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Last update:10/03/2017

September 2017 was quite the eventful month!  We had an adventure to remember.  As we watched and heard forcasts of Irma's path, we realized we had to take some actions.  We are only 8 feet above sea level.   Jack, singlehandedly,  installed all shutters, trimmed trees, etc.  We loaded the van with two weeks of goods, important files and papers, and all the
things advised for shelter living. Daughter, Kelly, here in Englewood, is a nurse for the State of Florida.  She was assigned to a special needs evacuation center in North Port.  We went with her Saturday (9th), as her family, for her 8 to 8 night shifts. Decent accomodations at Lamarque Elemenary School.  Felt safe and were astounded by the patients brought in
with minimal supplies for these heroic nurses to handle.  Jack volunteered to carry bags, help nurses with patients, etc (my personal hero).  Old PT that I am, I was able to help Kelly when her back "went out" after her horrendous 12 hr. shift.  Power went onto generators at 4 pm Sunday (not good for oxygen that they were running out of).  900 in shelter, most needing extreme care.  Everyonel did their best!

Monday at 8 am nurses came off their shift and announced that roads were clear.  All could go, except the nurses going on duty for the day shift. Trip home was uneventful and we found our home and boat had sustained no damage nor large debris.  But we had no power.  The second half of our adventure was to try to live the "Old Florida" style we had prepared for.  Jack has an inverter and marine batteries in the van and that gave us slight power for little things for short spans (not for AC or Frig).  He had installed a TV antenna and converter on our little TV,  which gave me an hour or two of entertainment each eve (especially my dancing shows).  We cooked meat from freezer as it thawed and placed leftovers on ice cubes from neighbor who had a generator.  Jack installed Solar panels for a little help with the van inverter. Daughter, Danelle, in San Francisco, had given us an inflatable solar lantern a few years ago.  When we found that it lasted 12 hours, we had ordered two more.  They were our source of good movable, non-flammable light! Highly recommend them. We used a hot plate to cook at first, then Jack set up the little propane camping stove he had bought for the boat. This was perfect for all, and so easy.  Heat and humidity were a factor!  I took about 8 cold showers a day to survive. House has good ventilation and breezes were around most of the time. Jack puts a lot of thought into survival, and I was relatively happy to join him in this trial.  We had loads of other untapped resources that we chose not to use (generator offer - I hate the noise, to stay at friends homes, etc).  We felt comfortable in our place, which we were not sure we would ever see again as we left for the shelter.  I played my piano more in a week than I have in a year....that only needs Bev Power.   We are proud of our prepping, good spirits, good health, and enormous faith.  We are so very thankful.  We were without power for 8 days.  Two days later we lost our A/C for 7 more days.  At least we had fans and all our appliances!  It was a bit of an endurance test, but so minor compared what others were enduring and experiencing.

2017, had sure brought some lifestyle changes. We have more time for home and neighborhood activities.  The skates are in warm/cold storage.  We miss the comaraderie of being with skating friends, and flowing to music on the ice.  We don't miss the expenses of ice time and gas to get there.  We love not having to fight traffic on I-75 with its congestion, construction, accidents, distracted and aggressive drivers.  With Bev's diagnosis of  Atrial Fibrillation and being on the anticoagulant Coumadin (Jantoven) skating was more dangerous!  The time was right  to say goodbye to that wonderful sport we enjoyed for over 30 years.

We are becoming more involved in activities at our church, Englewood United Methodist.  Jack is able to use his skills in the kitchen for weekly dinners and Pancake Breakfast sessions.  He also is very involved in preparitory work for the February annual rummage sale which raises over $62,000 for missions and good works.  We have really found a home at this church.

Last Spring, we decided to challenge ourselves (for what looks like the last time) when the Florida Sunshine State Games offered adult ice dance event.  In May of 2016, we skated the Canasta Tango and the Swing Dance to fulfill Jack's 80th birthday year bucket list.  The event was held in Coral Springs, Florida (next to Fort Lauderdale) and an easy venue for us to attend.  We did come home with the gold and real good memories, as we met some old friends and a few new.  We especially enjoyed meeting John Kerr, UK Olympic Ice Dancer.  We have decided not to say never again to competing, just in case the right situation might arise for us.  This year the State Games was at our rink, which will made it very tempting to compete again.

September 25, 2015, we skated in what we thought was our final competition.  The Southwest Florida FS Club's USFS Fall Classic was the perfect place to complete Bev's 80th year bucket list item.  The judges awared us gold for first place for our performances of the Dutch Waltz and Cha Cha (two of our favorites).  It has been a wonderful 18 year journey of competitions.

