Jane’s 90th

Jane is about to have her 90^th birthday and the celebrations are going on with a wonderful non-stop series of glorious events. Our 4 kids and most of their spouses and almost all our grandchildren have arrived from New Hampshire, Connecticut and Northern California. Thanks to Air Bnb and other options they have places all up and down our near-by coast-with fabulous views of the ocean and wonderful spaces for parties.

It started on Friday with a big shindig at one of the beautiful rented places. There was champaign, wine, special margaritas and homemade ice cream. There were balloons, and signs and streamers and tables of great food. Saturday dinner was here at La Costa Glen in a special room decorated with unique place cards featuring photos of Jane. A large bouquet of roses (sent by friends of daughter Liz) added fragrance. The local kitchen staff outdid themselves with shrimp cocktails, sole, chicken, gluten-free pasta, etc. etc. But the high light was not the food but the program. Toasts were raised by young and old, children, grandchildren and in-laws. They were loaded with stories of praise for Jane’s incredible persistence, love, care and acceptance.

The memories recalled times when they were young or when they gave birth or when they had appendixes removed or when they just needed a caring, listening ear. Special note was made of Jane’s health issues including bad hay fever, asthma, both hips and both knees replaced, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, cerebral aneurysm (flying from Hong Kong to San Antonio in a virtual coma), all lower teeth removed while she was still in her thirties and significant hearing loss.

Days in Hong Kong were recalled, times of learning a new language, of keeping kids in clean clothes when there was running water for only three hours every fourth day. While there she had a couple miscarriages and brought forth 4 children even if she had to wake up the night watchman to let her into the hospital and walk up four flights of stairs to get to the birthing area where the doctor arrived after the baby did. In the midst of all that she taught piano, sang in choirs, helped produce thousands of Sunday School leaflets (in Chinese) every week, and was an officer in the American Women’s Society of Hong Kong.

There were stories of trans-Pacific plane rides with failing engines, of ferry rides to Macau, of giving missionary talks in 17 states. Also good times in Hawaii, hay fever filled days in the Alps, secret support of gays and lesbians in Finland, visiting with “adopted” daughter in Sweden, and grandkids in Taiwan. Spain, and England, finding roots in Germany, falling three times on wet slick floors in Cancun and enjoying ocean views in Baja California.

In the midst if all this, Jane made time for artistic expression. Now her piano playing is no longer suitable for concerts solos. Her arm strength limits her wood carving. Her favorite art teacher has died, but she continues to weave, crochet, sew, tat, bake wonderful cookies, learn new computer programs and tend to the plants on our balcony,

All of this was reflected in two most unusual documents. Liz had asked nine family members to each interview Jane and then write a summary of her life during one of her nine decades. Then she put all this (and more) together in a wonderful document. Then to top off all of this, these events were recalled in a marvelous l0 stanza ballad complete with a repeated chorus composed by Tim, Wendy and Haven. Still it didn’t stop. We filled a long pew at a Sunday morning 8:00 ‘o’clock service at Calvary Lutheran, joined the pastor in prayers of thanks and then shared a marvelous big Happy 90^t Birthday cake with the congregation.

As I write this it is still going on. The four kids (regretfully, yet thankfully, remembering David, now at eternal peace) decided to have a sib-fest with just the 4 of them. So they are enjoying their sea- side villa, going scuba diving, visiting San Diego and coming to our place for end of the day cake, ice cream and cognac.

Soon this will be over. Yet it will never be over. The Memories will last. The gratitude for Jane will forever be remembered before our Heavenly Parent whom we acknowledge to be the giver of this and every wonderful gift, especially this marvelous human being: Jane.

Taxes: Happy To Pay Them

It was, of all places, a golf course that got me thinking about taxes. As a part of our annual Kieschnick Reunion rituals we played Saturday morning golf-at a public course in New Braunfels, Texas. The service was outstanding. The staff had the carts ready-with our names on them. There were signs announcing the event. The staff had even called earlier to tell us they would have the kitchen staff arrive extra early on that Saturday morning to prepare breakfast if we wished that. I have never received better service at the finest private clubs around the world.

I reflected upon the fact that this was a public golf course undoubtedly supported by taxes. Maybe I even paid some tax support for it as part of the add-on taxes  when I paid my motel bill in that city. I was happy to pay those taxes and get those nice benefits. The more I thought about this the more I became aware of other things I get for my taxes.

