Farewell to Jeanne

For Jeanne Goemer, growing old was as unavoidable as it is for the rest of us. But "acting old" was an option. That's the way her family described her.

Jeanne Goemer hiking at Meeker County's Woodland Park.

Jeanne never wanted to act old. I cross country skied with her until she was 86 years old, and she rode horseback until she was 87. During the summer of 2010, when she was 87, I also went kayaking with her--although it was necessary for me to drag both of the kayaks back up the steep banks after we were done.

She was a stubborn and feisty woman.

As her county commissioner, I knew that a telephone call from Jeanne meant taking action of some kind.

Sometimes the action was pleasant: she wanted me to join her for a swim in Lake Manuella or to go skiing with her at Woodland Park. Perhaps she had an extra ticket to some cultural event and wanted me to go along.

But Jeanne had other, less pleasant, requests. She was often upset about something and wanted me to get after the county park director or the county highway engineer about a maintenance issue she had observed in one of the county parks or along a road right-of-way. Or she had an idea that I should bring up at an upcoming county board meeting.

Jeanne could be very firm about what she thought needed to be done. She was definitely a force to be reckoned with. Besides horseback riding, skiing, and kayaking, Jeanne was an avid gardener, kept a spotlessly clean house and sang in her church choir. A retired teacher, she was a lifelong learner and world traveler, seeking out educational forums, concerts and tours. She also kept young by cultivating friendships with younger people--I was not the only friend and companion who was 25 years or more her junior. She appeared to take a genuine interest in the hopes and dreams of young people.

Jeanne's one fault was that she lacked the ability to grow old gracefully. She so resisted aging--being in excellent physical condition--that she was unable to accept limitations that come to all of us as we grow older. She fought with family, friends and caregivers, insisting on doing things "her way."

On Saturday I attended Jeanne's memorial service. There were plenty of stories shared about this tireless community and church volunteer whose physical strength, at age 90, had finally failed.

Rest in peace, old friend.

Looking back

The Roman god Janus had two faces, one looking forward, the other backward as the new solar year began.

Likewise we humans tend to look back at the end of the year, to review the year's events and ascertain if any goals we set were accomplished, and to make new goals for the coming year.

Overlook of Sawtooth Mountains, between Ketchum-Sun Valley and Stanley, Idaho.

Highlights of the year were our July camping trip to Idaho and meeting Bob's Swedish 2nd cousin, Mats Jacobsson and his young son Victor, who visited us in August. Bob's other Jacobsson cousins put on a very fun family reunion in his honor, and we got re-acquainted with long-lost kin. While in Idaho, we camped in our old tent with our dog Oscar and found that, with a few minor adaptations, Bob is still able to tent camp after his successful 2011 back surgery.

Canoeing at the Jacobsson family reunion with cousin Mats on the North Fork of the Crow River.

There were also a few lesser, but still significant, events: canoeing the Crow River with my old junior high friend Connie Scott, helping a couple of friends with their political campaigns (one won and the other had fun trying) and working part-time at a local apple orchard this past fall. There were fun visits with grandchildren, get-togethers with friends and the satisfaction of helping a great many people get to their appointments through our county volunteer driver program. I even taught Vacation Bible School again for the first time since my kids were growing up. There is a full freezer and packed fruit cellar shelves to testify to the bounty of my garden.

A report from Bob's surgeon that his 2011 back surgery remains successful, and seeing him regain some of his old strength (although he will have life-long lifting restrictions) was another positive event. He was able to wean himself off a couple of medications which had undesirable side effects, so that was a plus as well. My health, too, received a good report when I passed a couple of diagnostic tests with good scores. As my doctor said, "Keep doing what you're doing."

In looking back, I see that I had a few goals that WERE completed: reading the King James Bible and completing a single-bed quilt for my youngest grandchild, who was outgrowing her crib.  I also planted 60 small trees in the yard and finished most (but not all) of my side-hill landscaping project.

