coach of a Bantam hockey team, which won two Michigan State Championships.  In 1972 he earned a Master’s Degree in Guidance & Counseling and became a counselor for the Marquette Area Public Schools in 1975.  He was promoted to assistant principal in 1982 and finally became the Principal of Graveraet Middle School in 1989.  It was this last position, as Principal of Graveraet, that he was nominated by his staff and received the U.P. Middle School Administrator of the Year, an award for which he was extremely proud.  He always commented that he had the best teachers in his school.  

While working for Marquette Area Public Schools, Bill earned a specialist degree in educational administration from NMU, and a Ph.D. from Michigan State University.  Upon his retirement from Marquette Area Public Schools, his staff surprised him with his one missing degree:  a high school diploma from Silver Heights Collegiate in Winnipeg, class of 2003.

After he retired from Graveraet, Bill was an adjunct professor and student teacher supervisor at Northern Michigan University and an advisor/consultant to the Middle School in Hancock until being diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia.

Bill has often been described as being ‘larger than life’, and he is considered by many to be a Marquette icon.  As a hockey player, he was known for playing a smart but tough game (he never lost a fight on the ice) and as an administrator, he was known for being fair and firm.  Bill was a charismatic leader, a visionary, and the kind of guy who would always stop to hold open a door, or to help someone across the street.  He was unimpressed by money or prestige, treating everyone with respect. 

The love of Bill’s life was his wife, Tina.  They were married on March 30, 1973, when he popped into her office and asked, “Wanna get married?”  They married on their lunchbreak, and returned to the NMU Vocational Center (where they were both teaching at the time) for a meeting with big grins on their faces.  They were both very social, always up for adventure, and made the most of their almost 45 years together.  Bill and Tina spent time in Ethiopia as part of the Peace Corps (during the military coup that overthrew Haile Selassie), spent summers traveling out west with their children, and were always religious about their date nights. 

Bill enjoyed time with his family and friends at the camp that he built with his son Adam and brother-in-law Tim on Lake Independence.  Bill loved teasing, practical jokes, waterskiing and anything that he could turn into a competition (which was basically everything).   It’s rumored that he would sneak down in the dark of night, armed with a water gun, and wreak havoc on his children’s campfire attempts.

He will be missed for his kindness, his compassion, his keen intelligence and wit, and for his zest to live life to the fullest. 

Bill was preceded in death by his parents Henry (Ozzie) and Margaret Ostwald.

He is survived by his wife, Tina, of almost 45 years; by his three children, Adam (Krysta) Ostwald of Calgary, Alberta; Shana (Mike) Draugelis of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Scotti (Zachary) Oja of Marquette; sisters Donna Shaw of Vancouver, British Columbia and Janice (Patrick) Ross of Nanaimo, British Columbia; brothers Gary (Connie) of Denver, Colorado, and Robert (Anne) of Port Alberni, British Columbia.  In addition, he will be missed by four grandsons, Jakob and Zachary Ostwald, Raines and Pax Draugelis; and by his granddaughter, Greenlea Oja.  (Tina’s note:  Scotti shared that she was going to have a baby on January 1, so her dad knew she was having a baby; he just didn’t know that he would be a boy and that his name would be his nickname:  Ozzie James Oja.) 

The family will receive relatives and friends on Friday, February 2, 2018, at Swanson Funeral home from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. followed by a champagne toast and celebration.  A Funeral service officiated by Kevin Thew Forester will be held at St. Paul Episcopal Church, Saturday, February 3, 2018, from 11:00 a.m. -12 p.m. with a visitation hour before the service starting at 10 a.m.  Pallbearers will be his son Adam, sons-in-law Mike Draugelis and Zachary Oja, Friends Jim Golden, Steve Lindberg, Sam Oslund, Jim Schneider, and Mike Woodard. (The kindness and support of these men over the last ten years, as Bill fought the decline of Lewy Body Dementia, is appreciated beyond words.)

In lieu of flowers, donations to the William Ostwald Scholarship Fund may be made.  Please make checks out to Marquette Area Public Schools Education Foundation.   If making donations online, please specify in the notes the William Ostwald Scholarship.

