Once Upon the Wasatch

Sue and I are blessed to have four wonderful grandsons, two Sykora boys and two Murphy boys, living in our community. It has been our privilege to be active in their lives since their births. Thus, we are very comfortable with them and they with us. As they reached an appropriate age, we have made a practice of taking these boys on a vacation trip each year. We determined early on that the best pairing for these trips was cousins vs. brothers so one year it was TJ and Ivan and then the next year Emmit and Gus. Covid threw a wrench for a couple of years, but we returned to the rotation this August.

We began planning early in the year so, as it was TJ and Ivan’s year, we asked what they might like to do. Even though they live on the prairies of southern Wisconsin they fancy themselves mountain bikers. They have both built some “trails” on their respective homesteads. So, they wanted to go mountain biking and zeroed-in on southern Utah and Colorado. They had read about Moab and other similar locations so that’s where their heads were.

At this point I should insert that both boys, now nearly 13 and nearly 17, are good competent bikers. They have biked with Sue and I since they were quite young so know how to handle a bike and be comfortable riding. They are both athletes and are very fit. So, what’s the dilemma? Sue and I are road bikers with basically no interest or expertise in mountain biking nor do we have their fitness level (we are a tad older than they). How could we possibly make this work and feel safe for everyone concerned?

I have a youngish nephew in the Salt Lake City area. I knew he is an experienced mountain biker and rides often. I also knew he was familiar with the southern Utah/Colorado area. So, using the resources at my disposal, I reached out to this young man and asked his advice about the Moab area. He replied immediately that it would be beastly hot there in the summer, packed with people, and the trails were likely far more technical than those for which the boys, and certainly us were prepared for or capable of riding. Well, I was glad to know this, but it was a bit of a bummer until I read the next sentence in my nephew’s e-mail.

He strongly suggested that Park City – just 30 minutes from Salt Lake City – had many, many trails with which he was intimately familiar, beautiful mountains and much else to attract vacationers. But that’s just the introduction. He went on to say that if we did travel there, he would guide TJ and Ivan on the trails. And he even had a couple of bikes we might borrow if they sized-up correctly. While I still had some doubts and misgivings, this proposal seemed too good to pass up so set the dates and made the plans.

If you have tried to schedule two young athletes from two different families to leave town during the summer swim, baseball, camping season, you understand that challenge. However, that could be a blog on its own, so I won’t deal with that here. Suffice it to say we were able to squeak out 6 days – two of which would be flying time.

Off we went. I must add that this was the first time flying for TJ and Ivan and basically their first long major trip. It was so much fun watching their excitement and wide eyes at everything new they were experiencing. We had a very long first day of travel and didn’t arrive at Snow Blaze – our Air B & B – in Park City until 10 p.m. The accommodations turned out to be perfect for us and, as we discovered the next day, located most conveniently. We all collapsed in bed.

The following morning – our first day there – everyone was moving slow in the morning. I talked to my nephew on the phone, and we decided to not start the biking thing until the next day to give us time to replenish and acclimate at bit. We could see snow covered mountains from our windows and found it incredibly beautiful and glorious when we headed outside. We did the typical eating and shopping while gasping and exclaiming over the beauty of God’s nature we were experiencing firsthand. Checked out some bike shops and made rental arrangements for the next day.

My nephew drove up with full bike racks the next morning. He and I, with TJ and Ivan set out to try this mountain biking thing in the actual mountains. The grandeur is a challenge to describe – simply incredible. We pedaled gravel roads, dirt roads and then down hill mountain biking trails. The boys were in seventh heaven. I discovered that I enjoyed the gravel and dirt roads but didn’t really care for the downhill actual trail riding. Too many rocks, stumps, branches, berms, and all that mountain biking really is. In addition, the climbing and the altitude was kicking my butt. At one of our stoppings, I suggested to my nephew that, if he could direct me back, I would do that alone and he and the boys could continue riding – they were champing at the bit to get back at it. They went on and I headed back to Park City. I did arrive successfully but was beat – clocking 19 miles in that altitude and challenging climbs on a bike very different from my road buddy, Double Shot. The other three pedaled around quite a bit longer.

As in most experiences, I learned a lot. I discovered what mountain biking really was and why these two boys really liked it. We now had a common language and experience that drew us closer together and, for me, the light went on about this sport and all the things they had been talking about which I hadn’t really understood. This alone would have made the trip worthwhile, but it became so much more.

The boys could not stop talking about the biking they experienced that day. Never in their wildest imaginations could they have conjured the beauty, the trails, everything about being in this beautiful place.

I was concerned because I was sure my nephew had given us all the time he had available – nearly a full day. I knew that I could not duplicate the experience or even come close because I was not familiar with the trails, didn’t have the skill level to bike with boys, and would not have turned them loose by themselves.

