LIFEWITHLARRY.ORG

Larry/The Pillar of Salt in Port Washington, WI

2012-05-21T14:02:44Z

Larry-The Pillar of Salt in Port Washington, WI

When we heard that the weekend (May 18^th) was going to be perfect, we got on line and discovered a ride up in Port Washington, WI called COWS which stands for Couples on Wheels. We hooked up our 19 ft. trailer, attached our tandem, and headed up North. Most of the COWS stayed at the Country Suites, but we set up at the Fredonia County Park 8 miles away for $10 a night. It was a lovely campground with little amenities; but we are self contained.

We met the group for a nine o’clock ride that took us through Kohler Andrea State Park and then to Oostburg for lunch. We grabbed the 49 mile map; but following other bikers, we ended up doing Larry miles which added up to 40 by lunch and 60 miles at the end. By the time we got to Subway, we were famished. But then we discovered that we forgot money. Now we are famished and broke. Larry was certain he had some in his patch kit, but no dice. I know this is where I step in because Larry has a problem asking for money. I went up to a COW couple and asked them if they were going to the banquet tonight. They said,” yes”. I said this is very embarrassing but my husband forgot our money for lunch and we’ll have difficulty getting back without it. She handed me a $10 bill and I felt like a 6 year old. But I swallowed my pride along with a footlong sandwich, a bag of potato chips and a drink. We were so relieved that we didn’t have to starve on the way home.At the banquet, I gave the couple $15 for their generosity. We met a lot of nice couples who have similar interested to us. They enjoy the outdoors, biking and laughing. We sat at the banquet with Cynthia and Doug Chin and found out we shared a lot in common including our faith in God. They live in Manitowoc, but are originally from MA. He is a chemical engineer and his wife works for RSVP, a volunteer organization. We also met a couple from Milwaukee. Greg is a school psychologist and his wife is a pastor in a Lutheran church. After doing 60 miles for the first day, Larry was a pillar of salt. In other words, he sweats so much that whatever he touches turns to salt. On the other hand, I don’t sweat nearly as much; I give myself the lick test to see if I need a shower or not. After 60 miles, we both took showers in our tiny trailer shower.

There were 12 of us that were induced into COWS. They had an initiation for us which was a handshake where the husband clasps his hands like you would do for the childhood game, here’s the church; here’s the steeple. His thumbs face downward and the wife pulls on the thumbs like she is milking a cow. Yes, there’s no doubt we are in diary land.

We didn’t set an alarm on Sunday morning which was a mistake. We overslept and missed the 8 AM departure. . We took off on our own to the town of Cedarburg and greeted COWS on their way back from breakfast. We found a cute coffee house where we sat outside enjoying the beautiful weather. The temperature along Lake Michigan in Port Washington was 67 degrees while inland it was 83 degrees. We went from freezing to roasting. While in Cedarburg, we were fortunate to find a bike store to repair out cable otherwise I’d have another chapter with Life with Larry. Overall it was a wonderful weekend.

It’s going to be a busy week. We have the Joplin, MO group coming over on Thursday to share food, fellowship and pictures. Larry spent a week rebuilding with Catholic Charities and staying at the Baptist church. I love the commaraderie when it comes to serving. While in Joplin, Larry lived up to his name, Grandpa Owie, by accidentally shooting himself with a roofing gun that just missed the kneecap. Fortunately it’s on the mend, and he was able to enjoy our tandem COW ride. Stay tuned for more adventures with my Life with Larry. To see pictures, see Sue Schuerr facebook.

An Easter Campout/The Earth Moves Under His Feet

2012-04-23T02:42:42Z

Most sane people spend Easter with family and friends, but not so with Life with Larry. After Easter services, we packed up the van and headed towards Kettle Moraine State Forest, WI. We have been going there now for 38 years. It’s like a second home for us. Finding a site is no problem; yet we were somewhat surprised at how many people were camping on an Easter weekend.

We put up our large pink and gray tent. We blew up the mattress and woke up our sleeping bags from their winter slumber. Then we set out on a hike around the Nature Trail across from the campground. On the way, we saw Sand Hill Cranes flying overhead. When our children were growing up, it used to take us around 2 hours to go around the trail; now we hike it in 40 minutes. We can still see Debbie, Julie and Aaron once again chasing butterflies, tossing rocks and wading in the natural cold springs bubbling from the ground. We recall the stream rock we set Aaron on as a toddler to take his naked picture. A few years ago we took our Chicago grandchildren, Elliot and Natalie, to the very same place. They spend a half hour with their feet in the cool spring fed waters looking for tadpoles, etc. On our way out, Grandpa Larry jumped on the porous ground causing the earth to tremble. Elliot got a big kick out of this, shouting, “Grandpa can make the Earth Move under My Feet.” Little did he know, he was quoting a well-known title of a song.

