Meet the Kraemers

It seems as we get older, our family continues to change and expand. Through these photographs we are introducing Kris and Annie Kraemer. If you know Pat Cretilli, really well, you know that she was a Kraemer. Her first husband was Peter Kraemer. And you do know Kim -Pat and Peter's daughter. When Kim's dad re-married, he had three more children, which gave Kim four siblings, including her stepbrother, Ollie Bauer. Her other three sibs are Eric, Kristopher (Kris) and Andrea (Annie). It has been great have the opportunity to get to know Kris and Annie better and a joy to have their regular presence at family events. Sadly, their increased presence in our lives is in part the result of a series of sad events events in theirs. First, Eric died tragically and suddenly in 1999. Erics death is an example of how random death can be and how fragile life can be. As some of you know, Kim's dad, Peter Kraemer died in 2003 and four short years after that Kris and Annie lost their mom, Charmaine. Reciting these events with out more detail does not do justice to the way in which Kim and her brother and sister responded to the death of their dad and to the support and care they provided Charmaine during her treatment for cancer. Suffice it to say, we have been proud of how she has shown her love and generosity for her family. For Pat and I and, I suspect Ollie, a gift from these losses has been a greater presence of Kris and Annie in our lives at Christmas, Thanksgiving and other times throughout the year.

Hopefully, you will get to know them better but for now I've posted a few pictures from recent holidays. Kris is 26 and lives in St. Paul and Annie is 22 and lives in Madison WI.

Photo #1: Ollie, Kris and Annie with their best punk band pose, modeling gifts from their big sister (Christmas 2008)
Photo #2: Kris and Annie (Christmas 2008)

The Grand Canyon

Niether Pat nor I have ever been to the Grand Canyon. Everybody should see it. What a wonder -not part of the orginal 7- but it has got to be on many people's list as evidenced by the number of languages one hears spoken as you walk the rim. Our pictures do not do justice. We arrived on Monday, April 18 and Left early this morning Wednesday April 20th.

I wish I could begin to explain the nearly 2 billion year history of the formation of the Grand Canyon. The power of "Mother Earth" is awe inspiring. There is a geology walk along the rim that provides a geological overview and a guide to the layers of rock that were created as a result of the collisions that formed the the North American Continent. The walk took us through the 1,840 million years and showed us formations that outlined the volcanoes of the past, the various forms of limestone, igneous and sedimenary rock and their ages, through signs, samples and telescopic aids.

I am overwhelmed at how powerful our earth is and how small we humans are even with our advances in science and technology. I get the feeling that is we don't behave ourselves there is no doubt in my mind that the earth will survive even if it has to swallow us up and start all over again. We are really small and it contians all the secrets necessary to start over again, if necessary.

The other realization I had was that while there are many reasons I didn't appreciate geology as a boy - lack of aptitude being only one. But another may be that the good sisters -as I remember- never did attach years to the formation of those layers of rock. I wonder if that had anything to do with our Catholic education. It is hard to reconcile 1.8 billion years with a seven day creation story.

As ended our visit with the Gales last Sunday I asked Uncle Jim if he'd ever been to the Grand Canyon. "Why would I want to go up there? It's _ _ _ _in' hole isn't it? Indeed it is, but what a hole!

Two fun days with the Gale Family

We have had a fun packed and busy two days. Yesterday we went over to Uncle Jim and Aunt Karon's and watched Braydon (he is two) but we did not get a picture of him, swimming in the pool with his "Gramma" Deb and "Grampa" Paul Langness. Braydon is the son of Natalie, who is Brandon Langesses girlfriend. Braydon did go under at one point but Grampa Paul Langness was right there to swoop him up. Also swimming were Tommy our nephew and Chris, his eleven year old son. Later that evening we went to a series of one act plays directed by students of Cody Langness' wife Rachel She teached drama at a high school in south Phoenix. Four of her students directed a one act play. Three were funny and we laughed our sides off. One of the plays written and directed by the same studen dealt with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)of soldiers and was tough to watch but excellent.

Today we went to Paul and Debby Langness' home and had a beautiful Persian meal which Debby made in spite of the 90 degree plus weather. She must be related to the late Gramma Cretilli who made pasta in her kitchen in the summer heat. We have some wonderful pictures of the family to share and lots of memories from this trip. Tomorrow we leave for the Grand Canyon. We have really enjoyed seeing all the family here. We are looking forward to making our way back to Minnesota too!

Pictures: 1: Chris Gale ( son of Apryl and Tom)playing with Chris "Carter". 2. Nicole (daughter of Kathy Gale) 3. Jim Gale and Pat 4. Kathy Gale and friend Del 5. Tom Gale and Family 6. Tom and Apryl 7. Jim and Karon Gale.

