And Time Goes By

We went on a sunset cruise on the Manistee Princess.  It was delightful weather and sitting on the top level was plenty comfortable, not a bit chilly.  We traveled south on Lake Michigan almost to Ludington before turning around.  The sunset wasn’t the prettiest but that was okay.  We had some nice sunset photos from our Riverwalk.  We ate one last time at Al’s Pizza and also the Painted Lady Saloon!  We headed back to Troy on Wednesday so we could gather what we needed and traveled to Cincinnati on Thursday.  

The funeral on Friday was well thought out.  Karen’s children did a great job of arranging things.  Granddaughter Jesse wrote and delivered the eulogy beautifully.  Daughter in law Ann did a tremendous job on the photo slide show.  Yours truly showed up several times, even a few at 3-4 years old!  We all did great until at the end of the interment prayers, then their song, “For the Good Times” was played.  Everyone lost it!  We four were always the last two couples dancing in the longest anniversary dance at weddings.  They made it to 63 years and now we are in front at 59 next April.  A 4-7:00 pm celebration was held at a venue called The Farm and everyone stayed until the bar closed and the AC was turned off.

After 3 exhausting days, 2 driving and one funeral, we hung out all Saturday until 4:00 when we attended Mass, with Dan who we were staying with, at the Keehan family church, Holy Family.   Ted’s mother was one of 9 Keehan children with his grandparents being some of the first Parishioners.  Ted’s parents were married there, he was baptized there and our granddaughter was too.  Afterwards we met his two sisters and their husbands for dinner.  On Sunday we drove back to Troy where Kara had everyone for dinner.

By Monday the weather for Florida, and particularly our flight day of Wednesday, was in great danger of being disrupted by Idalia.  We called Delta to see what, if  anything, we could do to facilitate our trip down.  We are not sure if Ted’s Silver status for life and being a Million Miler (3 million actually) had anything to do with it, but she booked us on the 10 pm flight Monday night with no additional charges.  It left 40 minutes late, getting us into Orlando at 1 am.

Bill asked for early boarding because he needs a window seat to protect his bad shoulder and he threw in a 3 year old and two almost 80 year olds!  We were seated in row 31; Bill at a window, CeCe in the middle and Kara in the aisle.  Ted was on the opposite aisle with me in the window seat and no one in the middle seat.  

We had checked nothing so we had 4 suitcases, 2 back packs, 2 canvas bags, 1  purse and 1 cpap machine!  Throw in a sleeping 3 year old at 1 am and we were a sight!  Pushing one thing, pulling another, both shoulders with bags, etc.  And we are entitled to free bags but we lost that vote.  Going home I am checking my suitcase!

Kristin, with the car seat, picked me and CeCe up while Bill, Ted and Kara went to get the rental car.  There is not enough room for all of us in one.  I think 3 am was bedtime for all.  

Tuesday was pool time!  CeCe played for 5 hours, wearing out Pops, Squishy and Auntie Kristin in the process.  

We kept an eye on the weather and the flights we could have changed to (which all took off on time) and our original Wednesday flight that got delayed.  We felt we made a good choice in accepting the Monday night flight.  

We got rain and some wind but nothing to be concerned about.  By afternoon CeCe, Pops and Kristin were all back in the pool.

Tomorrow is our move to Disney!  Since our check in can be as late as 4 pm, Kara has rented a cabana that has couches, fans, TV, snacks, pool boy, etc. so we can arrive anytime after 10, give our belongings to Guest Services and enjoy the resort while waiting for our apt. to be ready.  She sent a grocery list to somebody and we received notice of 10 bags of groceries, 3 of refrigerated items and 1 in the freezer.  It will be delivered to our room when we call for it.  Hopefully the next six days are nice!  We are scheduled to go to Magic Kingdom on Saturday.  Forecast is sunny and 90!  

A Trip South

There was a lot of daylight left when we finished with the boat tours so we headed to the city of Ludington, about 25 miles south of Manistee, also on the shores of Lake Michigan!  What a beautiful city with miles of beautiful sand beaches.  We quickly decided if we come this way next year we will stay here.  We have traveled the area of Manistee three times now so it will be a whole new exploration!  

