30 Years of Momements With Mary

Can't have a milestone anniversary and a website called "Sitzman Moments" and not share something about the greatest of moments - getting to be Mary's husband.

May 23, 2017 marks thirty years of marriage for Mary and I.  I look at the picture below and I see two people looking together at the journey that lies ahead, not knowing where it would lead, but ready to experience it together.  As a result of the experiences we have shared,  I am so fortunate to be able to say that I have never loved Mary more than I do today and for some strange reason she seems to feel the same way about me.  What a precious feeling!!!

Outside the church at St. Stanislaus Church in Sobieski.

Our journey together started when Mary and I met playing volleyball with friends in Little Falls.  There were also opportunities for socializing and dancing to live music at the Drawbridge Bar.  One Saturday I went to the Drawbridge hoping Mary would be there so that I could ask her to go with me to an Alabama concert at the state fair.  She was there and she said yes!  Our first date actually ended up being supper at the King's Supper Club.  (There won't be any nostalgic visits as the Drawbridge, King's, and where we had our wedding reception - Jerry's Supper Club - no longer exist.)

Soon after those first dates, Mary would meet Mom at a softball game in Buckman.  It turned out they had been talking to each other almost daily for a number of years as Mom worked as a secretary at the Pierz high school and she and Mary had to discuss attendance as some Pierz students attended Little Falls for individual classes not offered in Pierz.  That softball game would turn out to be their only in person meeting.  Mary lived only a couple blocks from St. Gabriel's Hospital, and she was there for me the day Mom passed away just days after that meeting.  Mary also took time off work to be there for the funeral.  Even though we had only been dating a few weeks, I already knew I had found someone I could talk to and who would be there for me.  As someone who always seems to do things the hard way, patience and understanding are pretty important qualities to have in a life partner, and Mary still has lots of both.  My becoming guardian of my sister and having other family members living with us was never an issue.  By the time I met her family at her niece's wedding, I was sure I had found my wife.  Our relationship moved along quickly; approximately ten months from first date to our wedding day.

We don't dance as much as we used to,
but Mary still gets me to slow dance from time to time.

Besides each other, our greatest gift was the arrival of our daughter, Christina Alice.  We were still living in Buckman when Christy was born; she was baptized in Buckman.  We moved to Little Falls just in time for Christy to celebrate her first Christmas there.

Mom and daughter resting after a very long birth process - nearly a day.

Home on the couch in Buckman.  Daddy's little girl!

We didn't have a lot of money in those early years, yet we found a way to have a good life.  Camping and bike riding became an inexpensive way to get out and enjoy the beauty around us.  Campgrounds near Itasca State Park and the Cannon Valley Trail near Welch were favorite destinations.  (Both campgrounds are now closed - anyone else noticing a trend here?)  And brother Chip's various job locations allowed us the opportunity to cheaply visit places like the Black Hills, Laramie, Rocky Mountain National Park, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Chicago, St. Louis, and Cape Girardeau.  There were lots of family gatherings, many involving some old time music being played as Mary's dad loved to sing and play the trumpet.  Since then there have been additional trips, either through work or on our own, including California, Nevada, New York, Boston, Georgia, Florida, and Mary's dream spot of Hawaii.  Mary did win a little money for us in Reno; hit the jackpot to win a SeaDoo.  She took the cash instead as SeaDoo's don't fly as well as they float.

Hawaii

Lake Tahoe

Yosemite National Park

Great Smokey Mountain National Park

A Mother's Day favorite - Mini Golf

Together biking.

There have been some challenges along the way.  We had one miscarriage and Michael Robert Sitzman was only with us about 1.5 days as he was born premature.  By a long shot, Mary still has more days spent in the hospital than I because of the challenges as a result of her pregnancy with Michael.  That same year her mom passed away from cancer.  And there were many emergency runs for her dad in his later years.

Michael Robert Sitzman holding his dad's finger.

Telling Christy her brother had died may have been one of the most difficult things I have ever done.  As a result, I was bound and determined to see my family smile again.  Still don't know how we did it, but Christy made her first trip of many to Disney World that summer.  Turned into one of our most memorable trips - pictures of Christy smiling were priceless!  Guess that has been a theme of our marriage:  taking the challenges of life and learning how to make the most of them, turning them into something positive.  Cancer just happens to be the current challenge.  With God's love and strength, we'll continue to move forward!

If there was a photo opportunity with a Disney character on that first visit,
Christy knew what to do without coaxing!

Just had to include the picture below.  Again, I can provide lots of challenges, including when I am firing off smart remarks that are intended to be humor.  It's a good thing Mary can still laugh when those hands go around my neck so that she doesn't squeeze too tight!