A Visit To The Langnesses

Last night we ate "dad burgers" at Deb and Paul Langness's. They also threw in some hot dogs, a favorite of Dan Lockwood's. Dan believes that no bad can come from eating a hot dog, which speaks to the powers of mind that can be acheived with practice and discipline. The "dad burgers" were great and complemented by a Scots-Irish Italian Salad prepared to perfection by Uncle Jim, who had already gone to bed. So though physically not there, his presence was felt.

This is a smart family full of engineering and computing expertise. Dan described his work on the escape pod for the space shuttle. If your firewall fails call Cody Langness. I learned the science behind those wireless devices we carry around and why I can't use the Samsung phone that came with my Verizon plan if I switch my network to Sprint. I also concluded that space exploration is over until somebody finds a way to make a profit from it. So maybe there is not a compelling vision for space exploration. Does that mean there is no legacy emerging from the Space shuttle the international space station, or the moon landings? So don't save up for a ride in space, if you don't expect to be here in a generation or two. We also agreed -well those with expertise agreed-that mining platinum from an asteroid, would be a really good paying job.

Uncle Bill Gale has found a way to pull pictures off the blog, so maybe he will take some of the family photo's and turn them from trip pictures into Bill Gale art.

Pictures:
1.Cody Langness and his dad Paul
2.Mike Gale and Pat
3.Jim Gale Jr. and Pat
4.Brandon and his girlfriend Natalie
5.The Langness family, Paul, Brandon, Casey and Debbie
6.Julie and Dan Lockwood with Chris Carter the Langness dog

A day at the Desert Botanical Gardens

Pat and niece Julie went off to the Desert Botanical Gardens while Paul played golf with great nephew, Casey. There are so many lovely blooms in the gardens right now and Spring is really the best time to tour. We have had a few days with the Gale family and tonight we are going to dinner at Deb and Paul Langness' home. They are Pat's niece and nephew and the parents of Casey. Also, it is likely that Brandon, Cody and his wife Rachel and Brandon's girlfriend will be at the party. Pictures should follow from that party since Uncle Jim and Aunt Karon and if we are lucky we will see Pat's other nephews Jim, Tom and his wife Apryl and others possible. We are having lovely days and cool evenings. Last evening we went to a cool restaurant created by Dr. Andrew Weil. Foods are all pretty healthy and pure but really delicious. We loved it. Dan and Julie were our tour guides there.

In Scottsdale

Click on photos and they may enlarge and give a better perspective

We have arrived in Scottsdale enjoying the great hospitality of Dan and Julie Lockwood,our niece and nephew. Yesterday we had a great drive through Arizona's beautiful mountains and pine forests. We drove through the painted desert and the petrified forest, to which these pictures do not do justice. Today we spent the afternoon with Uncle Jim and Aunt Karen. Uncle Jim is ornery as ever which means he is mending well from his recent surgery or the sight of Paul reminded him of his roots in the home state of Hubert Humphrey and the Democratic, Farmer, Labor Party. In truth he was happy to see us and especially his sister formerly know as "Patty".

News from home for those who don't already know: Carson Westra made the AAA 13 baseball team in Inver Grove Heights. We are right proud of the boy who is really taking a step up to play with 13 year olds at the Triple A level. Go C-MAN!

New Mexico and Colorado

Here we sit in Albuquerque, exhausted at the end of a day. We've put on another 450 miles and feel like we couldn't have gone another inch. What happened to those days when 700 miles and 14 hours on the road was routine.

If you haven't driven the road from Denver to Albuquerque along I-25 we would recommend it. It starts with mountains and valleys and ends with endless grasslands and desert. We stopped in Colorado Springs to take a walk through the Garden of the Gods, a valley filled with beautiful red rock formations and has miles of walking paths and nature walks.(See photograph.) We loved seeing the long tailed Magpies.

As we drove through New Mexico, along the Santa Fe trail I was struck by the beauty of the gulches that wind their way through the flat grass lands - jagged eroded walls and filled with rocks- and how they add a depth and character to the flat land. Unfortunately, not much water has flown though the gulches this year. New Mexico is in a major drought.

Tomorrow we are off to Scottsdale.

We both got up at 5am and left for the Sandhill Crane area right after breakfast.
Although we were able to see several flocks, our pictures are not clear enough to post. They walk away from humans. Can't blame them. We learned they are huge; some are four feet with six foot wing span. They are beautiful too. What we did post is a photo of the Platt River taken from a blind at the Rowe/Audubon Preserve. We want to volunteer next year to be tour guides. We drove thru gale force winds in Western Nebraska and into Colorado Both of us are quite pooped tonight after fighting with winds, rainy cold weather and a very long day. We are staying in Aurora, Colorado tonight and plan on making our way to Albuquerque in am. Hope everyone is free of Tornado weather up there. Good Night!