And then the unexpected miracle occurred. My nephew gave these boys three more nearly full days (four total). He planned and participated in rides on a variety of trails and skill sets each day. Sue and I would help transport the bikes to the various trial heads and they would take off. Sue and I would then explore on our own by car or foot and plan to rendezvous with them at their ending point three of four hours later. Absolutely incredible.

Let me tell you about this nephew. I have been acquainted with him most of his life, but we never lived near each other, so we didn’t’ really know each other well. Sue and I attended his wedding three years ago in Salt Lake City and are sharing he and Emily’s joy on the arrival of their first child in the next few weeks. We enjoyed a great dinner out with them on this trip.

Those of you who are well acquainted with me realize that, after a forty-year career in corporate human resources, I am a student of human behavior and am always subtly observing it. Let me share my observations of my nephew on this trip.

This amazing young man is an Associate Professor of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Utah. He is intelligent, vibrant, clearly engaged in his field of study and his students. He has participated in and/or led domestic and world-wide field studies with his students. He is well-read and is an excellent writer. He is anticipating fatherhood with great excitement.

I am so impressed after watching him with TJ and Ivan. On their first ride I could tell he was assessing their skills and abilities to determine where he could take them and how to ensure their safety. He did this unobtrusively. I don’t think they had a clue that this was what he was doing. He jumped in enthusiastically with them – he may well have been having as much or more fun than they were. He took great photos and videos of them. He talked their language and was instructional. I would love to observe this man in his college classroom – his students must be so taken with him. I liken TJ’s and Ivan’s biking experience with him to a semester abroad. They were immersed in mountain biking – an experience they will not soon forget if ever.

As I ponder the lessons of this trip for me, Sue, and the boys, I return again and again to the incredible generosity and love shown to us by this man. I had hoped for a couple of hours. He gave us the best part of four days. In the book, Walden, Henry David Thoreau states, “To affect the quality of the day – that is the highest of arts.” Peter Cruzan Lippert, you so positively affected the quality of our days in Park City. We thank you with our entire being.

Life Lessons at Rockport Pool

Today I received a totally unexpected shot of insight and inspiration. This occurred at 7 a.m. and, of all places for me, at a swimming pool. I can swim a bit but not well, so I am not really a water person.

However, this morning I was privileged to drive grandsons Emmit and TJ to their daily swim workout at Janesville’s beautiful Rockport Pool. They are part of the J-Hawk Aquatic team and are practicing at Rockport this summer. The team covers a wide age range, so the pool was full of young athletes. While the boys prepared themselves, I set up shop at an umbrella covered picnic table. I had my book, my notebook, a good Parker pen, and a thermos of coffee made at home with Dave’s Power Blend beans from Sharla’s. My thermos was a great insulated bottle given to me by my friend, Melissa. It is embossed with the Bible verse Joshua 1:9 – “Be strong and of good courage. Be not afraid neither be thou dismayed for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest,”

As I savored my coffee and perused the scene, I was awe stricken by a pool filled with young people (kids, as it were) enthusiastically swimming regimented laps in a variety of strokes. Every lane was full. Those kids were working hard but they were having fun. Yes, there was complaining but there was also much good- hearted repartee. So apparent was the hard work, the enthusiasm, the dedication, the discipline – all resulting in excellence. Little in life comes to us without developing these qualities. AND, for these kids, all of this at 7 a.m. on a Monday morning.

I was nearly overwhelmed with observing their lean, lithe, muscled bodies, their beautiful execution of strokes I cannot possibly do, their fitness level of being able to swim lap after lap while I lifted a cup of coffee a few times. They had accomplished more physical effort by 8:30 Monday morning than many of us will complete in a week.

My mind took me to some thoughts from author, Stephen Covey, who, in one of his books, discusses the concept of small private victories every day. I have found this to be a powerful motivator for me. I will not expound on it here but just consider what these kids could check off their lists by 8:30 on a Monday morning. What a start on the day and the week!

These reflections are not limited to swimming. They could be applied to any initiative in our lives. They are about small private victories that require us to be strong and courageous. I can’t do everything, but I can do something, i.e., get up a bit earlier, take a walk around the block or to the end of the driveway, do those stretches, cull those files, compose that draft, send someone a note, weed that flower bed.

Just imagine how fulfilled these kids must feel at the close of pool time. Yes, they would be tired but a contented, satisfied tired. I could hear their animation, their energy as it was spilling over onto me. It was 8:30 on Monday morning and they had accomplished so much already, more than many of us will accomplish the entire week.

So, this morning I was inspired and struck to my core about issues in my life. I don’t believe in coincidences. God put me at that pool early this morning for a reason. He gave me those kids to wake me up and inspire me. Thank you, J-Hawk swimmers, for the lesson you gave to me today.