We then hiked the Ice-Age Trail during sunset. The colorful blossoms and varied hues of light green forming leaves looked like a tapestry from one of Monet’s paintings.

Larry has more backpacking equipment than Sports Authority and REI. The kids joke about what they will take when he departs. Realizing that we will never eat all the backpacking food he has accumulated, he decides that’s what we’ll have for dinner. So my choice was either Italian or Turkey Delight. It’s basically a fancy name for dry food packed in aluminum foil. We cut it open and added hot water----instant dinner. After a long arduous hike in the mountains----this can taste yummy. But when we are 30 minutes from a good restaurant, the story is quite different. I chose Turkey Delight which wasn’t too bad except the dry chicken tasted more like old chewing gum. We then switched bags so I could try the Italian Cuisine. It was very sweet like putting sugar on spaghetti. Yuk. But it filled the hole and I didn’t complain. The forecast was for weather in the 30’s that evening, so I gathered wood and we made a fire. Soon a large, lone camper crept out of the woods. I was hoping he wasn’t a serial killer. Vick was from CA and had traveled to WI to see family and friends for Easter. We talked around the fire until our eyes were heavy with slumber. Fortunately, Larry brought a propane heater along since the temperatures were supposed to get down to the 30’s. But about 2 AM we ran out of propane and Larry put on just about all his extra clothes to keep warm. My newer bag still kept me cozy. After a restless sleep, we prepared our breakfast dry food entitled Scrambled Eggs Delight which was the worst of our choices. Larry put too much water in it and the dry eggs just swam in the water ready for us to capture.

But we had great coffee and embarked on a new hike Larry discovered in his Wisconsin Hike Book. It was a very beautiful and peaceful bog. And the earth still did move under our feet.

Life with Larry is always an adventure----rarely boring. But I have to admit, after three backpacking meals, the food at the restaurant on the way home tasted especially delicious.

The Resurrection-Fact or Myth?

2012-04-06T13:40:59Z

Every year the media focuses on Easter and its significance to the Christian community. Questions are raised about Christ’s life, death and his resurrection. “Was he the King of the Jews?” “Did he walk the Earth after his resurrection?” ”Was he truly the Son of God?” Certainly Christians live by faith, but is there also conclusive proof of Christ’s resurrection throughout the Bible and history? “If there is no resurrection from the dead,” said the jailed Apostle Paul, “then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is our faith (1 Corinthians 15:12).” Hopefully, my research will help you draw your own conclusion.

To begin, the most powerful arguments are the prophecies concerning Christ’s first coming and his crucifixion. No person could possibly script his life to fit where he would be born, how he would die, and where and how he would be buried. These prophecies can be found throughout the Old Testament; but for the sake of brevity, we’ll center on two books. First, the book of Isaiah which was written in 740-680 B.C. Isaiah was born into an upper-class family where he rubbed shoulders with royalty and gave advice concerning foreign affairs of the nation. He also attacked the social ills of his day like many of us who are concerned about the welfare of our nation. He viewed these social abuses as symptoms of spiritual declension. To give you a flavor of his writing, see Isaiah 1: 23. “Your rulers are rebels and companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them.” Today, we can throw our corrupt politicians/governors in jail. Unfortunately for Isaiah, who lived most of his life in Jerusalem, his outspoken word got him martyred by being sawed in two while inside a hollow log (Hebrews 11:37) under the reign of Manasseh. Here are the statements of a God inspired man. When reading Isaiah 53, one would think he was reading the lyrics for Handel’s Messiah. Many of these verses will resonate with you.

“He was despised and rejected by men-a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Is. 53.3
“But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him and by his wounds, we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all……he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. Is. 53.5-7
“He was assigned a grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.” Is. 53:9
“After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life, and be satisfied: Is. 53:9
“For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Is. 53:12

The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered on January 28, 1949. The whole Old Testament was discovered except for the book of Esther. The book of Isaiah was relatively intact and is 1000 years older than anything found previously. The Isaiah scroll dates back to the second century B.C. which would make it impossible to falsify to fit the life of Christ... The Dead Sea Scrolls also called the Qumran scrolls (Qumran is the main location in the Dead Sea area where the scrolls were discovered) demonstrates unequivocally the fact that the Jews were faithful in their transcription of biblical manuscripts. The Jewish writers were extremely conscientious about copying the biblical text, and memorization was a key component of their education. The Old Testament books from Qumran are those which we find in our Bibles. Comparing today’s scripture to those found in the Dead Sea Scrolls speaks of the accuracy found in the text.

