DonnaMarie — aka Regina

February 17 is our wedding anniversary, (1968 – 46 years).  Good friend James Oestereich, composed and played a song “For Regina.”  He gave me the CD today.  I didn’t tell him that tomorrow is our wedding anniversary.  He has been working on this piece of music for some time.  His giving it to me today is special. James is a very accomplished musician.  He has a published book titled “Improvising and Arranging on the Keyboard”.  This song is a tribute to Regina’s spirit and her life. Thank you, Jim.

Also as part of this anniversary celebration, I am adding this photo of a painting Lonnie Helgeson created for Regina’s memorial service.  Thank you, Lonnie and Stefan.

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As Mother’s day approaches, I have special remembrances of Regina. One in particular keeps coming to mind. On Wednesday, September 26th of 2012, Jodanne, Moira, and Aimee showed up at our home in Minnetonka for lunch. They said “Mom, we are going to shampoo the rug this afternoon. You have been telling Dad that you want the rug shampooed before winter. We are going to do it today.” The 4 of them spent their afternoon together. Three most significant women in my life, Mom and 3 daughters. I chose not to stick around for the afternoon so they could enjoy the time together. It was that afternoon that this last picture was taken of Regina with Moira.

I don’t know what all happened that afternoon.  I know that the next day she was very grateful for their time together.

It was that evening of the “shampooing” that she had a stroke that led to her being hospitalized.  She passed away just 4 days later, Sunday, September 30, 2012, carrying with her the memory of her last day at home with her loved daughters.

How blessed I am knowing that her last day at home was perfect.  I couldn’t have created it any better.  Regina, I love you, William.

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I created a slide show for Regina’s memorial.  I used Louis Armstrong’s song as inspiration.  Also, Aimee Bryant led the singing of this song during the memorial gathering.

About a week ago I received a Facebook entry from granddaughter Jordan about an English assignment.

“I got a 97 on my last English paper about how What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong relates to my life. I love you, Grandma and Grandpa!! :)”

Jordan’s message is the immediate inspiration for me creating this blog entry entry with the slideshow embedded. I love you Jordan.

Tags: Family, Regina, Thoughts by William
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We had many memorable times together over the last two days in Sturgeon Bay.  Lots of visiting with the Schmidt family.  Stories, laughter, encouragement, and good food.

Friday night fish fry at Salem Lutheran Church, Dianne’s church.  Then a tour of Palmer Johnson boat works for Evan, Steve, Richard, and Bill with tour guide Joe.

Saturday morning we went to Hornspier beach to place Regina’s ashes there at one of her favorite places ever.  It snowed overnight and the sun was out and everything was bright and fresh looking.  Her ashes are now near the beach in the bushes immediately to Aimee’s left in the picture below.  Then in the afternoon we returned to Salem Church hall for visiting with family, brothers and sisters and cousins.  That evening Dianne and Bob invited me, Joanne, Ron and Mary, and Joe and Mary for dinner and the evening.  After dinner we sat around the table and shared stories and laughed until our face muscles hurt.

Sunday morning breakfast at Dianne and Bob’s and then drove home.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this a memorable weekend.  Special thanks to those who so generously hosted us and brought food for the memorial gathering.

I have added some information to Regina’s website.  Especially, a page with recordings from her Minnesota memorial service. http://www.akaregina.com/?page_id=90

Love and blessings,

Bill

Jodanne, Moira, Bill, and Aimee  with Regina’s ashes in the Japanese urn.  Now her ashes are in the bushes to the right.

Evan and Bill on the “beach.”

Regina at her favorite beach.

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A few nights ago I again watched “The Sound of Music.”  It was another one of our favorites.  This time I was overwhelmed with emotion several times through out the movie.  One song in particular really got to me, “Something Good.”  Regina often said this to me and I mirrored it back to her.  What did I ever do to deserve you?  I must have done something good.
Link to song.
Something Good Lyrics
by Maria and the Captain   from The Sound of Music Soundtrack

[Maria:]
Perhaps I had a wicked childhood
Perhaps I had a miserable youth
But somwhere in my wicked, miserable past
There must have been a moment of truth

For here you are, standing there, loving me
Whether or not you should
So somewhere in my youth or childhood
I must have done something good

Nothing comes from nothing
Nothing ever could
So somewhere in my youth or childhood
I must have done something good

[Captain:]
For here you are, standing there, loving me
Whether or not you should

[Maria:]
So somewhere in my youth or childhood
I must have done something good

[Maria and the Captain:]
Nothing comes from nothing
Nothing ever could

[Maria:]
So somewhere in my youth
[Captain:]
Or childhood
[Maria:]
I must have done something . . .
[Maria and the Captain:]
Something good

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One of the other songs in The Sound of Music that really speaks to me is “How do you solve a problem like Maria?” Especially, how do you hold a moon beam in your hand??? Always very gently. With Regina I learned to expect the unexpected in a delightful, expanding way. She was able to go beyond the ordinary and make life more than what was originally given. A real blessing and gift.

Here’s one simple example of her own awareness of who she was:  About a year after I met her, she sent me a picture of herself with this inscription on the back.  “from That Naughty Girl, Donnamarie.”  That was when she still used her convent name as her name.

She was not afraid to be “naughty,”  to live out on the edge, ask the challenging questions, push the limits, explore the edges of life.  Life was not a trivial matter for her, yet she lived a delightful life.  She was light-hearted.  Ready to laugh at self and life.  A moon beam.

Thank you, Spirit, for Regina.

Link to song: How do you Solve a Problem Like Maria.

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A couple years ago I, William, created this blog as a place for Regina to “post” her thoughts, dreams, journey, journal. Somehow that never did manifest from her. Regina was much more about living her life in other ways that blessed all of us. So, with her leaving behind her physical presence with us, I will make an attempt at sharing some of her with you.
This first image is of Regina and me taken by a good, close friend, Kimball Service. The picture captures many qualities of her spirit. This gives you an idea of how I choose to remember Regina.

This second image is a scanned image of a gift from Kate Olson, a craft, creative friend. For a long time this has been my mantra when someone would ask “how’s Regina,” or “what can we do for Regina?” And it is still my mantra. Now I include myself and those of us who are especially close to Regina. Love Regina, and love us.

This third image is Regina’s obituary as it appeared in the Star Tribune here in Minneapolis, today.

You can leave comments here and/or at this link to the Star Tribune online.

Tags: Family, Regina, Thoughts by William
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