Some of the other goals: well, not so good. There are a bunch of uncompleted projects around the place. The weight loss goal was not achieved. A few of the things I set out to accomplish did not take place.

There were also disappointments over which I had no control: the deaths of several friends and colleagues, disappointing political events and tragedies around the globe, part-time positions for which I applied but was not selected, things I did my best on which did not succeed.

One forgets how much of one's identity is wrapped up in whatever job one has. As a retiree, I am still sorting out exactly where I belong in the "big picture" of things. Sometimes it seems like the value of my volunteer work and the stuff I do around the house is not as significant as the things I did as a newspaper reporter or as a county commissioner.  But God's ways are not our ways. Pastor has been speaking the past couple of Sundays about the various gifts of the Holy Spirit and the parts of the Body of Christ. Each part is essential to the well being of all. We need to keep that in mind as we make plans for 2013.

Nobody is irreplaceable

Meeker Co Board 2010. Back: Jim Swenson, Wally Strand, Dave Gabrielson. Front: Ron Kutzke, Amy Wilde

Gotta admit that I'm pleased with most of the results of the 2012 elections.

Mitt Romney was not really on the Republicans' "A-team" (neither were the other major contenders--I mean, really--Michelle Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum and Donald Trump?) Romney's recent comments to his moneyed supporters clearly demonstrate that this candidate had little understanding or empathy for the way ordinary people live from day to day. His simplistic assumption that the Red States are the "makers" and the Blue States are the "takers" is a deluded fantasy not in touch with data on which states actually absorb more federal largess. He also attributes only to poor people the less-than-stellar motivation that supporting a particular political party will be better for your financial health. Another head-banger was Romney's suggestion that unemployed youth simply borrow money from their parents and start a business if they cannot find a job. (I and many other parents have no resources to "stake" our children! Fortunately, all four of mine found jobs.)

Candidate Nancy Larson in the Dassel parade.

In Minnesota, a 2010 rout of lawmakers perceived to be either liberal or too moderate (I was one of many defeated that year) was reversed, for the most part, in the Minnesota legislature. Seven of the ousted DFLers, plus some new recruits, are now among the renewed Dem majority in both houses. Yes, I supported an energetic 70-year-old in her failed pursuit of a House seat, but neither of us were surprised (or even disappointed) that our moderate Republican legislator will return to the state legislature in this conservative region. (He mainly needed a little pressure from the center instead of the far right this time around, we thought.)

Losing state candidates Schiroo, Campa and Larson with winning U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar at campaign stop in Stewart.

Congress? Well, more of the same ahead except that this time around, perhaps the President won't be so focused on his own re-election that he cannot reject the failed "trickle-down economics" schemes of his predecessor. At least we have one less war (and hopefully soon two less) to finance. Among Minnesota's delegation, Sen. Amy Klobuchar clobbered her far-right opponent, Kurt Bills, and I am fine with all but one of our state's congressional outcomes.

On the Dassel City Council, two micro-managers and a councilor with spotty attendance were replaced by a pair of smart, sharp female councilors and a seasoned local leader for mayor. All three have long histories of volunteer service to their community which demonstrate that they really care about their home town.

The Meeker County Board, on which I served for 14 years, experienced a complete turnover. Buyer's remorse may have contributed to the defeat (after only two years' service) of the not-too-bright ultra conservative who took me out in 2010. But the real culprit was redistricting: for the most part, the challengers were better located within their respective new districts than the incumbents. Three of the incumbents were also considerably older than the challengers and thus perceived as "good ol' boys" by constituents (many of whom were new to the incumbents due to redistricting) desiring a change. And, quite frankly, a couple of the incumbents had made strategic mistakes or failed to get to know their new constituents.

In the fifth district, a long-time incumbent who was in poor health chose not to run again. He was replaced by a sharp and popular retired community banker.

