MARY DAWN GUNNERSON

Mary Dawn and her sister, Ruth, visiting me following our concurrent
knee replacement surgeries. One cannot underestimate the devoted assistance
given by Ruth to her sister, but in particular during this past year.

Washington Island, Wisconsin -

Mary Dawn Gunnerson.

We'll miss her.

Mary passed away on June 17, and as noted in her newspaper obituary it was Icelandic Independence Day, fitting for someone of such independent character, one who sailed by her own inner compass.

A frequent caller on the telephone at unexpected times, Mary often informed us about Island happenings that we, in our Detroit Harbor isolation, hadn't yet heard.  We were among, perhaps, dozens of friends whose phone numbers were close at hand for Mary to call.  Her list of friends included then Door County Sheriff, Terry Vogel, and other law enforcement officers.  Mary shared the latest emergency news regularly gleaned from radio conversations on her scanner.

Birthdays, anniversaries, dates of deaths for close family members...these were cataloged by Mary and commemorated with either a phone call or a card in the mail.

Mary on board the ferry Washington 
in 1992.

For years, Mary was a regular visitor to the Ferry Dock for freight, picking up packages for her family's neighboring Kaupstadur gift shop, where she could be found working most days during the tourism season.  She could dish it out to the crew as well as they could give good-natured jibes.

My first encounter with Mary came in the bike rental garage in 1975.   Mary had either swerved to avoid a bicyclist, or she was driving too fast along the Ppoint road (or both).  The result was that Mary drove her father's, Roger's, panel truck (similar to the type used by the milk delivery man, with the stand-up driver's seat) into the woods.  She provided proof of her resulting injury as she told her story by pulling her pants down far enough to show me the ugly bruise on the side of her thigh.  (I'm not sure why she did that, but I never forgot seeing the large bruise!)

Despite health setbacks that didn't allow Mary leave home this past year except for medical appointments, her voice remained upbeat over the phone.  It was the the voice one might expect from someone who was perfectly healthy.   Her optimistic attitude was an admirable trait, and it surely helped her to cope with her life as physical abilities declined.

It happened coincidentally that in December of 2014, Mary and I scheduled knee replacement surgeries on the same morning - but at different Green Bay hospitals.   We looked forward to meeting up afterward at the rehabilitation facility in DePere, where both of us would stay for several weeks of therapy.  Our residency there didn't work out quite as smoothly as planned, for either one of us, but we often greeted one another as we shuffled behind our walkers to or from the therapy room.  One morning we even shared one of the large platforms used for exercising knee joints, groaning between our exchanges of brief pleasantries.  

Mary laced her optimism with choice comments about the food, the Packers, or whether or not she would be released in time for Christmas.  (Unfortunately she was not home for Christmas.)

In the future, when our family thinks back on beloved characters whom we knew, Mary's name will start our conversation.

-  Dick Purinton

TIPTOE THROUGH THE PERIWINKLES

Detroit Harbor, Washington Island -

"Richard, can you help me create something that I can mount some shoes on - old wooden clogs - in front of my shop windows?"

The idea shopowner Ruth Gunnerson had was to provide pockets for plants: petunias, periwinkles and such.  (I have no idea what I'm talking about in flower-speak.)

I procrastinated on this project for several weeks until one afternoon, while shopping the metal pile at the Island Exchange, I  came across a thing that had been welded up from old hay rake tines.  These were tines that are about 3/8" diameter rod, hardened, and are bent with a loop in them for spring action in the event of striking a large stone in the field.

There were five such tines goobered together with weld, as if the outcome had been intended for use as an outdoor table base.

These I disassembled, having to cut them in half with a torch as I did so.  Then I rewelded the pieces into approximately 40-inch standards with loops on the top end , and with small washers welded to the loops.  Then, selecting from an ample supply of old wooden clogs saved by Ruth, I chose several with brighter colors to fasten with screws to the washers.  I pushed each finished planter into the ground the other morning and waited for Ruth to do the rest.

Fortunately, the idea seemed to work, and more importantly, Ruth seemed pleased.   Well, that's a cheap birthday gift in advance.  (Our birthdays are nearly the same day in September, as is Mary Dawn, Ruth's sister, and son Hoyt.)   Old shoes, old metal, new use.