The second book I examined was the book of Psalms which was also found in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The following are some of the prophecies of the Messiah.

“All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads; He trusts in the Lord let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.” Ps. 22: 7-8
“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me…my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; Ps. 22:14 (Medically this is an accurate description of what takes place when a person is crucified.)
“They have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.” Ps. 22:16
“They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.” Ps. 69:21
“Because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy one see decay.” Ps. 16:10

There are hundreds of prophecies concerning the coming Messiah which Jesus has fulfilled. Here are a few more.

Bethlehem was named as the birthplace of the Messiah seven centuries before the event. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”(Micah 5:2)
“See your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9
“They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” Zechariah 12:10

The prophecies of Christ first coming are powerful. In addition, there are prophecies about his second coming and I encourage you to do your own study. I was a skeptic myself and understand the many questions and concerns you may have. I have spent years as an educator with a Master’s degree from Concordia University. If you are feeling like something is missing in your life….could it be because you were created for so much more------a relationship with the living God? He has a significant plan for your life. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:12).” If Christ was the Messiah and there is such a thing as abundant life here and life after death-----------------wouldn’t you want to know? Anything this important cannot be ignored.

I welcome questions and discussion on this all important topic.

Sue Schuerr (sschuerr@gmail.com)

Affecting Lives with Adaptive Adventures

2012-04-01T19:03:19Z

I peered into the sad eyes of a 25 year old 6’4”man named Bob sitting in a wheelchair. He had a handsome ruddy complexion and a desire to communicate. It wasn’t long before he told me his life story. Five years ago he was in a snowmobile accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. A few years later he lost his mother. I wanted to comfort him like I would my own son. My heart was heavy when he responded fatalistically, “It is what it is.” We talked about medical science and the progress they were making helping people like Bob and we talked about God and his plan for his life. “You know what I miss the most,” he said, “the adrenalin rushes. That’s why I am here at Adaptive Adventures.” I was hoping to ski today but the slots are filled. I put it on my calendar to be there when Bob tried a sit ski for the first time. As fate would have it, my husband was Bob’s teacher. They worked together learning to ski at Wilmot Ski Resort. Just like an able bodied skier, one directional turn was stronger than the other. But by the end of the day, it all clicked and he triumphantly cruised down the hill solo all the way to the lodge with Larry and his good friend following. He was ecstatic about his new accomplishment, and he certainly experienced an adrenalin rush. We talked about going out to Colorado for a Wounded Warrior event in the future... Bob now has hope for a better, more fulfilled life.

The week before, Larry worked with a client named Ted who was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force while Larry was merely an E5 in the Marines. This was quite a role reversal for both of them. Larry’s method of teaching was to treat the Vets as though he was their gunnery sergeant. “Turn left he would shout. Make it a harder left turn. Get up and do it again.” Ted, Larry’s client, was a pilot in the Air Force. When he was discharged, he joined the reserves and started working for United Airlines. The Air Force took him from his job and family to serve during the Iraq war where he suffered an injury as a result of a cargo plane crash. Today, he walks hunched over with a cane as a result of being partially paralyzed. His dream is to join his lovely wife and child on ski adventures in Colorado.

I worked with Vince, the gentle bull dog. He was a guerrilla sniper in the 80’s. He talked about his deployments in Grenada, El Salvador and Panama. He vividly recalled a rescue effort of nuns and priests in El Salvador. Sadly, they were all executed before his team of guerrillas arrived. Vince has a rebuilt shoulder and hip. He also suffered a stroke that has limited his movement on the left side. The other instructor working with him had also suffered a stroke on the same side. He was able to relate to Vince’s trauma. My job was to demonstrate how to ski down the hill and to help Vince stay steady. We took him up on the magic carpet and worked on getting him down the bunny hill which looked like Mt. Everest to him. Vince did fall a couple of times and we wanted him to quit but quitting was not in Vince’s vocabulary. He worked hard to succeed yesterday and felt proud of his achievements. He mentioned that he cooks at a Catholic school and his pastries are unbelievably delicious. We hope to try them someday.

Life with Larry has taken us to some interesting places. We both worked very hard yesterday but left with a smile knowing Adaptive Adventures enlightened so many lives.