Double Shot and Me - The Denouement of My Spring Biking - 2002

I believe I first heard the word, denouement, while sitting in a ninth-grade English class at Babcock Junior High School in Westerly, Rhode Island. This was probably 1964 or 65-ish. If you do the math, you realize that this was 58 years ago so my memory may be a bit off. My recollection is that we were reading, A Tale of Two Cities. Denouement was one of our selected vocabulary words. While I don't believe I have ever used the word in any writing or exposition since then, for some reason, it has always stuck with me. In case your memories are rusty, denouement means the outcome of a complex sequence of events. It is usually applied to literature, drama, and that sort of thing. I am applying it here to biking and me.

It’s early June 2022. March, April, May, & now June have been a watershed for me in returning to biking. In case, “watershed” is not in your routine vocabulary, I am using it here as an event or period marking a turning point in a course of action or state of affairs.

Spring has been remarkably good to me – good enough that I wanted to capture some of my thoughts about it. Leaving out the boring details, I have experienced some significant health issues over the past twelve months. These issues forced me to drastically reduce my physical exercise as, simply, I was unable to do it. As part of my recovery, I had targeted this spring as a turning point for my lagging biking. Due to a very chilly March & April my start-up lagged. I did get started but it seemed abysmally slow. Finally, May arrived and, with it, weather that I felt was more appropriate for biking – my favorite and seemingly easiest exercise for me.

I took my bike, Double Shot, down from the hooks in the garage on March 20 for my first ride in months and months. While Double Shot was happy to be out and about, he was barely communicating with me due to my neglect. I only managed two rides in March totaling a measly five miles. While this was progress, I was hoping to ride every two or three days, but the weather and my strength did not cooperate. In April I managed two rides for a whopping twenty-six miles. Again, progress, but not what I had envisioned. Then May came along and I was able to log ten rides totaling 172 miles. While certainly not fast biking, I was able to maintain an 11.5 mph average for which I was pleased. On June 2, I met one of my goals, making it all the way to the Capputan coffee shop just on the other side of downtown Ft. Atkinson. My round trip totaled thirty-two miles.

My biking legs are back, my derriere is reconditioned to Double Shot's seat and Double Shot is speaking to me again. Additionally, my health challenges are, for the most part, behaving. I'm focused on recording my blood pressure and weight twice a day, so I have noted a side benefit to this activity. My weight has gone from 194 on January 4 to 173 on May 31. My weight does move around a bit, but the reduction is another accomplishment. This investment of 53 hours biking time has earned me improved conditioning, needed weight loss, reacquaintance with some great biking routes, and a sense of accomplishment which produces a better outlook on life in general. Let's not forget that Double Shot and I are speaking again.

In my mind, especially at my age, biking provides a keen awareness of temperature, wind, and the absolute power of God in creating the glory of nature. A couple of days ago, as I was cranking along a nice flat part of the trail just north of Bower's Lake Road, I noticed a very large bird running down the trail about fifty yards ahead of me. I was clipping along about 15 mph, but that bird maintained its lead. It finally flew off across the highway. This turkey actually looked more graceful running than it did flying. I had no idea a turkey could move that fast. On last Thursday’s ride I encountered a deer. It was just on the other side of the mesh fence which is parallel to the trail but between the trail and the highway. This poor deer was frantically running ahead of me but continued to try to break through the fence which, of course, was not successful. It finally headed up the steep bank and safely crossed the highway. Sunrises are particularly nice to observe while biking, but head winds are a bane. Recently, a small bird, perhaps a red winged blackbird buzzed my head. I must have been too close to its nesting territory. I didn't see it coming but certainly heard the strange noise it made as it neared me. I was moving along quickly enough that it left me alone – probably went home and bragged about chasing a biker away. The plant life is also interesting to watch. Milk weeds are beginning to bloom, and, in some places, there is a plethora of garlic mustard. I haven't seen wild parsnip yet, but I also know there are areas where it hangs out. You want to give it a wide berth as the burns and blisters it causes are nasty.

I think most of my acquaintances would characterize me as quite friendly. A couple of days ago, I was pedaling north on Potawatomi Trail toward Lake Koshkonong. This is a nice road to bike with little traffic, great scenery and often wildlife. As I passed a large field, I saw a man in the middle of the field waving vigorously to me. Trying to convince people that bikers are great, friendly people, I actively returned his waves. As I pedaled past, my sight angle improved, and I realized that I was waving at a scarecrow. I was convinced for a bit that he was real, but it was just his long sleeves flapping in the wind. Oh well, I am an aging baby boomer so maybe that provides an excuse. Isn’t life like that - something not real (this could be so many things in life) attracts our attention, and we are immediately convinced that our interest is good, productive, and right but in reality, it is illusory. We wake up and realize we have been duped by our own human thoughts, actions, and interests. This encounter was pretty harmless compared with many of the illusions we conjure as we pass through this life.