Stop by the Kaupstadur to admire her flowers-in-clogs when you are out shopping.

- Dick Purinton

BIRTHDAY GIFTS

Kim Hansen, Dick Purinton at Ferry Office, Sept. 22

Washington Island, Wisconsin - 

Yesterday was my birthday, and I turned 64.  Announcing my birthday is not something I've been comfortable in doing.   If no one knew, I thought, it would be just fine.  As we get older, we can think of plenty of excuses for keeping our birthdays a secret, and I often found myself repeating well-worn phrases such as:  "They don't get any easier..." or, "I remember when l turned sixteen. Now there was a birthday to celebrate!"

Like a curmudgeon, I thought that somehow skipping over that certain day would allow me to get on more easily with my life, knowing that after all, everyone has a birthday once a year, and it isn't such a big deal.

I've changed my mind, after yesterday.  Many friends and co-workers wished me a Happy Birthday, a few of them including the greeting with a good-natured question: "How does it feel to be...?" which was laughed off.

Actually, it feels pretty good, thanks.  And it feels especially good to know there are others who notice, who cared perhaps even more than I did what day it was.   I am referring especially to two friends who have more to think about than someone else's birthday, and yet, they made that a priority.  

Kim Hansen and Ruth Gunnerson are two people to admire.  Each is upbeat and outgoing, and they rise to any occasion with selflessness, which only makes them seem to feel better about their day.  When that sort of friendship is expressed, how can I not be pleased and happy, for them, and for another year of my own life to know them, as a way to celebrate their lives, too.

Kim, widely known for her cheery telephone voice and an outgoing style while serving others at our front ferry office desk, has not had it easy these past several years as she battles against cancer.  I know there are times when she must feel down, but each time I've visited at her home, or when she visits us here at the Ferry Office, she is always pleasant, smiling, laughing at jokes (especially her own).  It is an uplifting experience to be in her presence.  I thank Kim for the presents she brought:  bakery, egg rolls, and journal books. But especially, the gift of her friendship.  She and Frank made the drive from one end of the island to the other to wish me a happy birthday when just getting out of her hospital bed and down the steps at her home is a challenge.  Priceless friendship.

Another gift came from friend and neighboring business owner Ruth Gunnerson, who runs the gift shop next door to the Ferry Office.  Ruth dropped by around 10 am with a chocolate raspberry cake made from her special Scandinavian recipe.  Her cake was great, but Ruth't visit was even better.  When not teaching, working in her shop, assisting her sister Mary, or doing dozens of things for others, she's been working hard to maintain her health.  Multiple diagnoses with follow-up treatments, interspersed with a winter's slip on icy pavement which severely broke her shoulder, puts Ruth in a special class for deflecting mud pies thrown in her direction.  It is rare to see Ruth down in spirit.  Instead, she continues steadily forward, doing things that make a difference for others.

Ruth Gunnerson and I are framed
in front of the Kaupstadur gift shop

There is a great deal to be admired in and learned from these two friends.  I accept, first and foremost, the gift of friendship they bestow.  That is a gift above all others, and further, that as birthdays come and go, as they will, each one is to be treasured, shared, and not taken lightly.  

I recall attending birthday occasions when I was younger of persons several generations older than myself.   I wondered then what these older people found enjoyable about sitting in a chair throughout an afternoon, accepting stoically the fuss made over them, showing no particular outward excitement or emotion about their day.  

I now realize they were basking in an inner feeling of warmth that comes from being with family members and friends, from observing children playing around kitchen tables.  That feeling never grows old, but it maybe intensifies.  Those senior birthday people I observed recognized that love, family, and community continue to have meaning when all the rest begins to fade into the past.  

We become part of something special by accepting, not rejecting, the love and friendship of others.

So, to those who wished me a happy birthday yesterday, I sincerely thank you, and I will wish you the same when the time comes.  No excuses and no regrets for getting older.  I will welcome each new birthday.   It's your friendship, and my family, first and foremost.
  -  Dick Purinton