A Tribute to My Valentine Day Sweetheart

2012-02-15T21:02:45Z

Larry and I met at a Valentine’s Day dance at Northern Illinois University over 40 years ago. It’s a love that deepens with the years. Hopefully, our story will inspire you to build a stronger and more lasting relationship with the one you love. After retiring from teaching, he has devoted himself to working for organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Bright Hope, Faith in Action and most currently Adaptive Adventures. In the past, Larry managed, with the help of friends and family, to fix up and give away more than 2,000 bicycles. We have always been a team. We have a tandem kayak, a tandem bicycle and I wouldn’t miss a ride on the back of his Gold Wing Motorcycle up to Lake Geneva. This probably is one of the reasons why we are close. We choose to serve together, pray together and play together. Not that we don’t have our problems like any other couple. But our nature is to love and to laugh and it’s hard for us to stay angry for very long. We try to follow what the Bible says. “Don’t let the sun go down on your anger.” Many times we just agree to disagree. We can both be stubborn at times. We look to the Bible for guidance as it is a source that never chances unlike the latest counselor advice. Finding happiness, we have discovered, comes from serving one another and helping others. It once has been said,” A person makes a very small package if he is totally wrapped up in himself.” We both love people, the outdoors and each other so that is why our latest serving experience is so perfect. It embodies all of our passions. Larry is my trailblazer setting us off on yet another adventure.

For the past four years, Larry has been an instructor at Wilmot Ski Resort where he noticed a group of Adaptive Adventure Skiers in the cafeteria. Being retired military, he immediately wanted to know how he could get involved helping GI’s returning with causalities from Iraq and Afghanistan. He met Reilly who lost a leg in combat. We were so impressed to see how well Reilly skis and how he teaches others the sport. We knew it was an organization we wanted to get involved in. It wasn’t long before Larry was spending two full days a week helping disabled adults and children. My first experience with Adaptive Adventures was a weekend up at Cascade. I thought I was going to shadow Larry. But before I knew it, they had me skiing with Haley, a legally blind 17 years old. She was so excited to be on the mountain on a warm, sunny day. We talked non stop about her family, school and skiing. As a former English teacher, we discussed The Scarlet Letter, Shakespeare, etc. We talked about poetry slams and decided to write a poem about Jeff the young man who taught her how to ski. We could only find paper plates and a marker to write our hilarious poems. The most I had to do for Haley was to take her by the arm as we got off the lift and to guide her down the hill. She did a splendid job avoiding any potential hazards...

We came in for lunch. The table looked like something out of a sci-fi movie. It was surrounded with prosthetic legs. I never knew there were legs for skiing as well as legs for walking. Sarah, an Africa American teenager dressed all in pink, just beamed as she smiled at Haley and me. She and her friend were taking a break from their morning adventure on sit-skies. Yes, a paraplegic can ski while sitting and control the directions.

Larry joined us after spending the morning with Marley and Cullen, two boys with cerebral palsy. He was excited about a contraption he used to keep them from crossing their skies. He also had ideas for new gadgets. It wasn’t long before I looked beyond the physical impairments of these young people. I saw each of them as individuals with a zest for life and an eagerness to enjoy a sport that even the most able bodied would find difficult.

I am most fortunate to have a Sweetheart who has led us in a life enriching direction. Happy Valentine’s Day Larry! Thanks for making a difference in my life as well as in the lives of so many people. Love, Sue

Life with Larry as a Three Act Play/Ice Breaker Speech

2012-01-07T13:51:20Z

Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting, “Oh my God, What a ride.” That’s what I hope for. The three essentials to happiness in life are someone to love, something to do and something to hope for. My life is a Three Act play. . Act 1 is how I met my husband and about my family, Act 2 is about my career as a high school teacher, and Act 3 is my present state as a traveler, volunteer and a developing writer. .Now the play begins.

Act 1-I went to NIU where I studied English and drama. As a freshmen, I was feeling a bit home sick and lonely. I remember looking up at the sunset and watching the pink clouds and thinking I wanted to be one. Nature has always had a profound effect on me and I said, “G. od, I don’t think you are there, but if you are, “Make something wonderful happen to me."

That night I went to a dance and saw a young man, Larry, whose picture was in the paper that day for his views on Viet Nam. He had a girl pasted on each side, and yet I had a strong impression that I was going to meet him. When I came out of the bathroom, he was alone and I made my move-----turning as red as my sweater. He had noticed me that day with a friend of his. We danced to a medley of Beatle songs and it was one of those Cinderella moments when I knew I had met my Prince Charming. The feeling was mutual and three years later we married and had three wonderful children.

Deborah, who lives in Bozeman, MT, is a music instructor and composer. Julie, who works part time in marketing, lives in the city and has two children, Elliot and Natalie. Aaron, who also lives in Livingston, MT as a noted artist, has three boys, August, Jasper and Isaak.

Act 2 begins with my various careers. I taught ESL and life skills at McHenry and Elgin Community College. As a substitute, I was offered a job teaching English in District 155/Cary Grove High School—home of the state football and volleyball champs. Overall, I would have to say, I loved working with teenagers---they keep you laughing. I directed the school plays and my husband, then an Industrial Art’s teacher at Dundee Crown, did the sets. I had one student come in for a try out packet in the English dept. I said, "Go pick one up, it’s in the break out room." She returned empty handed and said, “It says, You Can’t Take it with You." The whole department broke out into laughter. That was the name of the play.