Minnesota Library Trustees & Advocates officers, 2012:
 Judy Schotzko, Amy Wilde, Lenore Johnson

In looking back at the county board race, I was surprised by only one outcome. The others had been anticipated. Why? Because, like it or not, none of us is irreplaceable. In nature, eventually the young bucks defeat the old bucks. Yet life goes on--indeed, replacing old blood with new is part of the process.

Sure, it felt good when one of the reporters who covered our meetings told me that I "was the best commissioner ever" in his many years of covering the county board. It was flattering to read, in the many cards and emails I received two years ago, that I would be greatly missed. I also have not minded the many, many telephone calls and emails I continue to receive seeking advice or informing me of some new happening on my old board. Two weeks ago I received yet another request to serve on an advisory committee--and I did not turn this one down--although I have cut back on participation in a few other groups. It is a privilege to still be of service to my community. This fall I was even reinstated as vice chair of the Minnesota Library Trustees & Advocates group, even as I am wrapping up my final year as chair of our regional library system.  This old gray mare may not be what she used to be, but she's not done yet.

A few weeks ago, a couple of my old opponents rudely messaged that they want me to "just go away." (When one has been in public service,  expect a few people to be downright cruel.) They apparently don't like the fact that I'm still active in community affairs and blogging. But I don't regard my lifetime 80% win-loss ratio as a failure. I refuse to regard myself as a loser. Doing the "necessary thing" is not always popular. Indeed, I have found a unique "fellowship of suffering" with my best friend in enduring unwarranted persecution. (My friend knows that--unlike Him--I've been justifiably punished in the past for NOT doing the right thing.) Someday those cruel detractors will stand before a greater power than any of us and either have repented and been forgiven, as I have, or suffer real defeat.

I look at other public servants who have retired--either voluntarily or involuntarily--and see that many have gone on to pursue other interests, other challenges--and a few of them, even other offices. A few become discouraged, but most continue to be involved.

A Bible reading this week brought me to Ezekiel 37--the Valley of the Dry Bones. (I remember my silver-haired daddy singing in his imperfect bass voice: "The head bone's connected to the neck bone, the neck bone's connected to the shoulder bone, the shoulder bone's connected to the arm bone…now hear the word of the Lord!") Is it possible, when others consider you dead and useless and that your life is over, that God has something more for you? Of course it is!

Although I rejoice with my colleagues who won their elections last week, and I pray for the future well-being of our state, county and nation, I also stand with those colleagues who suffered defeat. I feel their discouragement and disappointment. Especially to an incumbent, losing an election is akin to experiencing a death in the family. But I am not ashamed of their humiliation--because I know God has something more for them in the future, as He has for me. They just can't see it yet. Those dry bones will rise again. Have faith.

Encore Careers: worth waiting for?

Most retirees get involved in SOMETHING after they retire.

Their avocations may be volunteer work, or they may get paid for their time & effort. Or it may be a self-employment initiative for which they HOPE to get paid--eventually.

It may be related to something they did as a career during their pre-retirement days--or it may be something entirely different.

The buzz word for this is "encore careers."

In today's economy, interest income is lower than anticipated, so many retirees are seeking something that pays at least a little--to supplement their Social Security and/or pension checks.

Bob and I both engage in encore careers: Bob by running his art gallery, framing and digital printing business (plus managing some rental property) and me through my hodge-podge enterprise, Amy Wilde Connections.

Since neither of these  encore enterprises brings in a whole lot of profit, I also do a little part-time work. It's kind of my "grandchild, entertainment and travel money."

This fall I'm working a few afternoons each week at the local apple orchard--mostly in the orchard's warehouse and retail shop. Customer service is, well, customer service--no matter what you're selling. I hope to put the money I'm earning toward Christmas shopping--and some overdue dental work.

Through Amy Wilde Connections, I have funneled a small amount of contract lobbying, grant consultation, custodial work at my church, per diems for my participation on several boards and advisory committees, and desktop publishing work. (I expect that my Schedule C income next spring will include a pile of 1099s. Now you see why I call it a "hodge podge" business.)