The Swanson Funeral home is serving the family where condolences may be expressed online at http://www.swansonlundquistfuneralhome.com

Here’s a favorite photo of mine from almost 20 years ago. 

Dear Family and Friends – still working on the photos–most are here.

This was a crazy year, right? You’ve seen what happened. Remember this line early in the year from Saturday Night Live: “I want one day without a CNN alert that doesn’t scare the hell out of me.” Well, we know these alerts just keep coming. Thank goodness for the comic relief from the likes of Stephen Colbert and SNL. I’m hoping that our president either learns to laugh at himself or resigns.   But this newsletter is not about the instability and unpredictability of our president. So I promise to talk not about the craziness that we see in Washington, because our year was just a little crazy, too.

The craziness started at camp—lots of changes all under the guise of making life easier for Bill with the added bonus of making it easier for me, too. Adam had always suggested moving the entrance from the side to the back. The side door cut right through my tiny kitchen (this year, the photos below tell it all!). Since the door was between the stove and the sink, I had no counter space. It’s camp, right? But with the encouragement of our friends, Bill finally said “ok, move the entrance.” Well, after that it was “Katy, bar the door,” and he knew it.

Our masterful son-in-law Zack, who had started his own business last year, was hired for these renovations, starting with the entrance. It made sense to build a deck first to provide firm footing before cutting into the house (I wonder whether he felt as a surgeon must feel before they make that first cut).

After the deck came the doors, and because the new entrance went through a bunkroom, that room needed to be repurposed. I looked on Pinterest for ideas. What I found were amazing mudrooms with laundry facilities and cabinets.   Hmmm. I’ve always hauled laundry from camp. Sometimes ten loads. Maybe a washer and dryer would be a good idea. After a bit of planning, we had the water tank moved to make room, changes were made to the electrical panel and a dedicated 240-volt circuit was installed. The washer and dryer were stacked, cabinets adorned the wall with a built-in bench for Bill to put on his shoes. To see how excited I was over my new washer and dryer, well . . . . it was embarrassing. But no more hauling laundry, right?   (Wrong, as I started hauling laundry the other way—from the apartment to camp. Crazy.)

 

 

 

After Zack added the extra cabinets and counter tops, my tiny kitchen was suddenly transformed. Mike, Zack and I were all happily preparing meals together. So it’s been quite an education into renovations and building materials—toekicks vs kickplates, cabinet screws.   Menards became my new favorite store.

Then came a new walkway. Zack knew the guy doing the masonry work on the camp next to ours, and would check on the price of having a walkway put it. A plain cement walkway was discussed with Zack’s friend—at a good price. Let’s do it. As we got closer to the date when the crew would arrive, I kept picturing a white cement sidewalk. Might look strange. A city sidewalk?   Maybe I should check Pinterest. Oh my! I saw images of beautiful walkways, with different colored cement, and interesting patterns. The night before the project began (and with lots of help from Jim & Ann Golden), I made a few changes. Let’s just say I’m thrilled with our new acorn colored, brick patterned walkway. And the price? Well as I said earlier, Katy, bar the door!

Although Adam didn’t get to Marquette to see the changes at camp, he, Krysta, Jakob and Zachary came to Lake Havasu. On our daily walks, Adam would watch his dad closely as Bill often walks very fast with his walker; it can get away from him as he finds it difficult to slow down and stop (festination). Anyway, I think Adam was a little nervous that his dad would fall on his watch so he kept telling him to slow down. At one point, we were all talking and Adam looked back at Krysta and me to say something, and Bill took off in a sprint. You can’t imagine our surprise; we all laughed as Adam ran to grab his dad. Bill was being impish and the boys loved it.

Now as I write this, I realize it will probably be the last time that Jakob (18) will make that trip. He’s now attending Queen’s University in Ottawa as a freshman. He’s doing well, and I think Adam and Krysta are adjusting. (Krysta said that Jakob’s excitement at being at Queen’s helped relieve some of her sadness at his leaving.) Zachary is a sophomore in high school and still does everything soccer—plays, coaches, refs. We didn’t make it to Calgary so we are hoping Adam will meet us once again in Lake Havasu. Is that a hint? I believe it is.