Another great life lesson was my recent flat tire. I had pedaled from Milton and had just reached the edge of downtown Ft. Atkinson across from NASCO when I encountered a fairly large bump and my rear tire immediately deflated. Bummer! In the old days I would have changed this out there on the bike trail, but I don’t do that anymore, especially on the rear wheel. Luckily, dahliagirl (Sue) was able to come get me, and I was in an easy place to be found. I took Double Shot to Bicyclewise – my bike whisperer in Whitewater. I was convinced that I had the flat because of the big bump, but it turned out to be a tiny, barely perceptible shard of glass. Who would think this tiny speck could penetrate a sound tire and tube and deflate it that rapidly? It seems that this also happens in our lives. Our missteps and poor judgements are often not huge transgressions but are those little shards that we allow to penetrate and contaminate our lives. Our lack of discernment and thoughtlessness convince us our acts and words were relatively harmless, but they turned out to inflict significant damage to ourselves and maybe others.

Double Shot has also turned out to be an instructor in life lessons. He is a Giant ANYROAD and is the perfect bike for someone of my age and fitness level. He is very stable and, basically, a road bike, but with broader tires than most true road bikes. This allows me to easily ride on unpaved, gravel bike trails when I encounter them. With a true road bike with very thin tires, this is a bit tricky. Double Shot is equipped with three front sprockets and nine rear sprockets. This translates to twenty-seven different gearing ratios. Here’s the question – How many of those gears do you think I use most of the time? Well, the answer is about three. This is not because I am such a fitness specimen but relates more to my stupidity and not thinking about using the tools that are at my disposal. Good grief. Even though I know this and ponder it, I seldom change my routine and behavior. Isn’t this also just like life. God has equipped each of with unique gifts and strengths. Do we know what they are? Are we using them regularly to make life easier and better for those with whom we are in community? Or do we just muddle along in our old routines and habits and wonder why life is so tough?

So, my spring biking denouement and watershed is complicated but also, on reflection, simple in many other ways. Certainly, life’s trail changes and challenges us. “Weather” conditions arise to influence our daily decisions. In my opinion, seeking God’s guidance is a wise thing to do. I do not believe that God will solve my problems, but I do believe that if I seek and then listen, he will guide me back to the strengths and gifts he gave me and then, to either lean-in and use those gifts or do nothing and wonder why things don’t change. God couldn’t ride my bike for me, but I believe that he did influence me to summon the gumption he gave me and get it done. Isn’t it amazing - the things on which we reflect, from the seat of a bicycle?

 Life is good. #Gobybike

 

 

 

Pedaling Into April

Today is April Fool’s Day. It was sunny but quite cold when I heaved myself out of bed this morning. I had scheduled a morning of meetings so after a bite to eat and some coffee at home I hoofed it over to Sharla’s Coffee Stop to make my connections. Jenna and Sharla provided their usual outstanding service and the nitro cold brew with a bit of half & half was outstanding. Spiritual and life coach #1, Pastor Nate, just happened to be there working on his Doctor of Ministry assignments so we had to have a brief chat while Jenna prepared my nitro.

Rich was my first meet-up. He and I have known each other for several years and have worked together in a variety of capacities. We connect on a number of levels, and he provides great perspective for some of the meanderings of my mind. Our conversation today was most productive, and the synapses were jumping when we finished.

Meet-up number two was Pastor Liz, the other of my two spiritual and life coaches. We covered an entirely different gamut of mind meanderings than did Rich and I. So grateful to have people like this in my life.

By then, as Mabel (my mother) would have said, “The morning was fast going away.” As I walked the 250 steps home, I discovered that, if I dressed appropriately, it was probably warm enough for a foray by bike. (I am not a cold weather biker – too much of a wuss!) I did a quick weather check on my phone and decided to go for it.

Donned the appropriate garb, filled the water bottle, and headed to the garage. Double Shot heard me coming but assumed it was just another false alarm, so I surprised him by taking him down from the hooks. I then proceeded to ensure that everything was working and ready to go. Then it was East on High Street, North on Sunnyside, and then East on Storrs Lake Road to access the Glacial River Trail. Just a mile from my driveway to this point. Then I headed north but hadn’t landed on a goal as I was not at all sure how I would feel.

Well, Double Shot was working amazingly well. He had recently experienced a tune-up and, boy, could I tell. No superfluous noises (other than my breathing and the creaks of my body) no wobbling, shifting and gearing working like a charm. I was clipping along much better than I had hoped and a big part of this was Double Shot’s wonderful condition. I was so pleased but not really shocked at this. My bike dealings are 99.9% exclusively at Bicyclewise in Whitewater. John and Liz are small business owners and are phenomenal human beings. John, and Liz as well, have forgotten more about bikes than I will ever know. I am so comfortable with their knowledge and the way I have always been treated there. I refer to John as the Bike Whisperer. I wish I could get a similar tune-up for my body. I highly recommend them for any of your bicycle needs.

