Live, Love, Laugh June 25, 2016

This issue of Buzzard Notes has a few tears mixed in with it because my good buddy, Gale Ritter, passed away this past May. Her family and many friends held a great celebration of life for Gale this past Saturday, June 25, 2016.  Profound words are difficult to voice right now, but I hope to somehow convey how much this celebration meant to me and how it helped me to begin to heal.

Gale and I met some 54 years ago at Chapman College where we were PE majors. We formed a fast friendship that continued for all these many years. Gale was an avid RVer and became a camp host at several national parks and I got to visit her at three of them. We had many adventures together in college and at these parks. I visited her at Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge this past March that I recounted in an previous Buzzard Notes. (Don’t forget to click on the photo if you wish to enlarge it)

This is my favorite photo of the two of us and was taken at Pahranagat last March. Gale always loved a campfire and always built a good one.

So it is that I flew to Columbia Falls, MT to join the celebration and finally get to meet Gale’s girls and her extended family. Gale talked about all of us so much that we sort of already knew each other. I had never been to Montana and now I would really like to go back now because it’s so beautiful and the people are so sweet.

These are some of the trees that line the road in front of the Ritter Homestead.

I loved being at the homestead. Gale’s daughters, Cindy and Teri, made me feel so welcome as did all of the folks I met. It was like being in another large family. The celebration was very well planned (but informal, my kind of affair) with canopies (in case of rain), lots of food, many memories and lots of hugs and love. It was a true neighborhood/friends gathering as many of the folks brought food. I tried to sample each of the dishes…and then a caterer supplied barbecued pork, coleslaw and beans! Oh my! Many of us ate too much, but it was soooooo good!

I would like to share some of the gathering pictures as all of them contributed to a grand celebration. Gale would have loved it!

Teri is telling Hank to get back with the other dogs to get back with the other dogs. Then, the other dogs are asking, why can’t we be out with Hank (because he was big enough to jump the fence.)

Checking out a family album.

Photos throughout Gale’s life

Gale was in Vietnam as a member of the Red Cross in the late 60s. She never talked about it much and consequently, I didn’t know she had received a medal for her service in ‘Nam.

The committee to get the kegs going properly.

The committee was successful!

Some of the crowd.

This party crasher just showed up and didn’t belong to anyone in the crowd. He tried to get tidbits from folks but it didn’t work.

Teri and Cindy began the story telling of memories of Gale and invited other to share some of their stories. It was good to laugh at some of Gale’s fast car stories. She did love fast rides. She also loved horses and there were some good horse stories…some of those were fast rides, too.

Jeff, one of Gale’s sons-in-law, wrote some poems for Gale.

Can you hear me now? Yes, I’m bringing home the beer!

Cindy, me, Teri and Gale’s brother, Rich

The extended family and Hank.

I am appropriating some of the Gale-isms that were sort of Gale’s philosophy because I really think they say a lot to all of us. (Thanks to Jeff for having these in Gale’s obituary)

*Always Live, Love, and Laugh

            (Also referred to as “L” to the 3^rd power – L³ )

*The faster you go, the less you feel the bumps

            (This still applies even if you’re not driving down dirt roads)

*Take time to appreciate your surroundings no matter where you’re at

            (The where isn’t as important as what you get out of it)

*Be sure to follow the 7 Ps of Life

            (Prior Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance)

*Fly the American Flag proudly

            (And always thank a Vet for their service)

*Remember to blow with the whim

            (Enjoy the unexpected and discover the extraordinary)

I miss Gale and all that she had to offer life. I will miss having adventures with Gale but am very grateful for the ones I had.

I want to thank the Ritter family for having me at Gale’s celebration. Being there helped me find some closure to Gale’s passing and also aided me to think and act on L³ and appreciate my surroundings. I hope the celebration did so for her family also.

Photo by RDS