Shana and family have had a crazy year, too. They started the year off skiing in Breckenridge. A spring break trip to see Adam in Calgary had them skiing in the Canmore/Banff area as well. Raines (almost 10) and Pax (7) are great skiers and hip hop dancers. The family traveled to Cuba in March and to Iceland in September, visiting the Westman Islands, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Skogafoss Waterfalls and Reykjavik (I’ve checked my spelling on those!). Thank goodness they still had time to visit Marquette—twice.  Mother’s Day was extra special; we had a mother-daughters night out that included a photo shoot for her blog.

During their summer visit, we took in The Outback,

spent time at camp (we all took turns shooting the boys’ bows and arrows at a bull’s-eye tacked to a tree),

and went blueberry picking. The boys were thrilled with the blueberry crisp—so were we.

In one of Shana’s posts, she described how half a million people descended on Philly in July to watch the largest African-American street festival called Odunde.   They happened upon a hip hop/breakdance dance crew on their way home from the boys’ hip hop class. As they watched the dance battle, Pax (6) stepped into the circle. It took a few minutes for the crew to realize that he was serious – as Pax stood there, clenching his little fists to get ready—and then, they gave him the floor/street. Pax was on. You will need to see the photos. The facial expressions of the people watching are priceless.

Scotti, Zack, and Greenlea are still here in Marquette. Every time they head to Philly for a visit with Shana, I hold my breath expecting they will tell me they’ve found a home to rent by Shana’s. Zack is busy with his renovation business, and Scotti is booked with bridal makeup every weekend during the wedding season.  She writes for Shana’s blog and it’s become a full-time job for her with Zach often the photographer for her photo shoots.  This first set of photos was taken in January; the second set, in March!

They came to Lake Havasu for a week of swimming in the pool (Greenlea calls it Nana’s pool), and hanging out.

They’re so easy when they come. They just want r and r by the pool. They helped me get their dad to and from restaurants—it was a win for both of us.

Greenlea turned three in July and started nursery school this fall. She was so enjoying her school sessions every Tuesday and Thursday afternoons until one little boy pulled her hair. Poor sweetie. I babysit about three afternoons a week, and this year we’ve had three overnights together. She and I snuggle in our guest bedroom, which is the best, and we have blueberry pancakes in the morning. Today, she said, “Look at my hair, Nana. It’s a little bit beautiful.” Yes, it is!

We enjoyed our two months in Lake Havasu because of the family and friends we were able to see while there. We celebrated the birthdays of Bill’s sister Janice and brother Gary in Sun City.

We had a visit from Bill’s sister Donna; she and I floated in the pool for an hour every morning contemplating all manner of topics. The Yooper picnic, which boasts 300 Yoopers, was fun. The location of Lake Havasu (so close to Las Vegas) just makes it easier for family on the west coast to visit.

We considered not going to Lake Havasu this coming year, as it’s getting difficult for us to get anywhere. We especially missed our annual dinner at the Downs in Winnipeg. Arlene & Al Schick arrived here with Canadian goodies in tow, which helped to ease our sadness in not getting to Winnipeg as we have done every year since we’ve been together.

I planned a trip to Philly for the end of November, but I canceled at the last minute. Broke my heart, but many things are just getting more difficult to do. We still plan to make the trip to Lake Havasu for February and March, with a little help from our friends.   My thinking is that we can sit here in our apartment and watch the snow blow outside or we can sit on our balcony in Lake Havasu enjoying the 80-degree weather. Tough choice, I know.

Scotti wrote a lovely post for The Mom Edit, called “a love letter to mom.” She talked about the disease that her brilliant father has and used some precious and tender words to describe my daily caregiving of him, but what I liked best was her description of the joy that is still in my life. This joy comes in the form of my children and wonderful grandchildren, and for so many of you, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Joy is found in the wonderful support provided by family and friends. I’m so grateful for the help, encouragement, and support that is given so freely.

