Retired..and Still Lots Going On!

Climb for Cancer

Every year the American Cancer Society holds their major local fundraiser, the Climb for Cancer, a 7 mile walk up Snowbowl Road.  This paved road is the route to the Snowbowl Ski Area and travels through ponderosa, fir, and some spectacular aspen groves.  It is held each August; this year it was August 18, making it my first retirement event. 

I've participated in this event several times. It's always a lot of fun, but very emotional.  The walk is long and climbs continuously, but there are so many people climbing for themselves and their loved ones, both living and passed, that we get to the top before we know it.  This year I chose to be part of a DPS team honoring Sergeant Ken Hawkins "Hawk", who passed in May of 2011 of leukemia.   We wore team t-shirts designed and printed by our dispatcher Shannon Chacon, who does many special projects for us in her Dad's print shop. 

Team Hawk was made up of the Sergeant that took Hawk's place; most of his squad and some of their spouses; and dispatchers and their friends from both Flagstaff and Phoenix.   We started out together, but as we proceeded, walked at out own pace. 

 

 

Shannon Clifford and I counted this event as training for our upcoming half-marathon, and walked together. Here we are almost at the top.  

 

 

This event is well supported.  The finish line is a blast, with this big arch, Star Wars characters and cheerleaders to greet us. 

One of the local restaurants provided chicken cesear salads, rolls, and fruit for all finishers.  There's always live music and massage available, too.  They bus us back down to our vehicles, so we get to rest and even snooze a bit, if we need to (that would be me!).

I enjoyed this Climb, and found it a great first-day-retired event.

A Pet Update

Kitty First,

Our Cinnamon turned 18 years in July, and has enjoyed a summer of sunning on the deck, sleeping on her pillow in front of the woodstove, and hollering to be fed.  Our neighbor Peter's visiting sister Marion is a veterinarian, and volunteered to feed Cinnamon a few days when we were out of town.  She did a gentle exam and declared her perfectly fit for a cat her age.  Found her absolutely adorable, too.  Ron and I don't have quite that opinion; we've been working (successfully) with some litterbox challenges. Nevertheless, we're still glad to have her company.


Then Tessie
We were terribly saddened to say goodbye to our Tessie on April 26.  She lived a full year after her cancer diagnosis, and we were glad for every minute of it.  She was one of our best dogs ever.



 

Goodbye, our sweet Tessie



Welcome, Gypsy

 

On May 19 we welcomed Gypsy. We found her on-line at the Sedona Humane Society, and fell victim to love at first sight.   I guess it's not hard to see why:   

 

 

 

 

 

Ron and I were ready for another dog and Maggie was feeling the pressure of being the only dog, so we began our search.  We looked at the Coconino Humane Shelter, and found one possibility.  I wanted to check at the Sedona shelter in an attempt to get away from the strong Reservation Dog influence the Flagstaff shelters have.  Tessie and Maggie were both Rez dogs, and they presented particular challenges having to do with lack of people socialization and a severe lack of general experience.   Tessie was our first, and we had our work cut out for us.  We felt successful with her, so we figured we could have similar success with Maggie.  Little did we know what a nut-case Maggie was!  However with LOTS of exposure to new situations, LOTS of obedience work in LOTS of situations, and on-going work still nearly three years later, she's come a long way.  Ironically, after we'd already made our decision to adopt Gypsy, I asked where she was from...the Yavapai-Apache reservation in Camp Verde.  Rez Dog! 

 

Happily, though, Gypsy had both general experience and people experience. She did lack household experience, and everything inside the house was new--from opening the refrigerator door to our normal movements around the house. Though I had severe doubts about Maggie in a leadership position, Gypsy recognized it when she saw it and immediately began watching Maggie for cues about what was going on. Gypsy is also very playful, and Maggie finally has a true playmate. They are the first dogs we've ever had who have played with each other, and they do so every day, for lengthy periods.  It's a pleaure to see them enjoying each other so much. They love going anywhere in the car, as well as walks, hikes and runs. 

 

 

 

 We look forward to many years of fun with Gypsy and Maggie. 

 



 

 



And On August 17........

Getting There

As friends and family can attest, I'm an inveterate list maker.  Lists can take many forms; I love 'em all.  When I went back to work on February 10, I wanted a way to count down the remaining 36 weeks I had to work.  I conceived and executed the following weekly advent calendar.  On one side was the number of weeks remaining; on the other side one of the cool bug stickers I found at Walmart.  At the end of each work week, I enjoyed the intense satisfaction of marking another week finished by flipping the little tag from the number side to the bug side.   You can click on the picture to get a better look at the bugs. 
 