The trail is flat from Storrs Lake Road to Bowers Lake Road. I arrived there feeling good but knew there was an immediate uphill on the north side of Bowers Lake Road. You must begin this ascent from a stop due to the road. I was pleasantly surprised to find the uphill far easier than I had expected it to be. I then realized I could gear-up a bit, make better time and experience a better work-out.

This good feeling continued as I passed the Klug Road Cul-de-Sac and started the ascent just beyond. The ride was going so much better than I expected. Some type of topcoat was added to the Otter Creek Bridge since last season. There is more of a “bump” as you get on the bridge than I would like. Not a huge problem but certainly a bigger bump than I expected. I’m tempted to take some yellow or orange paint and highlight that line but that might be considered vandalism.

After the bridge, the trail heads uphill again to County N. That went well for me also. The fast and usually heavy traffic on N necessitates a stop there. I discovered that I was out of practice unclipping and swinging my leg over the bike to step down. This, of course, has NOTHING to do with age or physical conditioning. It’s about 4.5 miles from my driveway to this spot.

I was feeling good enough that I decided to continue my northward pedaling. The trail on the north side of N is flat with a gradual descent. Of course, the reverse is a gradual ascent. This is important to know for the return trip as is the fact that the most strenuous portion of the trail heading back to Milton is from County N to Bowers Lake Road.

I began to think that I might ride to my 10-mile point before reversing and then I could “book” a 20-miler as my first outing of the year. Remembering my cautions in the previous paragraph, I decided that would not be wise and instead chose the covered bridge as my goal.

The covered bridge is about six miles out. I dismounted to stretch my back a bit before heading south to Milton. My return trip also went well despite it being somewhat up hill all the way. A delightful surprise was encountering Dahliagirl on her new E-Bike as I headed down the hill to the Klug Road “circle.” This was her first ride on this machine, and she was enjoying it. We rode together the rest of the way home. I even made it up the High Street hill to my driveway.

So, feeling very righteous this evening sitting in front of a nice fireplace fire. Just over thirteen miles and feeling pretty good. Overall, a great Friday and beginning of a new month.

#cruzan4milton#GoByBike

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                      

Positivity at the Coffee Shop

I hear often about how our community, the nation, the world - you name it – are full of negativity. I agree that there is more than enough out there to go around. Unfortunately, I find myself caught up in it. I don’t like this, so if, and when, I recognize that I am there, I try to do what I can to extricate myself. One coping strategy that has helped me is to always keep searching for the positive. Positivity is out there, and really isn’t hard to find. But you must be intentional and persistent in looking for it. When I am searching, I am often amazed at what unfolds.

Most of my readers know that I frequent Sharla’s Coffee Stop. As a reminder, it is all of 250 steps from my driveway, serves up great beverages, scones, waffles, & muffins and has become a gathering place for many. I happened to head that way Saturday morning. I entered and positivity descended on me to the extent I needed to share the experience.

I arrived late in the morning and found the place packed and getting more packed by the minute. This is positive for any business. I wondered at all the people and discovered that Opala’s Music Studio students were setting up to put on a recital. Seemingly every parent, family member, and kid in the world were pouring in. You can imagine the scene. Opala set up a keyboard and began to organize the kids. The noise level was high with the nervous, excited chattering of everyone. It was great! What a community building activity.

However, that left the two baristas, Kaleb & Maysa, to handle the onslaught of business. Not unlike many businesses, Sharla’s has experienced some recent staffing challenges. When I entered, I could see that they were facing a challenge that would have daunted many of us, but then I had the privilege of watching them rise to the occasion. As the recital of vocalists and pianists began, Kaleb & Maysa maintained their poise and their customer focus. They worked effectively as a team as their preparation and maturity clearly shown through. They were awesome and I was as proud as if they were my own kids. Many factors go into helping our Milton kids learn and succeed. Clearly their parents and families but also the programs offered by our schools. These two rising Red Hawk high schoolers participate in the School to Career program. This program is too phenomenal and comprehensive to describe in this blog but what a positive for our students and our businesses who participate.

To recap last Saturday:

I saw a local business absolutely packed with customers.

I saw a local business (a music studio) using another local business (Sharla’s) to host a recital. I hope we see more of this. Clearly a Win-Win.

I saw many families being introduced to Sharla’s Coffee Stop because it was the venue for their children’s recital.

I saw two great high schoolers show their maturity & training in effectively handling a challenging business/work situation.

I saw positive effects of our School District’s School to Career program (thank you Amy Kenyon). Opportunity, Achievement, Community!

I got to enjoy a great nitro cold brew with a bit of cream – absolutely delicious.

I’d say it was a positive day.

You can’t find it if you’re not looking for it.