We parked along the roadway and took a little path to the lakeshore.  It was such beautiful sand and water.  My camera died and the photos I thought I took, didn’t!  We had looked for the Skyline Trail and found a stairway to it but it was a bit confusing so we climbed about four sets of four sets of stairs, 16 in all, to what appeared to be the highest point.  Not great photos, you can’t see the beach for the trees!  

We were hesitant to continue on because it appeared we would end up far from the car, it was not a loop. So we went back the way we had come and knew exactly where we parked our car!  Old age wisdom.    

It was getting late so we looked for a place for dinner.  Once again it was late Sunday so many restaurants were closed since all those visitors to “up North” had  headed home.  We chose Ludington Bay Brewing Company because a) it was open and b) it had a lovely patio and the weather was perfect for sitting there.  A great ending to a lovely day.

We are down to two days and only one more boat trip to take on the Manistee River at sunset!  More on that later.  

Our Last Few Days

Sunday we toured the City of Milwaukee, a train car ferry that held 34 boxcars. They transferred from rails that led right up to the hold and were pushed in, and later pulled out by engines, when they reached the opposite side of the lake.  That created a much shorter and faster route from Michigan to Wisconsin.  It is docked in Manistee as a museum.  

We toured from top to bottom, from the engines to the bridge.  You can spend a night in the senior officers’ quarters.

Docked next to.the City of Milwaukee is the USCG Acacia, a buoy tender.  It also was used for ice breaking, search and rescue, fire fighting and logistics.  

The Half Way Point

We didn’t know how long we would be able to stay here in Manistee while we waited for news of Karen.  Once the dates were settled, we started to make some plans.

First up was laundry.  There is only one in town that we know of so I sorted our clothes putting colored, dark and white in separate bags.  That makes it easier to just dump the clothes into the washer because they have also been turned right side out, etc.  It didn’t take too long and we were on our way home.

We put the clothes away and decided to drive up the west coast along Bear Lake.  It is a beautiful drive and we ended up in Frankfurt where an art fair was going on.  We spent a good amount of time walking from booth to booth seeing what was for sale.  I bought one piece of jewelry as a gift but that was all.

On the way south heading for home, we stopped at an overlook to see Lake Michigan. This was not just a pull out but had steps up to a higher elevation, restrooms and picnic tables.

We just enjoyed the view, sunshine and pleasant 70 degree weather.  

Ted wanted to stop at the casino for dinner because we would pass it.  I had not brought my ID so I couldn’t get a player’s card without it, but he said he just wanted to eat at the buffet, not play.  We had stayed at the RV park attached to the casino several years ago while traveling with the Haulin’ HitchHikers camping group 11 years ago  

And once again while visiting this area with Tom and Eileen, our Florida friends.  I wasn’t all that hungry but agreed.  The food normally isn’t great so it didn’t matter much to me.  When she told Ted it was $49.95 per person it didn’t seem like such a good idea.  We could have a great meal for a bit more at the famous Glenwood restaurant up in Okenama!  So we continued back to Manistee.  We went all out for footlong chili dogs from A&W.  It was just right for me!  

It was Manistee County Fair Week so we went there Saturday.  It isn’t a very big fair but they had the usual animals, 4H projects., Midway, a few vendors and of course carnival food of which we ate none.  

We came home, freshened up for church, had dinner (but my walleye wasn’t as good as The Painted Lady’s) was.  Then we went into town to see “Oppenheimer.”  It is 3 hours long but spell binding.  I am ashamed to admit I never heard of this man who they called the father of the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki about two months before I was born.

Ted is going shooting tomorrow and I will start gathering our things to get ready to travel Wednesday morning back to Kara’s.  I bought CeCe swim goggles, a maze book and a short set with a second matching top.  It is so fun to buy for her!  We are going to Ted’s brother’s house in Cincinnati on Thursday so we will be there on Friday morning.  We will travel back to Troy Saturday or Sunday because Wednesday we will fly to Orlando!  