Believe it or not, you can take plays down state to the Illinois High School Theatre Festival and we took down The Taming of the Shrew and When Shakespeare’s Ladies Meet. Teaching, grading and directing took up most of my time so when my husband suggested we take an early retirement, I agreed.

Act 3-Last October 2011, I was on a Lear jet to Andrew’s Air force base. Larry spent four years in the Marines and then was in the Navy Reserves for 18 years. Now we have Space A flying privileges. We got to Andrews and then flew to Italy where we rented a Fiat and explored. But that will be in another blog.

We have worked with Habitat for Humanity building homes in Waveland where Katrina hit the hardest and I write for the Compassion and Justice blog at our church-----on issues such as the Haiti earthquake and Human Trafficking and of course Life with Larry.org.

And now for the Epilogue----- Everyone needs to have a little PMSS in their lives. Did I say PMS? Yes, P stands for Physical. I’m a very active person who loves to bicycle, run, hike and ski. M stands for Mental. I work on developing my mind with activities such as Toastmasters, writing, and reading. I play the piano anything from Mozart to Stairway to Heaven. S stands for Social. It is so important to cultivate friendships and reach out to help others. And the final S is for spiritual. It’s the fabric that has woven my life ever since I looked up at the sunset and gave my life to God during college.

As I said in my opening statement, Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting," Oh my God, what a ride.”

Life with Larry takes us from Scott ARB to Italy

2011-10-18T19:24:00Z

After a week of working in Bay/Waveland with Habitat for Humanity, we drove to Scott ARB in Belleville, IL. We love the excitement of traveling Space A---military flights throughout the world. On Monday, Oct. 17th, we took a lear jet to Andrews AFB. It was suppose to be an 1 hour and 45 minute trip but it took 10 minutes longer as we circled around the base waiting for President Obama to make his trip to North Carolina to discuss his economic policies. When the President is at Andrews, the whole airport closes down until his departure.

We took a shuttle to the new Presidential Inn which is a 286 room facility built in 2010. The friendly staff gave us a beautiful room on the 3rd floor. The leaves are changing color and a stream and hiking path is right behind the Inn. Larry and I took a long walk and enjoyed the 70 degree sunny climate.

Tonight we'll get a shuttle with a military wife we met on the plane, and we'll head for Baltimore airport where we'll take a military/commercial flight to Ramstein, Germany and then to Aviano, a base in Italy. The flight begins at 10 PM so we'll sleep on the plane and wake up across the ocean. We hope to see Venice, Trieste, Florence, Naples and Rome.
There are six bases in Italy where we can stay for the cost of the room.

Life with Larry is always an adventure. I'll write more as we travel.

Raining? Think like the Scottish!

2011-10-09T03:14:43Z

In Illinois, we broke a 50 year record for days and amounts of rain. Today April 30, 2011----we will have rain yet again. Larry and I love the outdoors---we are nature freaks. So we decided to go to one of our favorite places--Kettle Moraine, WI and hike. We also visited our favorite coffee shop in Delafield, WI. My son spend 1 1/2 years in Scotland when he was at the Dundee of Jordon School of Art, and he said the weather never stopped the Scottish from hiking. They would sport their various umbrellas greeting one another with a hearty, "Great day, isn't it?" Of course, they swallow their English words which made it difficult for Aaron, our son, to understand. But he loved the spirit of the fun loving, unpretentious, Scottish. By the way, they would offer him money to do an American Southern accent. Now, in addition to being a noted western artist, (see aaronschuerr.com) he also acts and is perfecting an upper class English accent. "Top of the morning to you!"

Larry and I raised our children without a TV most of the years. We spent our time reading to our kids and hiking and camping ---- they all developed great imaginations. Larry read all of JR Toilkein books to them using various voices well before the movies came out.

So my question to you is the following: "How do you handle life when the rain comes?" Maybe the Scottish have a little secret for all of us. Have a great day!

"A Recipe for Life" by Sue Schuerr

2011-09-06T04:12:35Z

Life with Larry took us to the Schuerr reunion in Fox Lake on Sunday Aug, 29^th. Larry greeted his 90 year old Aunt Esther by kissing and tickling her neck. He has greeted Aunt Esther in this manner over the past 30 years. She smacked him and said, “Stop it, Skip.” Skip was Larry's boyhood nickname. Aunt Esther was always Larry's favorite aunt even if she was instructed by his mother to shave his head in an unfashionable crew cut every summer.