#cruzan4milton

Stepping in the Light

“Life unfolds as a mystery. An enterprise where outcome cannot be foretold.  We do not get what we expect. We stumble on cracks, are faced with imperfection. Bonds are tested and tightened. And our landscapes shift in sunshine and in shade.  There is light. Look for it. Look for it shining on your shoulder, on the past. It was light where you were. It is light where you are now. It will be light where you go again.  Gentle rhythmic circles.” (*Call the Midwife – Series 8 Episode 3 Closing)

 A few short weeks ago, those gentle rhythmic circles didn’t seem so gentle as they caught me up short and shifted my landscape significantly.  My big sister, Barb Green, an icon of a healthy approach to life through regular exercise, healthy diet, sense of purpose, and profound faith in Jesus as her Savior, contracted ALS – Lou Gehrig’s Disease. It landed on her with a vengeance, and, while it could not breach her will to live nor her faith, with tenacious, impatient aggression it rapidly sapped her strength and her body. Barb died peacefully in her sleep on April 28.

I refer to Barb as my “big” sister because she is the eldest of we four Cruzan siblings and I am the youngest.  Having 9 years on me, she was always there. She wrote on me with the indelible ink of her shining role model of caring.  Nancy, Wayne, and I would sometimes call her, “Miss Perfect” or the “Golden One” as she never seemed to get in trouble, earned the lead in the play, became proficient in both piano & pipe organ and played the French horn in band. She earned the distinction of Valedictorian of her senior class and graduated cum laude from her four-year nursing program at Alfred University. Of course, Barb is a case of the “proverbial apple” and how it falls, as our parents, Earl & Mabel, were great caregivers themselves but Barb put her own brand on it.

She seemed to intuitively know that to be truly alive, we need to focus on something outside of ourselves. She used her medical experience to help individuals attend doctor appointments, manage their weekly meds, decipher their bills, and sort through treatment options. But Barb was so much more than clinical.  Those she helped understood her caring as she knew their names, their houses, their families, and their work.  She became their prayer partner and their prayer warrior. She had authentic concern for the ground level struggles of the people around her.  Why was she like this?  It was her faith, her belief that we need to become more like Jesus, serve one another in God’s love, and share life together in the Spirit. I haven’t heard or sung this hymn since I was a child, but it came to me this past week. It so speaks to who she was.

 Stepping in The Light 

Trying to walk in the steps of the Savior,

Trying to follow our Savior and King;

Shaping our lives by his blessed example,

Happy, how happy, the songs that we bring.

(Refrain)

How beautiful to walk in the steps of the Savior,

Stepping in the light, stepping in the light,

How beautiful to walk in the steps of the Savior.

Led in paths of light.

Pressing more closely to Him Who is leading,

When we are tempted to turn from the way;

Trusting the arm that is strong to defend us,

Happy, how happy, our praises each day.

REFRAIN

Walking in footsteps of gentle forbearance,

Footsteps of faithfulness, mercy, and love,

Looking to Him for the grace freely promised,

Happy, how happy, our journey above.

REFRAIN

Trying to walk in the steps of the Savior,

Upward, still upward, we follow our Guide;

When we shall see him, “the King in His beauty,”

Happy, how happy, our place at his side.

REFRAIN

As our parents began their decline, both Barb and I were at the height of our careers, she in Occupational Health & Medicine for large manufacturers and me in Corporate Human Resources, both of us in the greater Rock County area. Wayne and Nancy lived at opposite ends of the country, so Barb and I were “it”. We soon realized how ill-equipped both of us were in knowing how to be caregivers for our parents who had always been caregivers for us.  We were daunted by the time required for their care and the need for a rapid and steep learning curve from us.  We collaborated, we learned, and came to understand that our careers were very similar in many ways.  This drew us closer as we shared acquired knowledge and understanding. Our experiences with our parents led Barb to initiate a Parish Nurse program in our church.  In addition to her caregiving with individuals, she organized classes for caregivers. You might call these Sunday School classes while we called them Sabbath School classes or Grow Groups.  Barb researched, prepared, and presented caregiving materials and led deeply personal discussions with class participants.  These classes evolved into support groups resulting in significant value for those involved.   Barb also led the way as our congregation realized a need to recognize mental health issues. She developed a class called, “Mental Health Is Not A Choice”. It was well attended, and our discussions again became support groups. She brought in local area guest speakers to address topics such as suicide, eating disorders, PTSD, depression, bi-polar, and anxiety. Barb, as our Parish Nurse was the lead in these classes while Sue and I were privileged to be her support persons.  We worked well together in these settings and I will sorely miss collaborating with her. She and I looked forward to our monthly breakfasts, first at Panera in Janesville and then, after Barb & Dale moved to Fairhaven, at Jessica’s in Whitewater.  We shared great conversations and, as we told our siblings & spouses, solved most of the world’s problems.  There is a hole here which will be challenging to fill not only for me but for our church congregation who came to rely heavily on her. 

