Okay, Bear with Me: One More Set of Photos

 I found about a dozen photo albums of our 40 years together. One was from Sabine’s mother, Charlotte, and it captured photos of Sabine’s immigration photo at 3 years of age and her graduation from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota.

Overall, my attempt through at almost a thousand photos was to capture what I experienced as the “essence” Sabine. They are somewhat chronological. Here goes... 

Our photo album collection.

Making decisions. Which pictures capture Sabine’s “essence?”

                                                

      Sabine’s immigration picture at age three.

As a young girl. 8 or t0 years of age?

While a student at Gustavus Adolphus College, she did a semester in Japan living with this family.

                                                        Graduating from Gustavus in 1975.

Madison Police Officer, Class of 1980. Yes, there’s a story here.

                On the police range doing a biathlon which involved both running and shooting events. Always    a good shot!

                                                    The “kidnapping” on Dec 29, 1981.

                            And a whirlwind, family event marriage in Brookline’s, So. Dak. Surprise!

Two kids madly in love with the judge, mom and dad, sister Barbara and husband Ken (who took the picture). With a puzzled niece, Teak, standing with the roses. Crazy? You bet!

In the Spring, we decided to do it again at Olbrich Gardens in Madison, WI.

                                                    Backpacking in the Rocky Mountains.

We decided it was best that Sabine leave the Madison PD. I stayed on as chief and she served 29 years with the State Capitol Police and retired as a captain.

                                                                                Hot-tubbing!

                                                                            On a cruise.

We were both active runners, Nordic skiers, and cyclists. Here Sabine and sister Barbara are readying for a run together.

                                                                Snorkeling in Florida.

Two little girls from an orphanage in Korea join our family, Sumi and Yumi.

                                            Then comes along a little boy, Joshua, later Ezekiel.

Swimming lessons. Yumi takes a plunge while Sabine and Sumi prepare to catch here. That’s my arm in the lower right. No, I didn’t push Yumi!

        One of our many travels which took us to Europe, Japan, Korea and South Africa over the years.

    The family is growing up, All three kids are now married and building their own families. Circle of life.

                                                   With a major in theater, what could I expect?

“Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful!”

With sister, Barbara.

Recovering from the stem cell transplant.

                                        Sumi and Sabine at Yumi and Matt’s Wedding in Nashville.

                        Our companion over the years. The portable hemodialysis machine that kept her alive.

            Granddaughter Gracie and her mother, Heather, join us for a pirate event at our marina.

                                        Digging me out or burying me? For sure, she dug me out!

In the garden at the first church, St John’s Episcopal in Portage, WI. One of the two churches we served after my post-retirement seminary education and ordination.

                        When we chose homecare with Heartland Hospice two days before her death.

         A couple of weeks prior to her death. We loved to play and dance. See our “sock hop” videos.

                                                                   Oh, how I loved this woman!

Sabine at rest after her death. She stayed the night with me after I had prayed for her soul, washed and anointed her body, and dressed her. It was making beauty out of tragedy for us.

Our hands together — always! Thus ends an earthly relationship well-lived and well-loved.