Lots Has Happened

Our long wait is over.  Karen gained her wings at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, 8/15.  She was peaceful and surrounded by her children.  I was notified at 5:40 as we walked out to go to Mass for the feast day of the Assumption of Mary into heaven.  How fitting that a fine woman and mother will be celebrated each year on the same day as we honor the mother of Jesus.  

We chose the closest church on a whim.  They had a beautiful choir that sang song after song about Mary, mothers and women.  It lifted my spirits and I got through the whole Mass with very few tears.  

The timing made our plans questionable.  August 28 was chosen for whatever reason so we are able to stay our 10 nights, drive back to Troy on Wednesday, drive to Cincinnati on Thursday and we will be there Friday morning for the visitation.  We will return to Troy Saturday or Sunday.  

I had to help out with the death notice and eulogy because I am the oldest who spent my whole life with Karen at my side.  Good thing they sent the obituary to me before publishing because her late husband was left out.  They were trying so hard  to get everyone listed, they forgot him!  

Karen Ann Woulms (née Ruhe) age 82, of Cincinnati Ohio, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Tuesday August 15, 2023. She was born in Cincinnati Ohio on July 30, 1941 to Alvin and Lucille (née Homer) Ruhe. Married Ronald Woulms on February 7, 1959 at St Bonaventure in Cincinnati Ohio.

Karen loved life, spending time with family & friends, babies, music, sweets and tropical vacations.

She is Preceded in death by her dearly beloved husband of 63yrs Ronny (Ronald Woulms), sister Colette Kennedy, brothers Donald, Raymond and Theodore (Marge) Ruhe. Surviving siblings Selene Tracey, Dan (Sue) Ruhe and Donna (Ted) Rogers. Also survived by her 4 children, Terry (Lynn) Woulms, Todd (Ann) Woulms, Cindy (Tim) Moschel, Sherry (John) Garner. 12 Grandchildren - Jessica, Josh, Daniel, Katherine, Nicholas, Victoria, Ronald, Brian, Amy, Dalton, Amanda, and Wyatt. 18 Great Grandchildren - Alex, Lily, Madelyn, Morgan, Jameson, Jemma, Lucas, Graham, Layla, Boone, Cloye, Charlie, Maxwell, Nauva, JesseDean, Ronny, Emmerson and Gunnar

In loving memory of Karen Woulms, contributions can be made to Help Fight Alzheimer's. https://www.alz.org/

Visitation will take place on Friday August 25, 2023 from 11 until the time of the funeral service at 1pm held at the Radel Funeral Service 451-8800 or radelfuneral.com

I provided some memories from when we were kids but have no idea what the eulogy will be until I hear it.

Tuesday night after church we had dinner at The Painted Lady Saloon.  Outstanding walleye! Then we walked along the Riverwalk as the sun set.  

On Wednesday we drove to Traverse City and up the Mission peninsula.  We visited the beach, lighthouse and log cabin at the park. We drove past fields of corn, apple trees, peach trees and blueberry farms.  We stopped and picked 5# of blueberries.  When we came home I froze them on a cookie sheet and then made five 2 cup freezer bags to take to Kara.  

Ted went skeet shooting Thursday so I went along in case he needed someone to pull but there were 5 more shooters so I just watched.  We returned to the Painted Lady because their broasted chicken looked and smelled delicious,  and it was!     

Still Waiting

This long goodbye is torturous!  Each time my phone rings or IPad dings you wonder “is this it?”  

I kept busy after my haircut yesterday cleaning the large linen closet for Kara.  If you need any Christmas linens, she’s your go to person!

We attended an Air Margaritaville band concert at a Troy city park in the evening.  It had three different “green grounds” and it took two of us on either side of the structures to keep up with CeCe.  She decided that running from one structure to the other, ducking into enclosed slides, climbing structures then taking off again for us to chase after her, was the most fun.  We could hear the music so I guess we accomplished two things by attending.  Afterwards we went to Ray’s ice cream shop.  