I am happy to travel on our tax-supported highways. The police help keep me safe. Some of my fellow citizens who are less blessed with resources than I get housing or food or health support. The monthly social security checks deposited into my bank are certainly more than I ever paid into that account. My Medicare drugs tend to run to $8.00 per prescription-due to tax support. While I think we spend too much on the military I must admit that I am grateful for the men and women who serve to protect me .I get frustrated and angry when I see what my taxes are paying for at the DMV yet the list of appreciated benefits goes on: free public schools, fire protection, clean beaches, airport security, assistance for poor and hungry people around the world. I am grateful that my California gasoline taxes help protect the environment and combat global warming. I get a lot for my taxes and I am grateful for the benefits.

I realize, of course, that I pay fewer taxes than many. I am aware that because of my income level I pay extremely little in income taxes. Whatever the amount: I do not regret paying it. I do not want to move out of my state or country to “save taxes”. I follow Jesus’ teaching to “render unto Caesar what is cease’s”. So, yes, I claim every deduction I can. I do not send extra “voluntary cash” to the government-but I am indeed satisfied to pay my fair share of taxes and am grateful and pleased with the benefits

Kieschnick Family Reunion 2018 - No.27

The Oscar and Lina Kieschnick 27^th consecutive annual reunion was, as always, a great success. This one, however, was a bit different for me. For the first time in its long history I was the oldest person there, even though I am only 90 years of age and number three in birth order of “The Original Nine.” Sister Erna who is 94 had fallen and broken a wrist and so stayed home I Florida. Sister number 2, Leona, has severe Altzheimers and stayed behind in her memory care unit. Thus I was the proclaimed elder statesman.

On this trip I had some undeniable evidence that I am indeed ageing. I had typed in the incorrect pick-up date for my car rental at the San Antonio airport. Procedures for checking in for flights has changed and I was slow to catch on and relied upon my patient, always more proficiently computer skilled wife Jane. When nephew George put together the rules for the golf tournament he allowed for persons older than 80 to play from the forward tees (and he knew that I was the only one who met that criteria.) By the time the last of the Texas 42 players went to bed around 2:00 am I had long before been fast asleep. Age cannot be denied - and it can also be celebrated. I drank my full share of the beer that flowed from the three full barrels of Shiner Boeck and Miller Lite. I stayed within the one-minute time limit when giving the update on my life. I still sang from memory all the verses of hymns at the wonderful closing worship.

Niece Kari who did an unbelievably fantastic job of pulling together this entire event of well over 100 of our Kieschnick clan did a super job of having an update on every one of the extended family. As I listened to all the jobs now held by all (and especially also by all the women) it hit me. My Mother never had these options. She could be a teacher, a nurse or a secretary. Yet her contribution to her family, to the church and to the world cannot be surpassed even by the wonderful things the current generation is achieving. I remembered and thanked God and Mom. She raised 9 children, lived through the great depression, supported Dad, gave birth to 9 children. She sewed, washed, hung on the line to dry and ironed our clothes, canned 800 quarts of fruit and vegetables in one summer. She butchered and fried young chickens week after week and year after year. She took care of all 9 of us when we had mumps, chicken pox, red eye, measles, whooping cough, annual birthday parties, broken ones and broken romances. And I recall Dad and his ministry to the church and the world. I recalled how his mom and dad had put him on that solitary and slow train ride from Lincoln, Texas to Chicago in 1913 when he was only 13 years of age as he left to prepare for his lifetime ministry in the Lutheran Church. He taught multi-grade classrooms, was principal, organist, choir director, janitor, church secretary, state-wide chair of Lutheran teachers, counselor to hundreds, toast master extraordinaire, etc. etc.

Our closing worship featured the singing of favorite hymns of Mom and Dad and of the Original 9, an essay on Martin Luther by a fifth generation 11-year old William and a powerful trumpeting of Taps by great nephew Brandon.

After arriving back home safely to our retirement community in California I reflected upon the fat that the annual cost to Jane and me for the reunion (covering airfare, car rentals, hotels, meals, golf, etc. etc.) comes to about $2000 a year. So I guess we have spent in excess of $50,000 to make all these 27 Annual Reunions. I came to a wonderful conclusion. “Thank God we can afford this. It is worth every penny.”