Because I can no longer leave Bill alone, my friend since high school, Mary, has joined Toni in helping me get out of the apartment to babysit, run errands, or attend my P.E.O. meetings. As I end 2017’s newsletter, we again wish you the gift of time with your family and friends and may you have a peaceful Christmas filled with the things that make you feel appreciated, loved, and comforted. Bless you for all that you do.

Love, Tina and Bill (Email: costwald@nmu.edu)

See below for Remembering, Rejoicing, Summer Photos, 

Remembering Karen Kunkel, whom we lost just a few weeks ago.  Karen was a professional baseball player, skier, and advocate for women’s sports; she brought olympic training to Northern and was the adviser to the film,”A League of Their Own.”  She will be remembered for all her amazing accomplishments.

 

Remembering Tom Baldini.  Our friend, Tom Baldini, currently serving as Marquette’s Mayor passed away on Tuesday, December 26.  Bill first met Tom when Tom was a social studies teacher and Bill was a counselor at Marquette Senior High School.  They served on the negotiating team together.  In 1983, Tom became the U.P. representative for Governor Jim Blanchard; Tom showed up at our house with the new van he would be using.  Governor Blanchard referred to Tom as the “Governor of the UP.”  We all did.  Tom was appointed chair of the International Joint Commission under President Clinton in 1998.  In 2003, he was appointed district director by U. S. Congressman Bart Stupak.  After retiring from federal service in 2010, he was elected to the Marquette City Commission in 2011 and again in 2014; he was elected Mayor in November.  Tom was also a part-time instructor in the Political Science Department at NMU and a member of the Michigan Tech. Board of Control (Gov. Jennifer Granholm appointment).  Tom passed away on the 6^th anniversary of MAPS Education Foundation’s Annual Holiday Homecoming party.  He helped get this event off the ground in 2011.

Remembering:   June Oslund, Jim Hendricks, Warner Peterson, Barry Kurcz, Rosie Meldrum, Lillian Johnson, Tom Cook, Joan Ericson.

Rejoicing:  Lena & Kevin’s daughter Frankie, Jan. 12.    Janine & Dylan’s marriage July 8.  Becca & John’s daughter Adla, Nov. 23.

Summer photos:

 

 

Memories of Mom when I make her rhubarb torte every year.  Chatting with Sharon and Mark Engle at the Outback.  Whitney, Tom and Vivian visiting camp with her dad, who is tough to get into a photo.  Woody is probably afraid it will end up here.

Amazing help at camp from the Goldens and the Oslunds.  Sam and Gay took down trees that were almost falling into the water.

Dear Family and Friends

Maybe it’s the lack of snow—we’ve had some unusually warm November weather—but I seem to be spinning my wheels a bit this year, struggling with what to write. 2016 was a good year. Sort of. Should I write about the summer Olympics in Brazil? The election of Donald Trump? The deaths of Muhammad Ali and Gordie Howe? And then it hits me. I want to write about Bill and tell you what’s happening with him.
I realize that I sometimes gloss over how he is. I have told you in a number of Christmas newsletter that he is fine, that he is doing well. Certainly when someone asks me in the grocery store how Bill is doing, I’ll say he is ok. And when he is with me, he is truly having one of those “good” days. But he and I both know that he is deteriorating (his word). His doctor at the Mayo Clinic says that he is now in the moderate to severe stage of his disease. So, I will not gloss over what is happening. Here’s what we know about his Lewy Body Dementia:
It’s the most common disease no one has ever heard of. Doctors know that LBD is extremely complicated, it’s often not caught or misdiagnosed and has no cure. Robin Williams was diagnosed with LBD only after his death. Just this year his wife said that it was a shame he didn’t know what he had; he simply thought he was losing his mind.
A person can be confused one moment and the next moment be lucid. At first when Bill was unable to understand something we had been discussing, I thought he was teasing me. But I’ve come to realize that this is the nature of the disease—moment by moment. When he senses himself not understanding something or he is confused, I know he finds it quite upsetting. We can spend only a few minutes trying to make sense of something; it’s simply too exhausting for him. And please don’t ask him to draw a clock or copy a box design. He watched as someone tried and failed to draw a clock for a neurologist on a TV drama, and he said, “There’s that damn clock. I know how that feels.”