Friday we drove to Sam’s and bought gas, an apple pie and a key lime pie because everyone was coming for dinner.  When it was time for everyone to go home, CeCe ran into my arms and said “I want to stay here with you.”  It broke my heart to say she couldn’t stay but it filled up quickly with the knowledge she wanted to be with us.  Kara has enough on her plate with her job, house, two college students, us and a 3 year old didn’t need to be added to the mixture.  She has CeCe a lot but it had been a difficult work day for her and everyone needed a good night’s sleep in their own beds.  

Kara was still troubleshooting her work problem so we just hung around Saturday until 4 pm to go to Mass.  She suggested a new parish and we really liked it.  I think we will go there from now.  Kelly, Ally, Cassie and CeCe had all gone to see The Little Mermaid.  CeCe’s synopsis … “there was a bad man and he died and that was the end.”  Walt, obviously she was not impressed!  

We met up to have dinner at Noni’s one of our favorite restaurants with an extensive menu with something for everyone.  Patrick was kite boarding in Caseville and Bidkar had gone to Kalamazoo for his high school reunion.  So Ted and Bill were the only males in our group.

I had changed our reservation from 8/14 to 8/13 in Manistee.  I saw it was available and they agreed I could do that.  We have 10 days but are pretty sure we will have to leave here for Cincinnati at some point.  The longer we can stay the more value we will get from our non refundable $2000.  It is what it is.

We could not check in until 4:00 so we didn’t leave until almost noon.  If nothing else it lets all the Troy folks get “back to normal” without worrying about feeding and entertaining us, at least for a time. 

We arrived safely, made a stop at Meijer’s for some breakfast and lunch items then found our rented cottage.  It is clean and comfortable. The furnishings would not win decorating awards but serve their purpose.  There is a Queen and a Single down and more sleeping upstairs.  But there is no reason for us to go up!  

We drove into the center of town and being Sunday evening when most people have headed south to home, not much was open.  We tried the Bluefish Grille but it was a 45 minute wait and we ended up at TJ Pub where we sat at the bar, watched the FedcEx play off and had some tasty pub food.  I even ordered a hard peach cider on draft from their huge drink selection!  

We came home and spent time figuring out the TV.  I miss the days of “off and on,” channel 9 or 12, etc. At home if I couldn’t talk to my remote I wouldn’t be able to watch TV!  I couldn’t even tell you what numbers the three major networks are!   

We have no agenda yet.  There are friends in 3 different MI places we planned to meet up with but under the current situations, we don’t want to set up too much.  We are close to Traverse City and Mackinac Island but it is a bit of a drive so we don’t want to make plans until we have a handle on our plans.  

Oh My! Where Have We Been?

Our time at Kelly’s flew by!  While they cruised Alaska we had dinner with Kara and Bill several times, I remember cooking dinner twice for us and Cassie, Ted went shooting a few times, I visited with Barb and Pat who I worked with when we lived here, we saw CeCe several times and took her to the “green ground.”  That translates to playground and we have no idea why it is green ground to her except maybe the grass.

And then it was time to leave for Cardinal Shooting Complex in Mt. Gilead, OH. We met up with Dan and Sue, then were joined by Kim and Marian on Saturday.  

It was a really tough course and one bad day hurt Ted and his score never recovered even with a good day on Sunday.  But it was fun and we loved spending time with some of my family.  We stayed over to Monday because his last round was at 2:30 Sunday and it is too cumbersome to check out by 11:00, shoot at 2:30 for 2.5 hours and then drive back to MI.

On our way home we received word my sister Karen, in memory care for the past year and a half had a turn for the worse.  Hospice was called in and they took over her care.  As of this writing it is a “wait and see because we know it is coming.”  My heart is broken. This must be about 1948 at Easter.  Karen is holding the bunny and I am in the middle in the ruffled hat.  

To help out, I cooked dinner on Tuesday night and Wednesday I cleaned out the hall closet for Kara.   She does not need toothbrushes or calcium pills for quite some time!  I had a doctor appointment yesterday when we returned and today we have hair cut appointments.  

We are supposed to leave here Monday for our 10 day stay in Manistee that is about 5 hours west of here and further away from Cincinnati.  We are playing it by ear.  Please pray for a peaceful passing and family acceptance at this difficult time.