Lake Break -- Some Family Time but Someone was Missing

We had a wonderful time during our trip to Minneapolis, but someone was missing from our family gathering. Rick's aunt Beth, the woman we were going to honor and remember, died earlier this summer. It was our time to remember her, to celebrate the joys of being with family and to cherish every moment spent together. Beth would have loved it.

Rick's Aunt Beth had Spina Bifada from childhood. One might think that could keep a woman down but not Beth. She ushered for the symphony, was an enthusiastic volunteer for numerous organizations, traveled the world with family and friends, and engaged in sailing, alpine skiing and more. Her passion for life was both contagious and inspiring. One could not be around Beth and later depart without a will to be a better person, to be as strong, curious and engaged as she.

Helping Beth onto the sailboat in Muskegon

She cared deeply for her family, both immediate and extended. And while she had faced the deaths of two of her adopted children and her husband, Gene, she remained strong, positive, looking to the future.

Rick with Beth and her husband, Gene, at their daughter Andrea's graduation from Cranbook.

Beth and her sister Carol were major influences in Rick's young life. As years passed, he retained that warm relationship with them both, relationships he has treasured as they became more than "just aunts" but dear friends as well. When speaking at Beth's memorial, he recounted some of their past together as well as her impact on both himself and others.

Aunts Carol and Beth with baby Rick.

"Beth inspired me," he said. "Her physical limitations were plain for everybody to see. Plain to see for everybody but her, that is. She spent thousands of hours swimming, skiing, sailing, visiting world capitals and other things she 'couldn't do' I shared many of these activities with her and often offered a helping hand.It was always refused as unnecessary. She proved bad legs were merely obstructions, not limitations."

There are few things that could pull me from the lake in summer or stop Rick from a long Canadian bike hike. Honoring Beth and being with family was one we both would never miss. One highlight was getting to know Beth's granddaughters, Lucy and Minnie, better. They were truly lights in her life.

Four of Rick's five brothers were there and other relatives traveled from Florida, Utah, Indiana, Tennessee, Ohio, Michigan and Massachusetts and Minnesota.

Four generations were represented, this group among them -- the third generation.

Beth's daughter Sarah brought loads of photos and memorabilia that family members could take home.

 

And there were loads of old family movies that many had never seen before. We got to see the young Beth, Carol, and Rick's dad, Dick.

 

  There was even Baby Rick!

Sarah arranged for a beautiful family dinner, featuring Beth's favorite foods. After, it was time to "Ask the Elders." Knowing that Dick and Aunt Carol were present, it was time for the younger generations to ask questions to help fill in some of the family history blanks. Dick's wife, Kathy, also had loads of family information to share.

Our time came to an end as all headed home. Most went to the airport. We hopped in the car and after leaving in the rain, ended up seeing ore of the beautiful farmland of Wisconsin that we'd enjoyed on the first leg of the trip.

We drove home under the first day of the Supermoon Blue Stugeon Moon (badly photographed from the car, cruising along on Michigan's bumpy roads).

I'll have lots of memories of the weekend, catching up with family. But the best memories will be of Beth -- her smile, her spirit, her joy. I'll think of times past like this, when there was loads of laughter and big smiles.

I bet Beth would remember times like this, too.

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