A couple of years ago, leaders in our church studied the Clifton Strengthsfinder materials and assessment. Barb’s Strengthsfinder assessment results indicate that her top five strengths were: Connectedness, Learner, Harmony, Responsibility, and Intellection.  No big surprise here as they are quintessential Barb.  Here are the personal Strengths Statements she wrote as a result of her study.

“I feel strong when I am able to build ongoing, supportive, trusting relationships with people that enable me to be of assistance in guiding them into appropriate, Godly solutions to their problems and concerns.”

“I feel strong when I listen and pay attention to God’s priorities concerning my time and act obediently so that I am in the center of His will for my life.”

 “I feel strong when I can see the gifts and strengths of others and can encourage them to step out and use these abilities wherever God leads.”

Not much of a surprise here either.

Barb also invested her time in our church's AWANA program for kids.  For several years she worked with the youngest group called Cubbies where she led games, helped these youngsters learn Bible verses, and learn about faith and salvation.  Sceptics might ask what affect any of this had.  Let me tell you about the phone call I received yesterday.  Out of the blue, I received a call from my grandson Emmit's third grade teacher.  She relayed that on Mondays she often asks her class members to share experiences from their weekend. This past Monday, 5 days after Barb's promotion to Glory, Henry raised his hand and told the class that a wonderful grandma type of lady he knew from AWANA, Miss Barb, had died. He was sad because she was so nice and caring and he would miss her. Liam and Emmit also shared that they knew her and how she cared for people. Talk about a tear-jerker. I found it difficult to breathe for a moment or two. Thanks so much Jan, for calling me. This, from the mouth of babes, speaks so eloquently to who and what Barb was and what has become her legacy.

 So, what lessons are here for those of us still here in this physical world?

 If we are to shed the light of the sun on others, we must first have it within ourselves. We must get ourselves sorted. “Purpose often comes to us in unexpected forms and packages. It surprises us. Sometimes a crisis will trigger it. Most often, purpose comes in the form of a faint voice that is difficult to hear above the noise of a hectic life. It emerges in the most ordinary of places and circumstances – at home, on the job, in the community, with family and friends.” (Wilson Learning Corporation – The Power of Purpose) We must be intentional. We must act. If you are not looking for it, you can't find it. People showing a little caring and compassion will start a chain reaction.  Each of us must start our own chain reaction.

In a recent article, The Wilderness Walk, Barb remarked, “We are all struggling. We are all in this together. We need to encourage one another, pray for one another, and remember that God is in control. I challenge you to find your blessings in this wilderness walk.” For me, this passage is deeply personal. Barb has established a standard of care. To fill the void of her absence I must step-up. I can't do everything, but I can do something.  I invite you to join me.

If you haven't read the poem, “When Great Trees Fall”, by Maya Angelou, you should. But get your tissues out first.  Here is the final stanza of that great poem:

Our senses, restored, never

to be the same, whisper to us.

They existed. They existed.

We can be. Be and be

Better. For they existed.

I know it is well with Barb's soul. Despite my current sadness, it is well with my soul also. So long great lady until we meet again.

 

Gleanings from the Glacial (River Trail)

 After being quite active on Double Shot back in July, I ended up on a hiatus that lasted about 3 weeks. This wasn’t really planned but just kind of happened. Unfortunately, that is a pattern with me. I was raised (so it is pretty ingrained and part of my DNA) that one should not do anything for oneself, like reading a book, taking a snooze, watching a TV show, etc., if one does not have one’s chores completed and responsibilities fulfilled. This is both a blessing and a curse. My exercise program falls into that category of doing things for oneself. So, I end up in these cycles. Of course, this can’t be my fault, so, you can see, that I have chosen to assign blame to my heritage. During early August I fell into a period of other responsibilities and let the biking languish.

My perceived responsibilities changed, and I trundled Double Shot out of the garage early last Saturday morning. It was still dark at 5 am.but was really more that pre-dawn gray. I could tell the sun would appear very shortly so headed out without being concerned about the light. I also knew that Sharla’s would have freshly baked scones later in the morning so there was that bit of incentive as well. By the time I hit the Glacial River Trail at Storrs Lake Road (a mere mile from my garage) the sun, still a bit below the horizon, had lightened things considerably. The trail heading north from Milton was beautifully groomed, i.e. well mowed, grass cuttings swept off to the sides, very little litter, and hardly any animal excrement. The air was cool & clear, the sunrise was spectacular, I was feeling strong, & Double Shot was working well after a recent mini tune-up and lubrication. Perfect conditions for my mind to do its thing and help me regenerate, physically, mentally, & spiritually.