We soon noticed that smiling Aunt Esther was proudly holding hands with her 91 year old boyfriend, Emil. The lovebirds reminded us of high school sweethearts. Yes, Aunt Esther could easily write the recipe for life. Her laughter and teasing personality lightens up any room. She and Emil arrived in an orange, convertible Prowler like Cinderella going to the ball only accompanied by the prince. Emil sports two hearing aids and his sight isn't great, but Aunt Esther is his eyes and ears. In the past, she would ride her bike or walk to her son John's house to greet the day with him over a cup of coffee.

As late as last summer, she road on the back of John's Harley like a true motorcycle mama wearing only a scarf on her head. But now, Emil takes her time and she just calls her son and wishes him a good day.

“I've been jilted by another man,” laughs John while flipping burgers.

On Friday's her son Jim picks Emil and Esther up for a fish dinner. “I sneak peeks from my rear view mirror and catch them smooching. What a role reversal,”Jim said.

Aunt Esther had six children. Her second to the last one, Bobby, lived until 21 years old with cerebral palsy. Normally, a child in his condition would live no longer than seven years. The whole family was trained to help Bobby who had to be hand fed and diaper changed. After his death, Aunt Esther and her husband took in an older gentleman who needed a roof over his head. He stayed with them until his death five years later.

Watching Esther and Emil hold hands at the family reunion brought smiles to all our faces. Her recipe for life is simple. “You're never too old to love and be loved.” Regardless of ailments, the couple may well live to see their 100^th birthday. Now that's an occasion for another

Schuerr reunion.

The Many Faces of Larry

2011-06-29T16:04:34Z

At Sunset Beach in Fish Creek crowds gather for the big event---watching the glowing sun disappear over the Lake Michigan horizon where earlier we saw pelicans, a new phenonomen, flying like pearls in the sky. Parents and children skip rocks and lovers embrace one another while gazing at the halo of orange and pink. Larry and Sue along with three female friends are ready to join the crowd for applause that begins with the sunset.

Somehow Larry got on the topic of hunting remembering the nightly jaunts of the deer crossing our yard nibbling our flowers and scrubs on their way to a save haven of soft underbrush where they nestle for the night. Our son, Aaron, is a hunter because that is what one does in Montana to get meat for the year. Larry has always longed to join him but the cost of the tags are too expensive. Over the past five years, we have seen the deer population grow exponentially in our suburban neighborhood.

Waiting for the sun to set is a celebration anticipating the guest of honor to arrive. The joyful atmosphere transforms strangers into friends. The picture changed abruptly as Larry explained loudly how he would love to hunt Bambi in his own backyard but he said, “My chances of killing a deer with a single bow would be close to impossible. An arrow would slow it down, but then I'd have to chase it through the neighborhood with a knife and slit its throat. I don't think the neighbors would appreciate that very much.” The mental shift from a setting sun to a slit throat causes us to cringe. The man on the rock below us was squirming while eavesdropping.

Next, we drove into town to get ice cream when Larry suddenly pulled over to the curve and parked. He then took us to a circle of lilacs and told us to breath deeply. “It's the most pleasant aromatic smell. Isn't it wonderful? I just love it and had to share it with you,” said Larry.

Our friend Lu, a counselor, burst out laughing saying to me, “One minute he is slitting Bambi's throat and the next minute he has us all gathered to smell the lilacs. What's that all about?”

Yes, Larry hasn't hunted anything more than a pheasant and cries first at the movies. My former Marine husband will stand up for the needy and oppressed, yet he will stop for a sunset and to smell lilacs-----the many faces of Larry.

"I'm Married to a Turtle" by Sue Schuerr

2011-05-18T20:38:00Z

A green and white neck brace encompasses Larry’s 171/2 in. neck making him look like a turtle. He does the impression quite well. His large head pokes in and out like some Sesame street character. His speech is sometimes garbled, but I’ve always had to interpret for Larry whose original language is “mumble”. The neck brace doesn’t allow for much mobility. Although his neck fusion happened in January, 2010, he still wears the neck brace at night as a gentle reminder of the past.

Yes, I controlled his every move for a month or so. I was the Siren in charge of his destiny. Even if I’m not quite 5 ft. and he is 6 ft. 2 in., he cringes at the thought of me driving his testosterone laden 4 by 4 King cap pickup truck. It has a special button to raise the pedals enabling me to drive. This is good because Larry refuses to add blocks with electrical tape like my dad did when I road my first tricycle. I have to adjust the mirrors on the side which I haven’t quite mastered yet----scary, since the rear view mirror is useless. He has to submit to my wonderful driving techniques. We had a Fox River Grove policeman as a neighbor who would stop me on the way to school telling me my stops were totally sloppy and what was he going to do----give me a ticket?? We’re neighbors.