Hallucinations start early in LBD. He sees things that are not there or he will misperceive objects. His nights are disrupted almost daily now; he sees people in our apartment, on our balcony or in our bedroom. A chimney may look like a person on a roof who is in danger of falling off. I reassure him that these things are not as he sees them, that we are safe. But they increase his anxiety, which is another major LBD symptom that presented itself early on in the disease. I wouldn’t think of leaving him at night but I can during the day for only an hour or two. If he falls in the apartment, he often can’t get up on his own so he worries when I’m not there. We’ve talked about his falls in my other newsletters and about his orthostatic hypotension. The meds to treat it work well until they don’t. We still deal with his blood pressure dropping so low that he feels faint or falls. So as you can imagine, getting out to restaurants for our Friday night date are getting more difficult for us. I’ve become more fearful of his falling because it still happens—at the grocery store, at his hair salon. As strong as I think I am, I cannot always hold him up until we can get inside the restaurant. We have a very strong son-in-law in Zack who has come to my rescue so many times as have our friends I have a handicap sticker, but he still needs to get to and from the car.

And, oh yes, I bought a wheelchair and a walker for him, but he doesn’t think he needs them, yet. He has reluctantly used his walker on the road out at camp. The road has no benches and so he sees the necessity. However, it’s been difficult to get him to use it walking at Northern’s Dome. Sometimes there just isn’t a bench when you need one. So last month I finally took the walker out of the backseat when we arrived at the Dome. He immediately told me to put it back in, “I’m not going to use it.” I quietly told him that was fine; that I would push it, and I did. I pushed the walker for a few minutes, and I urged him to give it a try. Reluctantly, he started using it by pushing it ahead of him and then walking up to it. Ok, whatever, I thought. But then he started having one of those dizzy spells. Only now I couldn’t get the walker out of his hands because he had a death grip on it, and I couldn’t turn him or it around so he could sit. I’m telling him to let go and of course he can’t; I knew he was going down and I couldn’t stop him. But at least this time he fell on top of the walker and didn’t hit the floor. It was a small victory, but an important one, as he will now use the walker at the Dome. The irony of progress. Sigh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So life with Lewy Body Dementia certainly has its challenges for him. Everyday tasks take time to get done and they exhaust him. I’ll try to run out for an errand while he naps. His executive functions are gone, but he is very aware of his difficulties and “worries” about what he is to do. Ever the administrator, he will summon every ounce of willpower to answer questions to other professionals in as thoughtful a manner as he can. It amazes me how well he does. But he will often sleep for hours after such an encounter. It breaks my heart.

His challenges, of course, have been my challenges. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that my life would take this turn. It has not been easy, but helping the love of my life along this unexpected path is what I choose to do. I have been blessed that our friends and family want to help me, and help me they do. I couldn’t keep up with repairs and chores at camp if it weren’t for our friends (especially Jim Golden). Our neighbors at our weekly gatherings here at Tourville are so supportive, and then there’s Toni. Feisty, adorable Toni. She was a caregiver before she became Bill’s Wednesday afternoon companion for almost two years now. She allows me to get out for an afternoon of guilt free babysitting, and she gets him out, too. He feels safe with her.
To say that our life has narrowed considerably would be an understatement. Lest you think there is no joy in his life, let me reassure you that it comes in the form of a 2-year old named Greenlea. When I bring Greenlea back here for a visit with her Bapa, she will waltz through our door, shouting “Bapa, Bapa.” And then she begins: “Bapa, I am a princess (she’s wearing her Sophia dress, carrying a wand and wearing a crown.)

Bapa, Calwee ate my cookie.” So many stories for Bapa.  I love bringing her back here to play with her toys, run the halls and climb the stairs. She is well known at Tourville and has her favorite neighbors to visit. She will tell you her name, and when her curls are complimented, she will tell you that they are “just like my Nana’s.” Ask her age. She says, “2, in July.” See what I mean? Joy!

Scotti loves being a stay-at-home mom, contributing to Shana’s fashion blog for moms (themomedit.com) and creating beautiful brides in her makeup business. Her collaborations with her sister took her to Philly for a photo shoot and to Texas for a bloggers style conference. They work hard and they work well together.