In addition, I have done volunteer work, some of which reimburses my expenses. Most of this volunteering has been through the Area Agency on Aging, Meeker Council on Aging and the Dassel History Center. Most volunteer time finds me driving people to medical appointments and scanning and accessioning photos at the history center. Other volunteering has been at church, teaching Vacation Bible School or helping with nursing home services, or community service for the Dassel Red Rooster Committee and Community Chest.

Several friends are also engaged in Encore Careers. One is working part-time at a senior citizens residence; another is supervising student nurses at a state university. Another is working at a museum. Two guys I know are donning black suits and helping out during funeral services.  Others are doing seasonal farm work, housecleaning or custodial work. One retired friend spent several years working part-time at McDonalds. One is a part-time director for a health and human services advocacy group. Two others help the county auditor during election season. Others babysit their grandchildren one or two days per week.

Volunteer activities also run the gamut, from Council on Aging work, to being a youth mentor, to political activism, to instrumental music.

I am interested in knowing what other retired friends are doing as their "Encore Careers." Let me know.

Adapting to retirement

Several retired and semi-retired women assist with a birthday party at the nursing home.

A major challenge to retirement is adapting to collecting Social Security and pension checks instead of collecting a paycheck.

This may seem like a welcome relief to some, but to many of the over-62 set, it is a difficult adjustment.

Many retirements do not take place as originally planned. People get laid off from their jobs, or are bought out through early retirement incentive packages. A self-owned business may falter. Changes in health may have forced an earlier-than-anticipated retirement.

There are also financial realities. Most people earn less in retirement than they did during their working years. The cost of COBRA or Medicare supplement premiums may be more than anticipated. Part-time work may not be as available as had been anticipated--or it may pay significantly less than expected. Perhaps interest income or dividends from investments or income from the sale of real estate had been anticipated--and we all know what the 2008 market crash and subsequent recession did to those sources of income. Although statistically, retirees are better off in today's economy than young families--especially single-parent families--that "fact" is cold comfort to an individual retiree who is having a hard time making ends meet.

But perhaps the greatest difficulty is the fact that, in American society, value is often related to what one does or how much they earn. We may be the same people on the inside, but society views retirees and volunteers differently than it does people who have "real" jobs.

I lobbied for public libraries at the Minnesota legislature.

Like young parents and housewives who feel their tasks are unappreciated or mundane compared to a "paying" job, new retirees often flounder with their sense of self worth.  The walls of the house may seem to be closing in. Volunteer work may be boring or unsatisfying. Family expectations may be greater now that one is no longer working.

These retirees volunteer regularly at the Dassel History Center.

It takes time for retirees to adjust to a new routine and a new level of income. When I retired a year and a half ago, I got involved in several new activities and got more involved in a few places where I had been only marginally engaged. For spiritual enrichment, I joined a ladies Bible study group and got more involved at church. I was elected vice chair of the Minnesota Library Trustees Association and got more involved on the regional library board. I applied for and was appointed to two advisory committees in areas where I had expertise from my past career. I became a volunteer driver and continued work at the Dassel History Center. Many of these positions include some compensation or expense reimbursement, so they augment a reduced income. I planted a larger garden to aid the grocery budget--and also because I enjoy the activity. I've been helping with a couple of political campaigns. There has been a little more time for coffee or lunch with friends--several of whom are facing their own struggles with health and personal problems.

Dressing up in fancy hats for a birthday tea with old friends.

Despite all this activity, I experience "bad days" when I feel less beneficial to my family and community than in my previous career. The job market remains dismal--especially for people over age 65 who are regarded by many employers as being "over the hill." (In reality, I have little desire to work more than part-time anyhow.) Like many retirees, I sometimes feel as if I am not making the best use of my time and talents--but in reality, time management has been a lifelong struggle.

Since retirement, I also cut back on my involvement on a couple of committees that did not seem to be as good as a "fit," where my participation caused too much personal stress, or where it appeared that perhaps somebody else could do a better job.  That's okay, too.  Our bodies are not as young as they used to be, things take longer to do, and there is no point in doing something because we feel "obligated" rather than because we enjoy it.