Spring Road Trip -Lincoln NE

We've settled in at Lincoln NE for the night. Started out this morning @ 40 degrees and drove in an overcast until Des Moines. By Lincoln, we had 87 degrees and severe thunderstorm warnings with 40 mile and hour wind gusts. We had dinner at Misty's Steak House, I had Salmon and Pat had Yellow Tuna. Oh, is it Cattle Country we are in? Oh well, I'll have steak next time I am in Seattle or Maine. Tomorrow we head out toward Denver with a stop at Kearny NE to see the Sand Hill Cranes. I hope we aren't too late.
Our photo of the day is this looming storm, taken from a parking lot on our way to dinner. Warnings continue as we get ready for bed, but so far nothing. Good night.

The Care Program

From my journal on February 19, 2010
"'Give God the only thing God wants, our hear contrite and humble, meek and peaceful, kind and just.' -This is a quote from today's reflection by Bert Thelen S.J. from Creighton University. I have been anxious lately worried about selling our house, finding financing for our new home, and just money in general. I have not been able to concentrate on my prayer or put myself in God's presence. Yesterday I subbed at Hilltop Elementary in a special education program called CARE. These are children who are multiply handicapped; one profoundly autistic, another born with no eyes, all very limited intellectually and physically. Only one of the children was able to walk. The teachers goals are modest; for one speaking a word, for another standing up on his own. Being able to associate the weather out doors with a correct picture is a big achievment. The conditions they live with are accidents of birth, unexpected and life changing for their parents in ways mothers and fathers never expect or prepare for. I suspect that for some the sorrow, the cost and dedication required for care, make the families stonger. Others may abandon their children and run away. I see myself in both responses; part of me wanted to run away from my one day job, while another part of me wanted to devote my life to these boys so challenged."

My Reflections Today, April 7, 2011
As I look over this journal entry and think about the invocation to act with justice and kindness, I think, what about me? I am distracted by my own personal issues, money, moving, adjusting to life changes of my own. A simple prayer is hard for me -unless it is to petition something for me. I go to school and find these children, who are struggling to do the best they can with what they've got. They have good days and bad, good moments and bad. Sometimes they are happy and sometimes angry. Their parents however can't just turn inward and martial their resources to get through. They need a community. The need extraordinary health care, and focused and individualized education and family social support and maybe special equipment. I wonder who sees to justice and kindness for them. I don't. I don't act unless it I can identify with the scope of the problem and the powerlessness it creates. I can send money for Earthquake aid or Tsunami aid but I don't think about those who are overwhelmed everyday and need funding but also expertise.

I think about this a lot these days as our state legislature and federal government looks to reduce deficits and cut spending. And I wonder who is going to be left out and what I would do if I had to set the priorities. I am thinking of alot of people but when I came across my journal entry and consider the things on my mind on that day, over a year ago, I hope our legislators remember that everything can't be solved by a market and some problems are to big to just suck it up and adjust. And some problemes are to to big for an extended family or neighborhood to rally around.

Who best looks after the things we/or enough of us don't think about? Who takes care of the things out of our site and out of our minds? What is kind and just? How do I take care of myself? Is kindess and justice taking care of myself and minimizing my cost to society? Is kindness and justice deciding what I think is right and making contributions based on my interests on faith in a self organizing and just sytem? Is there something I owe to the community for the things I may not care about or think about?

We filed our tax return yesterday. Uhg, I think about taxes everytime I drive through a pot hole and everytime I see my property value fall while the taxes go up. I think about taxes every time I pay 10-15% more for a hotel room than quoted at check in. And of course -you know me- I see my tax dollars go up in smoke every time a multi-million dollar missle hits a remote target in the Middle East. I know there is waste in government -each of us perhaps has a different definition of what waste is. Then I think about those kids in the CARE program and all the CARE programs, all funded by taxes of some form. It's a mess isn't it? But I know somewhere there are people of all political persuasions who are thinking about what is kind and just. They will make sure the "care programs" are there when we encounter something to big to handle alone. Won't they?

Westra's at Mount Rushmore

We are a traveling family these days. As Pat and I get ready to travel we've had fun watching Kim her family on Spring break. They skied in Colorado and it appears by this picture that the "break" was strictly of the respite variety. I see no casts, do you? Soon we will set out for a little escape of our own. We will keep you posted.

View From Ollie's New York Office

Here is a nice picture taken by Ollie Bauer. It is a view of The New York Skyline from his new office in Brooklyn. If you click on the photograph it should enlarge.