This year, Zack started his own business “Oja Renovations.”  He specializes in painting, drywall and interior finishing.  My camp finally got a badly needed coat of paint—the entire inside was done.  We have big plans for next summer at camp, but that’s next year’s news, right? They returned to Lake Havasu in March for a visit with us, and we are already planning this coming year’s visit. Lake Havasu provides a nice break for all of us from the wintry weather here in Marquette.

We flew out to see Shana and Mike in early November. We had just a week there, so Shana and I hit the ground running.  We walked the boys to school every morning and then ran errands, shopped, or grabbed coffee and goodies to bring back to Bill.

Their home, with its renovated kitchen, looks amazing and is near the heart of downtown Philly, a 15 minute walk to Rittenhouse Square.  We took a yoga class, ate lunch at my favorite restaurant, The Parc, and attended “This Is the Week That Is”—an election special put on by an all comedy theatre production. We belly laughed at their irreverent take on current news and the two presidential candidates. Before the show, we ate dinner next door at her friends’ home, who hosted probably 15 of us. (An easy walk for Bill.) Moving to downtown Philly was a good step for Shana and Mike. They are on the go with friends, photo shoots, and activities for or with the boys.

Shana’s fashion blog is doing really well; she added another contributor this year. Her blog had over 2 million hits this year. The big news for Mike is that an interview he did for the US News & World Report was published in the Sept. 23 edition. It’s an interesting article about predictive analytics and healthcare, and how he went from missile defense to medicine.

(They spent only a short time in Marquette this past summer because in August, they were all off to France for a week and then Barcelona where they shared housing with Adam and Krysta, who were arriving from a trip in Morocco. Amazing photos from all four places.)

Raines and Pax couldn’t get enough of camp this year, which of course we loved. We have great photos of them kayaking, swimming, paddle boarding, playing monopoly and, of course, playing with Greenlea. We will miss seeing the boys this Christmas.

Adam flew to Lake Havasu in early March for a short, but sweet visit with us, and this coming year he is bringing the entire family out. What a great treat that will be.

We finally got back to Calgary in July—the first time in three years, and Adam and Krysta had moved since we were there last. Part of the problem was the flight. It left here at 6 a.m. and didn’t arrive in Calgary until 11 p.m. Way too long a day for Bill. I wanted a 2-hr flight. All I had to do was drive us to Winnipeg and hop on a flight there, which is what we finally did. Easy. ☺  (This also gave us a chance to visit with the Schicks in Winnipeg and to attend our annual evening at the Downs with them.) In Calgary, we stayed close to home, walking the neighborhood, enjoying the meals that Adam cooked for us and having those great conversations with Adam and Krysta that come with simply being there.

We almost saw Zachary play soccer. By the time we drove to the game, it had been called because of lightning, which was too bad as Zachary is a phenomenal soccer player.

Jakob is a baseball player on an all-star team and is in his senior year. Hard to believe he will be off to college next year. Where did these years go?

And speaking of years going by, I attended my 50th class reunion this past October. What a hoot! I made the rounds at the mixer Friday night, and almost to a person, I had to look at her/his name tag. Oh and I’m not going to kid myself, they were looking at mine, too.

So once again, I am running out of space, but not out of appreciation, love and gratefulness for the joy in my life, and for the love, support and kindness of family and friends. You are not just important to us; you are everything.
Love, Tina and Bill (Email: costwald@nmu.edu)

PS:  Favorite photos from 2016:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Family and Friends
2015 began and ended with horrific news from Paris, a beloved city for many of us: Charlie Hebdo attack in January and the terrorist attack in November. President Hollande and President Obama met this week to discuss war against ISIS. War. I saw a cartoon recently: “My desire to be well informed is currently at odds with my desire to remain sane.” It’s too true to be funny though. The tragedies at home and around the world are reminders to count our own blessings. We all have “stuff” that we are dealing with, but they pale in comparison to the heartbreak we read about on a daily basis. These thoughts are swirling around in my mind as I begin writing.

So let me start with a topic that always brings a smile to my face: Grandchildren. One of those blessings for sure.  We had all five grandchildren together this past summer.