  

The weeks flew by.  I made a choice to stay fully committed to continuing to do my best work, and enjoy the remaining time with my friends and co-workers.  Being a long time state government employee, I was the beneficiary of the maximum vacation time earnings, which was 16 hours per month.  I decided that I would rather stop working early than use any significant vacation hours during my remaining time.  I know too well, however,  that life can have a course set for me of which I am unaware.  If no Life Events required otherwise, I'd be able to accumulate 10 weeks of vacation time. At the same time, I stayed prepared to use whatever time necessary for any Life Events that might occur. In the end, Life smiled on me!  The tentative date I'd set as my last working day, August 17th,  arrived without incident.

The Day

Two friends and co-workers, Lea and Kristin, generously volunteered to organize my retirement party.  This invitation went out in e-mail: 

 

They chose the Alice in Wonderland tea party as the theme, and carried it out in excellent detail.  This poster was outside: 

             This door decoration started the playing card decorations, which were carried out inside.                                                              

The table had chess sets and topiary.  This choice of theme and the creativity with which it was carried out impressed and pleased me to no end! 







 

Many people attended, and I was grateful to those who traveled from Tucson, Heber, Prescott and Holbrook to say goodbye.   The Department sent Command Staff from Phoenix to make a short formal presentation of thanks to both me and Ron (family is correctly recognized as being vital to the commitment and performance of employees).  They also presented these commemorative badges and recognition award.

Gifts were both thoughtful and plentiful from co-workers, friends, and family.

Thanks to everyone for such a great send off! And now........

I'M RETIRED!!!!!!!!!

Bauman Family Camp

Last Thanksgiving, all but one of Ron's brothers came out for a visit with their Dad, Elton, who was  in assisted living here in Flagstaff.  When he became ill in December, that brother came out, and when he passed away shortly after Christmas, the brothers decided to delay a memorial service until sometime this year. 

Since 1950, the Baumans have gathered each summer at the Freedom Bible Camp in Iowa for a family reunion.  Once Ron's parents' generation wasn't able to organize it any more, it diminished; for a few years it wasn't held at all.  Then brother Don and his family decided they missed both the gathering and the setting, and decided to start holding it again.  Though any family is welcome, it has been Don and Carol Ann, their two children and families, and various friends who have attended.

A plan was made:  Have Elton's memorial service at Camp this year. Here's what happened:   The dates were announced. Brother Dale had a scheduling conflict and couldn't attend.  Brother Ed had some unexpected financial expenses and couldn't attend.  Brother Dave had a work conflict and couldn't attend. 

Ron and I went to Camp, and what a delightful time we had. 

 

 

 

 

The rec building is on the left, the dining hall in the center, and the new chapel on the right. 

 

 

The camp is in rural Iowa.  This was our view across the road.  Though this corn looks good, many of the fields in the area reflected the current drought.

 

 

 

Don and Carol Ann are the current Patriarch and Matriarch of the Camp.  Under their direction, the camp has evolved into a perfect balance of required organization while still remaining unstructured.   Most people have been coming for years and are happy to participate.  Newcomers quickly adjust to the routine.  Daily participation in meal preparation, service and cleanup is required, as well as certain general maintenance cleaning.  After that, your time is your own.

 

 

Daughter Gena (right) has assumed the planning and organization of the kitchen.  She does an admirable job of planning and purchasing the food necessary for 3 meals a day for 30 or so people.  Under her competent direction, we ate delicious food in generous quantities at every meal.  Here, the Larsons assist. 

 

There were many activities available.  Table games were a favorite indoors. 

 

 

Various art projects, including scrapbooking, were also popular.

 

 

Outdoor activities included volleyball,

 



soccer,

 

slipslide

 

and table-sitting

 

 

Two time-honored traditions were followed: 

 

TP'ing the bedrooms (more than once)

 



 

and good-natured pranks.

 



 

 

Don and Carol Ann brought very nice memorial books for both Elton and Waneta, and the new chapel served well as the venue for a thoughtful and satisfying memorial service for Elton.

 

 

 

 

The chapel underwent a metamorphasis into a stage for Fun Night, with skits written, produced and acted by youngsters as well as adults. 

 

 



 

 

Here, Gena and hubby Dan re-enact Sonny and Cher singing "I've Got You Babe"--in reversed roles!

 

 

 

Ron enjoyed springing this surprise ending on the audience.

 

 

A rhythm band provided a rousing ending to a most enjoyable Fun Night.

 

 

 

Ron and I were pleased and grateful to have this opportunity to spend time with family and friends in such a positive and casual atmosphere. 

 

And here's what else happened:  brother Dale went to the home town cemetary in Brown City, MI. He found an available plot and purchased a headstone.  Ron shipped both his parents' cremains to Dale.  They were interred in Brown City, and another memorial service was held for what family could attend, as well as local friends.  All's well that ends well.