Fortunately I have managed to keep a spell over her, and she over me.  While our current situation allows me some freedom to go off and do some things on my own, make no mistake, I am at my best with her at my side.

As Christy and Caleb approach their wedding, hopefully they will see things in us that they can take into their marriage.  May they be as blessed as we have been.  Thank you God for bringing Mary into my life.  Thank you Mary, for choosing to take this magical journey with me!!!

A mistake double exposure taken by our photographer.
The "mistake" is our favorite picture from the wedding.

Family, Friends, Nature

After getting a taste of spring/summer during the visit to Georgia and Florida, I was looking forward to getting out to spend springtime with family and friends back home.  The week of May 6 - 14 would bring that opportunity.

It started with a chance to spend time with family, the Paschke clan, and raising money to continue the fight against Parkinson's disease.  Being able to do the walk with cousin Jeff was especially precious as we have many similar experiences to share from our health challenges.  (Unfortunately, I didn't get a group picture to include.  I'll try to do better in future blogs.  😃)  After the walk it was time for a bike ride around Lake Harriet and along the Minnehaha Parkway to take in the beauty of spring along the trail.  From there it was off to Christy's for a nap (yes, I admit to daily naps!) and supper, then down to Woodbury to watch my nephew Nate play goalie for the Woodbury lacrosse team.

Spring has sprung on the Minneapolis bike trails.

Save!  Way to go Nate!!

Mary performed with the St. Francis Chorale on Sunday.  Much practice time goes into getting ready for this performance and I thought this was one of their better ones.  My wife does love to sing!  Unfortunately she has had to battle through some respiratory stuff to do it, which is why she wasn't able to join me on Saturday.

The annual Kreb's Cycler's fundraiser for MS TRAM took me to Rochester for a few days of just fun with my friends there.  As I arrived in Rochester on Wednesday evening, I found flowering trees in full bloom everywhere.  Found enough time before the sun set to get in a few pics of the trees at Bro Paul and Sis Sue's home, which is where I was staying.  Sis also had me try out her new accordion - I made noise; getting actual music out of it will be Sue's responsibility.

Everybody polka!!!

The next morning it was time for a bike ride with friends on the Mayowood trail, where the bluebells were starting to fade a little, but still, the bloom was impressive.  Hope Mary can share in the beauty next year!

Sue, Paul, Warren, Doug, and Dudley joined me for the ride and lunch.

Bluebells surround the Mayowood Trail for just
a short period of time each spring.

Mother Nature wasn't the only one adding her touch of creativity.

The rest of the day was about the Kreb's Cycler fundraiser.  Unfortunately, I didn't remember to take pictures that evening at the fundraiser.  Too busy catching up with all the friends in attendance.  Quite a few of my teammates and myself will not be riding in TRAM this year, but we all come together to support those that are and support the fight against MS.  Kreb's are special people!

The next morning was another ride on the Mayowood Trail, this time with friend Matt.  Matt decided that I had to experience riding a fat tire bike just once, so we switched bikes for the ride.  Wouldn't want to ride one on a longer ride, but I can see where it would be fun off the paved trails or during the winter.  Besides another view of the bluebells, we were able to watch three deer up close near the trail.

After the ride, we helped Dudley unload some tables from the night before and then the three of us enjoyed some root beer.  That was supposed to be the end of my Rochester visit, but just a very slight twisting of my arm had me sticking around to ride again on Saturday.  (I'm retired, might as well make the most of my new found freedom!)  That meant a nice supper out with the Sue, Paul, Ann, and Warren on a beautiful evening.  Which was followed by an impromptu chasing of a hot air balloon on it's journey from start to finish.  Followed by my first taste of Flapdoodles ice cream.  😋

Saturday was another bike ride with the Outspokin' group on the Douglas Trail.  Unfortunately it marked the last day of business for Better Brew, the regular refueling spot for rides to Pine Island.

Returned home to Little Falls just in time to head to Bowlus for supper to plan a biking weekend with friends there.  Another night of sitting outside having supper with friends; sucks to be me.  😏

Mother's Day had us heading to the Cities.  The Jester family was kind enough to invite us over for lunch.  Then Mary, Christy, Caleb, and I got in a round of mini golf.  Caleb avenged a previous loss.  😃

A family gathering for Mother's Day.

A week of moments celebrating family, friends, and the beauty of spring in Minnesota.  I have a unique opportunity to experience these moments and I am thankful.  I hope and pray that you too can find opportunities to experience and celebrate precious moments like these!