Jakob is 16 and a junior who loves baseball and skiing.  Zachary is 13 and in 8th grade; he is an avid soccer player and skier.

Raines turns 8 in January and Pax just turned 5. Both of them play soccer and will be skiing for the second year. The best thing was all four cousins were smitten with Greenlea, who turned one in July.

This summer visit with the whole family was certainly a highlight. Some days were spent enjoying Marquette and some, at camp. We attended the Blueberry Festival where we purchased amazing food truck tacos and ate them at the Ore Dock. We dined at the Stein Haus, which Adam declared was now his second favorite German restaurant—high praise indeed.

We spent one entire weekend at camp together. The fridge, cupboards and counters were full of food. My first thought was how are we ever going to eat all this food. Silly me. We had happy hours on the porch, the dock, and the deck. The Oslunds lent us their pontoon boat; the kids dove off the boat while Bill drove it, a rare treat for him. It’s not always easy to get our children and grandchildren together, but when it happens, it’s quite an event.

Shana and Mike moved into a lovely old rowhouse in downtown Philly in August.

They were in the middle of renovations when we visited; we cannot wait to see the finished kitchen. They love their new location; it’s within walking distance of the boys’ schools, favorite coffee shops, and restaurants.

Bill and I were in Philly for Halloween. While they went out trick or treating, Bill and I gave out candy—all three large bags. Halloween Heaven! Shana dressed the family this year as the Lannisters from Game of Thrones. They were spot on!

Mike was one of the keynote speakers at a big data conference in October. We’re all so proud of him. His topic was “Improving Medical Decision Making with Predictive Analytics on Big Data.” We watched him on our computer as he gave the speech live! (love technology).

Her entire family (which includes Scotti, Zack & Greenlea) grace the pages of her website in beautiful photos taken by Mike and others. Christmas will be spent with Mike’s family; they’ll arrive here December 28.

Scotti and Zack are into their second year as parents and making the necessary adjustments that a little toddler brings. Dinners at restaurants are a little more challenging as Greenlea is walking and likes nothing better than being able to “wok” whenever and wherever.

Scotti decided not to return to teaching this past fall so she could be home with Greenlea. She worked out of her home all summer and into the fall doing makeup for brides and bridal attendants. She was booked every weekend; sometimes doing makeup for as many as 13 women.

She continues to work on Shana’s blog, focusing on makeup trends and tips while also posting about fashion. Zack continues to hone his skills as a master craftsman. He is so good at what he does. Shana and I both love the shelving units he made for us; Zack says it’s a perk of having him for a son-in-law. Amen! Watching Greenlea grow up has been a joy. When Scotti needs time to work on her posts for The Mom Edit, I arrive at her door to play with Greenlea, and my heart just melts when she calls my name, “Nana!”

She calls Bill “Bop” for Bapa. She loves her Bop!

 

We read books, play with her toys and listen to “All the Single Ladies” at least twice. She sees my phone and immediately goes ”oh oh oh.” It was the only song I had on my phone, and we wanted to dance. What can I say? It’s so sad that Scotti & Zack no longer enjoy that song. The three of them flew out to Lake Havasu to spend a week with us during the two months we wintered there. They loved the lifestyle of swimming in the pool, happy hours at four, and walking to the many restaurants so much that they both declared they wanted to retire as well.

Lake Havasu was great. I didn’t whine once about the temps, which were often in the 90s. We flew out so we didn’t have a car, but Jim and Ann Golden made sure that we always had a ride and made their car available to us. It’s great to have such good friends who really made our experience there so wonderful.

The resort complex allowed me to leave our apartment for yoga or join the group for water aerobics knowing that Bill was safe and sound upstairs. When we joined the group for cocktails on the deck at four, he could choose to join us and/or leave when he wanted. We spent a few days with Bill’s sister Janice and Patrick in Sun City, and they joined us in Lake Havasu during Scotti and Zack’s visit.

Bill’s sister Donna and brother Robb visited for a few days as well. Lake Havasu is a U.P. destination as over 300 attended the Yooper picnic.