When we take off, Larry holds his head otherwise it might fly off and topple to the ground, and he’d be the headless horseman in a future horror flick. I threaten to push him out in the snow if he complains one more time. I have waited years to get even. This is the man who throws my pillow down the hallway a half a block when I get up every night at 2 AM. My secret desire has been to exchange weights and heights for at least a week----revenge.

Every once in awhile, he takes off his neck brace and turns into a frog hopping from one activity to the next. Maybe if I kiss the frog, he’ll turn into a handsome prince. But the doctor’s orders are that he remains a turtle for at least a month.

So now I eat with a turtle

I sleep with a turtle

I drive a turtle around town

If he doesn’t behave, I threaten to turn him into turtle soup. Control is what Geoffrey Chaucer said every woman desires. Ha Ha!

Life with Larry/Evidence of a Messiah

2011-04-23T14:15:00Z

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Since the media is giving attention to the subject of Easter this week, we thought it would be an appropriate time to share our thoughts on the subject. Our faith has been the anchor of our 42 year marriage, how we raised our children, and our very lives. There is overwhelming evidence that Christ was the Messiah-----The King of the Jews. God has promised an abundant life which we have experienced as his children.

To begin, the most powerful arguments are the prophecies concerning Christ’s first coming and his crucifixion. No person could possibly script his life to fit where he would be born, how he would die, and where and how he would be buried. These prophecies can be found throughout the Old Testament; but for the sake of brevity, we’ll center on two books. The book of Isaiah was written in 740-680 B.C. Isaiah was born into an upper-class family where he rubbed shoulders with royalty and gave advice concerning foreign affairs of the nation. He also attacked the social ills of his day like many of us who are concerned about the welfare of our nation. He saw these social abuses as symptoms of spiritual declension. To give you a flavor of his writing which got him in trouble, see Isaiah 1: 23. “Your rulers are rebels and companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them.” Today, we can throw our corrupt politicians in jail. Unfortunately for Isaiah, who lived most of his life in Jerusalem, he was martyred by being sawed in two while inside a hollow log (Hebrews 11:37) under the reign of Manasseh. Here are the statements of a God inspired man. When reading Isaiah 53, one would think he was reading the lyrics for Handel’s Messiah. Many of these verses will resonate with you.

“He was despised and rejected by men-a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Is. 53.3
“But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him and by his wounds, we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all……he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. Is. 53.5-7
“He was assigned a grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.” Is. 53:9
“After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life, and be satisfied: Is. 53:9
“For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Is. 53:12

The book of Isaiah was found in the Dead Sea Scrolls relatively intact and is 1000 years older than the oldest script before the discovery. The Isaiah scroll dates back to the second century B.C. which would make it impossible to falsify to fit the life of Christ. The whole Old Testament was discovered except for the book of Esther. The Dead Sea Scrolls also called the Qumran scrolls (Qumran is the main location in the Dead Sea area where the scrolls were discovered) demonstrates unequivocally the fact that the Jews were faithful in their transcription of biblical manuscripts. The Jewish writers were extremely conscientious about copying the biblical text, and memorization was a key component of their education. The Old Testament books from Qumran are those which we find in our Bibles. Minor textual variants occur as they do in any document which depended on hand copies for multiplication. Comparing today’s scripture to those found in the Dead Sea Scrolls speaks of the accuracy found in the text.

The second book is the Psalms which was also found in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The following are some of the prophecies of the Messiah.

“All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads; He trusts in the Lord let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.” Ps. 22: 7-8
“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me…my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; Ps. 22:14 (Medically this is an accurate description of what takes place when a person is crucified.)
“They have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.” Ps. 22:16
“They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.” Ps. 69:21
“Because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy one see decay.” Ps. 16:10

There are hundreds of prophecies concerning the coming Messiah which Jesus has fulfilled. Here are a few more.

Bethlehem was named as the birthplace of the Messiah seven centuries before the event. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”(Micah 5:2)
“See your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9
“They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” Zechariah 12:10

The prophecies of Christ first coming are powerful. In addition, there are prophecies about his second coming also. We encourage you to do your own study and see how these prophecies are fulfilled in the New Testament. Being skeptics ourselves at one time, we understand the many questions and concerns you may have. . But we were created for a relationship with the living God. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:12) If Christ was the Messiah and there is such a thing as abundant life here and life after death-----------------wouldn’t you want to know? Anything this important cannot be ignored.

We welcome questions and discussion on this all important topic.