Retirement is one of the seasons of life. It may be the autumn of our lives instead of full summer, but autumn can also be a glorious time of year. 

My ladies Bible study group.

Camping after surgery

Our first night out: National Grasslands in the North Dakota Badlands near Medora.

Could my husband and I go tent camping after he had his lower back rebuilt?

Good question. This would mean pitching our 45-year-old canvas Hoiggards tent and sleeping on the ground on an air mattress. We wanted to travel to Idaho to see our grandchildren in Coeur d'Alene and our niece compete in USA Cycling Mountain Bike nationals at Sun Valley. Camping would be the only affordable way for us to accomplish that this summer. We also decided to take our dog Oscar with us; he is a docile, companion pooch and we did not wish to leave him for a week and a half.

Certain adaptations were decided upon. We would stick to camping out of the trunk of our car. The rear seats were taken out to accommodate the extra load in our 4-cylinder Chrysler PT Cruiser. We would stick to simple, convenience meals that could be heated from cans or boxes on the Coleman stove. Bob has an air mattress pump that connects to our car cigarette lighter so we did not need to rely on lung power at high altitudes. Bob also brought along the back brace he wore for the first 3 months after surgery--as a precaution. Although we knew we'd be in back country, we opted for the car with air conditioning & cruise control instead of his 4-wheel-drive Subaru wagon.

PT Cruiser exploring Salmon River Mts.

In retrospect, all were good choices. The second day's drive, across Montana, was in scorching temperatures that approached 100 degrees F.  A.C. is good. The PT Cruiser "pretended" to be an SUV on a few back roads, but we turned around after a few miles as a precaution: it lacks a protective shield over its oil pan.

Bob wearing his back brace while rolling up the tent.

Bob and Oscar at camp along Clark Fork near
St. Regis, Montana

After not wearing it for the first few days, Bob decided that the back brace was useful for putting up and taking down the tent and, on a few occasions, helped support his tired rebuilt back better while driving.

The dog, after pulling up his "stake out" pin the first night out & disappearing for a short time, dragging his long tie-out cable, in the Badlands campground, adjusted to his new life and learned to appreciate his new canvas home.

Oscar enjoyed waking me up early in the morning to take a long walk so he could "do his business" and sniff out the place. (Those long walks also kept me from gaining weight on this trip--something that inevitably seems to happen when I travel.)

Halle is delighted that Oscar would "shake" with her.

Beyond walking the dog, we did not take any long hikes. The high altitude (two camp sites were at 6,000-foot levels) and the hot temperatures during the day sapped our strength for much beyond leisurely strolls.


I discovered that camping with a dog means you meet a lot more people.
Everyone in the campgrounds seemed to want to learn his name and pet him.

Sun Valley is a very dog-friendly venue and Oscar enjoyed meeting lots of new friends: human and canine. Granddaughter Halle, age 5, enjoyed asking him to "sit" and "shake" in exchange for a dog biscuit.

Bob would find a shady spot for him and Oscar during the cross-country bike races, and we learned that the dog prefers drinking from flowing streams better than out of his dog dish. He made himself at home both at David's house in CdA and at Jena's apartment in Sun Valley.

Another piece of excitement: Jena and her boyfriend and fellow cyclist Ryan O'Hara are now engaged!

Also, they have both found seasonal employment in Sun Valley and are looking for more permanent venues that will make use of their degrees in environmental science and civil engineering and planning, as well as fulfill Jena's desire to coach and work with young people.

Uncle Phil, Uncle Bob, Oscar, John (her dad) and Ryan encourage Jena prior to her first Pro-level national competition.

At camp site along Yankee Fork of Salmon River.

Being over age 62 is an advantage, because we got free admission and camped for half-price every night using our Golden Age Passport (also known as Senior Access Pass) available free of charge at every staffed National Park, National Monument or National Forest site.