As many of you may already know, one of the side effects of Bill’s Lewy Body Dementia is really low blood pressure and dizzy spells. (On the upside, the man can have as much salt and caffeine as he wants. Doctor’s orders.) But from time-to-time, Bill will fall. So far he’s been pretty lucky and hasn’t broken anything, but I’ll admit it looks very dramatic to an outside observer. However, for us, it’s our reality. Never was this disparity more apparent than on our last flight back from Lake Havasu. The flight was fairly long, and when Bill stood up to let me out, he immediately fell backwards. Luckily, the two guys on either side of him had very quick reflexes and helped him back to his feet. Bill was fine (unless you count his wounded pride) – and as I mentioned before, this kind of thing is our daily reality. In any case, when I returned to my seat, there was zero chance that Bill was willing to stand up and let me back in. So I did what any self-respecting retiree would do: I crawled over his legs. Several minutes later a flight attendant came to check on Bill, wanting to make sure he was OK after his fall. Bill assured her that he was fine, and I explained (as best I could in the middle of a busy airplane) about Bill’s low blood pressure and Parkinsonisms, etc. Unfortunately, we made a tactical error because she ended up looking even more concerned and insisted that Bill have oxygen. We exchanged a glance – um. Okay. Fine. We agreed, and found ourselves sitting in first class! (Apologies to the woman booted out of her first class seat.) After 20 minutes, we return to our seats and all is well. However, the flight attendant is back again with a message from The Captain: he wants Bill to be checked out once we land in Chicago. Good grief. We go back and forth, but she is very firm. Once again Bill and I exchange glances and decide to go along. Our flight continues uneventfully, and just as we’re about to land, the Captain comes over the loudspeaker, “Sorry, folks. We have a medical emergency on board. Everyone is required to remain seated until the passenger is taken care of. Everyone must remain seated.” Bill and I look around, wondering who might be having the medical emergency. As I look around the plane filled with perfectly healthy people….my heart starts to sink. “Oh, no” I think. “They can’t possibly be talking about us.” Oh, yes. They were indeed. Upon landing in Chicago, four EMTs rush onto the plane, carrying a long, stiff board, intent on strapping Bill down. Bill took one look and politely told them where to stuff their board (j/k). They compromised by escorting him off the plane (but I don’t think his feet ever touched the ground). After all of this back-and-forth, the rest of us were finally allowed to disembark, but by now, many of the other passengers were at risk of missing their flights and it felt like chaos. I found myself wrestling our two suitcases from the overhead bin alone (Hey EMTS – a little help, here?), and when I finally found Bill, the EMTs were clustered around him, ready to embark on a little trip to the hospital. At this point, I had had enough. “This man, I said, “is fine. And he’s coming with me. We have a plane to catch!!” I’m sure they must have thought I was a very uncaring spouse, but enough is enough. They made me sign a document stating that we were “refusing medical treatment” (eyeroll) and they let us go on our merry way. Happily, we landed in Marquette without incident.

We made another trip to the Mayo Clinic this year to see a new neurologist that Bill really likes. Last year I spoke about a trip to the Mayo Clinic regarding a benign thyroid nodule that Bill had. I happened to read the doctor’s summary of that visit recently and came across this statement, “I have reviewed the news with Mr. Ostwald and his daughter.” Did I giggle? You bet. We do date night on Friday nights, which includes our friends and/or Scotti & Zack.

Bill did physical therapy for his back, which in turn helped his posture. We now do a series of exercises everyday that I swear help him in a number of ways—all that fresh blood getting circulated to the brain. The kids see him slowing down; I think I’m too close to him to see the kinds of changes they see. Or perhaps I don’t want to see them. He is here. We laugh together, we still dance to Unchained Melody whenever or wherever we hear it, and we enjoy our family and friends. And I thank God for our family and friends. To quote Michael J. Fox, “Family (and friends) is not an important thing; it’s everything.”

With tons of love, Tina and Bill

Here are some photos of special people, events, and memories from 2015; all in all a pretty good year!!

Remembering also: Sharon Bjork, Jim & Lois Godell, Booya Koski, Blayne Andresen, Buck Nystrom’s wife Joan, and Brett Lunney.