First, I went through my morning prayer list. This led me to think about nature’s (God’s) cycles. While the trail environment doesn’t look like “fall”, it is clearly showing signs. The Queen Anne’s Lace is dying down and the other ground foliage has more of that “end of season” look. There was no one out there – I had the Glacial to myself. Then this setting led my mind to thinking about the cycles of life. Things like age, careers, relationships, purpose, involvement, caring, and then all of those things in light of the state of the world. Who am I? What do I have to contribute that will make a difference? What do I value and believe in? What am I doing with my life? Where do I get a sense of purpose? And then it comes to me - the seeds of purpose are all around us.

Well, when your mind is doing these things while your eyes are overwhelmed with God’s creation, the miles slip by quickly. I was already at the parking/rest area across Highway 26 from the Stagecoach Inn. This is just over 6 miles from my garage. I felt strong and wanted to push on but I also realized I hadn’t been on Double Shot for 3 weeks and I still had to have enough strength to get home and there would be freshly baked scones at Sharla’s that I knew would not last long. So. I pulled in to sit on the picnic bench for a bit and stretch my back. This gave me a chance to do a short video clip from the trail (I have found that I like to do these and also know that people can choose to not view/listen to these clips if they are disinterested or feel that the clips are lame). These clips have added a piece of purpose to my psyche and help me connect with friends and acquaintances. Then I headed home. Clocked just over 12 miles round trip so was feeling righteous.

On the return, I got to thinking about Double Shot. He’s a great bike and is equipped with 28 gears. I was reflecting on the fact that I use about 3 of these 28 gears. Now, that’s just plain not smart. When a hill starts to be a challenge why not use the mechanical advantage for which I paid good money? So, I began to consciously use this great 2-wheeled machine much more in the manner for which it was designed. Amazing results. Now, I know all of this. It's not exactly rocket science. You probably don't, but I just get bogged down in habits and routines on occasion.

Then it hit me that I often don’t use the gears that life (God) has given me to overcome and effectively deal with the daily challenges along the way. God has given my life many gears. How am I using them to advantage, to leverage the other skills, abilities, and strengths that I have? How am I using the tools right in front of my face to help find my way through life’s challenges? Maybe I'm not and that could explain a lot of things.

As I pedaled into town – about 7:30, I popped my head in at Sharla's and was informed that the first batch of scones would be out of the oven in about 5 minutes. I pedaled home – about 50 yards – changed out some clothes and hoofed back to Sharla's. Enjoyed a nitro cold brew and a delicious, hot scone. Connected with several neighborhood & community friends. Had a nice long chat with LeAnn & with April. As it was closing in on time for virtual church, I hustled home bearing scones for Sue, Mandi, Leif, and Gus. It's always nice to be the hero.

Today, Sunday 8/16, was day 2 of my return to biking. Once again nice and cool this morning. Headed north again but once I hit the parking area across from the Stagecoach, I decided to reverse and head south of Janesville to review the Glacial section between Town Hall Road and Badger Veterinary. I had not been on this part of the trail for a long, long time, but was curious as there had been some Facebook chatter about the trail being overgrown and littered with matted grass and weeds. This chatter resulted in an official inquiry to the Rock County Highway Department who replied that this area was a designated butterfly habitat so there would be no mowing until fall / frost / or that sort of timing. Interesting idea and one which I support. Who knew? I probably missed an article in the paper or some meeting minutes or something. It doesn't seem that the bikers I know who use this section were aware of this habitat. This does make a bit more than a mile of the trail quite overgrown (narrow) and there is a significant accumulation of matted grass from mowing early in the season. This matted grass is always nasty for bikers as it flies up into your chain & gears and can be treacherously slippery when wet. (Do our lives have areas of matted grass?)

So there's the dilemma. Two great ideas but with potentially competing or opposing agendas. Rather the story of life wouldn't you say? I like the habitat idea. In a perfect world it would not narrow the Glacial, but our world is seldom perfect. I understand the need for the habitat. I understand the need for a clear bike trail, especially one free of matted grass. What to do? Weren't we speaking of purpose earlier in this post? Didn't we suggest that the seeds of purpose are all around us? Well, I could gather a couple of volunteers, maybe a grandson or two, take some flat shovels out there and carefully clear that matted grass without damaging the habitat. This would solve a great deal of the problem. Yes, it would be work, but it would also be great exercise in a very nice butterfly habitat area. It would be a couple of miles or more of walking but am I not always looking for steps? It would be driven from purpose and it would be a way to contribute a solution to this current issue – an issue which is understandable but somewhat aggravating. Hmm! I think I know the answer.

Finished my ride today by returning home via Town Hall, then Town Line, then Parkview Drive, the St. Mary St. to Campus St. and a quick down hill to home. Cranked off 18 miles total and, perhaps learned a few things as well.

Biking is such a good activity, exercising the mind and soul as well as the body. I highly recommend it, and the Glacial is such a great place to do it.

#glacialgleanings#cruzan4milton