The tent was a wedding present from my parents, 45 years ago. Bob is very strict about putting it away clean and dry after every use, and it has lasted all these years. Have replaced the zipper once, done some patching and waterproofed it several times. The center pole gives us something to grab onto when getting out of our sleeping bags in the morning, and the center part of the tent is high enough for an average-sized person to stand up straight.

Stanley, Idaho, and upper Salmon River

Lesson learned: we can tent camp, even after Bob's back surgery. In retrospect, when possible we will tent camp  only for two or more nights: single-night stayovers were hard on Bob's back and too stressful, making for a less-relaxing vacation. Longer stays (we had two of them) allowed plenty of time to relax between putting up and taking down equipment. In the future, we may try making a bed in the back of a van or pickup topper  for "traveling" camping trips. Or resort to occasional motel stayovers. We found an affordable, dog-friendly motel on our last night coming home in eastern Montana.  It also allowed us to shower someplace other than at a truck stop. Accommodations totaled about $135 for the entire trip and gas about $300. Meals were what we'd have probably spent at home.

Our extra medical expenses, lost work due to the illness and tenant problems of the past year made a budget vacation essential for 2012. But it was still a great time.

Bonanza ghost town on Yankee Fork of Salmon River.

We saw lots of beautiful scenery via short walks from the car. I will close this post with a few of the photos. I also took film photos that have not yet been developed; may add a few of those later.

Salmon River Mountains

Redfish Lake, Sawtooth Mountains

Canoeing the Crow

Connie at our lunch break in a bucolic pasture along the river.

Connie Scott and I spent many happy hours together during junior and senior high school. We attended the same school, the same summer camp, the same church and the same Girl Scout troop. Our mothers were friends and we often thought they conspired to enroll us as a pair to encourage us to take part in various cultural and recreational activities.

During the summer months, Connie and I spent a lot of time on the water of two of Minnesota's 10,000 lakes: Lake Harriet in south Minneapolis and Linwood Lake in Anoka County. We passed lifesaving training at the 46th Street beach and spent the summer of 1964 as lifeguards and junior counselors at Camp Ajawah at Linwood Lake. Many long summer afternoons were spent in my family's Alumacraft canoe, which was kept at the Lake Harriet dock.

During most of our adult years, Connie was an elementary school principal and I was a newspaper reporter, county commissioner and mother of four. We were too busy to get together. Then we both retired--and her older brother purchased a lake cabin near Dassel. Suddenly the opportunity to see one another regularly became a reality.

This spring we both turned 65. I suggested that us gals go canoeing again together. We tried a short paddle on a nearby lake on Memorial Day weekend. Then I offered to take her on a day canoe trip down the North Fork of the Crow River in Meeker County. I had taken the four-hour trip numerous times, but not for about five years. Connie had not had access to a canoe for many years.

We were also a LOT older. Could two 65-year-old women load, unload and paddle a quick-moving river without help from anyone else?

We looked like zombies after coating our skin with zinc oxide sunblock

Pulling up the canoe at the Kingston landing

What a great day.  My first mishap was falling into the water as we were getting the canoe into the river. It was a warm day & my bathing suit was underneath my shorts, so it was no big deal, but I started out a muddy and soggy. Twice we pulled the 50-pound cedar-strip canoe (lighter than the old Alumacraft!) over logs that had fallen across the full width of the river. I almost lost my hat and Connie fished my stray paddle out of the water before it headed downstream without us. We saw songbirds, water birds, big snapping turtles and followed a huge, beautiful bald eagle, up close, for approximately one mile.



We couldn't take many photos because the current made keeping a camera outside of a waterproof bag hazardous, so we had to settle for shots during our lunch break and while pulling the canoe out at the Kingston Park landing.

Connie admitted that she had been more apprehensive than she had let on, but says she can now cross something off her "Bucket List." I hope we can go again sometime--maybe try a different stretch of the river.

The photos tell the story. Old ladies can still have fun on the water.

Amy had mostly dried off by lunch break.