We had a wonderful long weekend in May 2015 visiting Rob's family in Plainville, Conn.  He toured us through loads of Bev's favorite old haunts throughout Conn. for nostalgia value.  We went to northwest Conn. to the White Flower Farm, Bantam Lake, where she spent all summers until she was married, and Mt. Tom State Park.  We spent one whole day in Springfield, Mass. for Matt's graduation from Westfield State with majors in Criminal Justice and Sociology.  We also visited Manchester, Conn. where her kids grew up, and continued up to Storrs to see how much the UConn Campus has grown.  We got to watch Lauren play two games of basketball.  This was a special thrill as she had major ACL surgery on her knee this year.  She wears a long brace, buts moves so well.  Sarah has just left her job with Ernest and Young to accept a wonderful position with United Technologies.  It will be wonderful not having to work the crazy long hours she has for the last three years.

We participated in the US Figure Skating Adult Championships in Hyannis, MA in April, 2014, and came home with a shiny Silver Medal for our four PreBronze Dances.  We were very pleased with our performances and lost first place to a wonderful dance team from Colorado Springs.  That year the required dances were our favorites...Dutch Waltz, Cha Cha, Rhythm Blues, and the Swing Dance.  This was one of our best and most enjoyed competitions.  Being on Cape Cod also allowed us to visit our honeymoon area of Falmouth and celebrate our 30th year of marriage. 

In April 2011 in Salt Lake City, we made our debut at a US Figure Skating competition, the Adult Championships, entering the Pre Bronze Dance event.   Click here for the article that honored us in Skating Magazine for being the oldest competitors at the competition.

The above trip to Salt Lake City was also part of Jack's celebration of his 75 birthday.  To continue that celebration, we drove from SLC to Aspen to visit his son, Darin, and see some of the glorious houses he has built including his own atop an 8000 ft, mountain overlooking Reudi Reservoir in Basalt, Colorado.  Then, we flew to San Francisco to visit with his daughter, Danelle, granddaughter, Dana (turning 10) and Anthony.  Danelle is so passionate about her city and loves to show it off.  We had planned to see Bev's son, Larry and family in San Diego, but that had to be cancelled.

Bev's 75th in June 2010 was celebrated in the "highest" fashion as she chose to tandem skydive from 13,000 ft (over 2 miles) in early July.  The free fall of 8,000 ft. at 120 mph was literally breathtaking.  This had been a long time dream that she worked up to during other birthday landmarks by bungee jumping from a hot air balloon, hang gliding, paragliding, and a flight in a glider plane. 

After 18 years he has officially retired from the Coast Guard Auxiliary (with full pay!).   He continues to monitor one monofilament line recycle bin at a local boat ramp for the Auxiliary but no more formal duties and training courses.

Jack is still active with the 538 home residential association in which we live.  He does their publications, helps out on the neighborhood Security Patrol, provides database support for the Board, and he created and maintains their web site: http://OverbrookGardens.com/ .  This year he was again responsible for compiling the 68 page Association directory.  He had been the point man to Sarasota County for the 49 properties that are located on our 2400 ft. long channel to get it dredged.  This had proven to be very time consuming and frustrating but it is now completed.  He also coordinated the dredging of eighteen personal docks on our channel under one County permit. 

Jack continued sharpening ice skates until the grinder motor burned out on May 27,2017 after sharpening six pair of skates.  The cost of repairs would be prohibitive so after 18 years he has retired his Wissota Skate Sharpener.   The skaters still dependent on his work were disappointed, but hopefully they can find a good alternative.  He is in the process of selling the parts and accessories still in good shape and is enjoying the additional free time and release from responsibity.  There is no wrath like a skater who has just had his/her skates improperly sharpened! 

Since we joined the Englewood United Methodist Church we have become quiet active in renewing our faith and serving in our church where we can.   Jack has worked with the annual rummage sale program for the last two years (they took in $62,000 last year) and is now a co-chair that oversees the transfer of donations to storage facilities throughout the year.  He works for a couple of hours every Friday morning with a few other guys and sometimes more when donations are heavy.  He also runs the dishwashing crew at the weekly church dinners on Wednesday evenings and the Pancake Breakfasts.

He is also working with a friend creating and maintaining a vegetable garden a few minutes from the house including two hydroponic tables.  Gardening in Florida is very different from his experiences on the farm in Michigan.  Click here for photos.  So far we have had turnips, carrots, red cabbage, many types of lettuce, squash, water melons, oregano, tomatoes, beets, red and white radishes, too much broccoli, green beans, scallions, red onions, chives, mustard, bok choy, cucumbers, swiss chard, and peas.  The brussel sprouts, cauliflower, asparagus, and egg plant are still works in progress.

And what does Bev do?????   As Jack's secretary, she tries to keep his crammed calendar and family finances in order.  As loving wife, she keeps his home and clothes clean, his tummy fed, and a smile on his face!  Enough said!

Contact us at:  skating.rienks@verizon.net .

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This site was last updated on 10/03/17.

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