Because we care, Sue and Larry Schuerr

I Have a Bone to Pick with You

2011-04-17T01:44:00Z

Our daughter Deborah who resides in Bozeman, Montana taught Larry how to fly fish one summer. He took to it like a bee to honey. People come from all over the world to fish in Yellowstone and pay exorbonate amounts of money for the adventure. Deb took Larry to a small spring creek near a railroad track and the interstate

“There can’t be anything in here. It’s too small.” Larry reacted. But it turned out to be a fish supermarket.

He caught 43 fish in a manner of a few hours. They hit any brown fly Larry threw at them. He was bursting with excitement like a kid in a candy store while cleaning and gutting the four he decided to keep.

“It was going to be a great dinner,” he said knowing we were going to have company that night.

When visiting Montana, we often camp at Hyalite National Forest-----one of God’s most magnificent creations. We tow a 19 ft. small trailer and that is our home for 3 weeks. People come and visit us in our beautiful, pristine surroundings. Our daughter-in-law’s parents came up that evening for a fish dinner. By the time the coals were hot and dinner ready to be served, it was dusk. Extremely hungry, we devoured our food until we heard Larry gag.

In the darkness of the evening, he had mistaken a bone for fish. Coughing, bread, water-----nothing seemed to dislodge it. So the next morning, we headed down the mountain to the medical center.

“Hi Larry," the doctor said. You see Larry, from Illinois, had visited the center other times in past years for one malady or another. He looked down his throat and said, “I haven’t seen anything like this in twenty years.” This was all I needed to hear. My hopes of a problem free vacation were quickly evaporating.

Next he said, “If I cannot dislodge the bone, it will mean surgery.” Surgery------- for a fish bone! Whoever heard of such nonsense? Larry suppressed the cough instinct and allowed the doctor to lunge down his throat with a pair of round pliers with a round tip. After a couple of attempted, he captured his bait.

“In addition to teaching,” Larry said, “I could now have another career as a sword swallower.” We all agreed.

Now when eating fish in the dark, I insist that he put on one of his many head lamps, or I’ll have a bone to pick with him. .

The True Road to Happiness

2011-04-01T02:30:00Z

Friends and Habitat for Humanity

We are almost to St. Petersburg FL where we will spend two day with our dear friends the Bensons and the Hitts. We spent last night in at Georgia Veterans State Park in Georgia, near Americana, Jimmy Carter’s hometown. Being so close to Habitat’s central office and Global Village, we decided to take a tour of the facility which has facsimiles of houses throughout the world. Larry cried when he saw homes so similar to what he saw in 2006/7 in Haiti.

We decided to spend part of our time volunteering for a project in Sebring near Tampa, FL. With Larry’s experience as a contractor and an Industrial Art’s teacher, Habitat was thrilled to have him come on board; they have 14 homes to build with a deadline in June. Larry has been a construction leader for three Blitz Builds in Bay Saint Louis, MI plus he worked on local projects. We are looking forward to spending our lives paying it forward. We have been blessed so much in our own. We have found that true happiness comes by giving of ones talents and skills.

Life with Larry Motorcycling to Prairie Du Chien

2011-03-12T14:10:00Z

When you see signs labeled Bad Ax River and Lone Elm Tree road, it’s a clue you are no longer in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Actually, we were in the outskirts of Prairie Du Chien. It’s where the Mississippi and Wisconsin River meet. Our mode of transportation was a 1981 Honda motorcycle loaded with everything we would need for a two day adventure. You might call it a midlife crisis, but then no one lives over 120 years unless they are eating Dannon yogurt in some remote village in Russia. Yes, after twelve years of begging and the sky high prices for gasoline, I finally gave Larry permission to buy another motorcycle. Permission, you may ask! Well, Larry crashed his first motorcycle on the Ides of March in 1995--- when he gazed at a police officer giving a poor soul a ticket. The woman in front of him suddenly put on her brakes and Larry slammed into her trunk resulting in his broken pelvis, demolished motorcycle and my spring break at the hospital. Fortunately, no surgery was needed and the wider pelvis would enable Larry to have our next child freein me from labor.

Every time we went through Sturgis on our way to Montana, I would have to wipe off the drool from Larry’s chin as he lusted after another motorcycle. But Larry wanted his wife as a partner, and he waited twelve years for me to finally give consent. Now I have to admit, I love the freedom and fun of a motorcycle myself.

Over the past twelve years, gravity has played havoc with Larry’s 6’ 2”, 240 lb. frame. To get on his motorcycle, he grabs his pant leg and throws it over the seat and does a little jig when a cramp sets in. I’ve promised to teach him yoga and stretch moves to remedy his condition but he shows little interest in learning. Getting off the motorcycle is also a trick since the body wants to stay in the bent over position. Other than that, we had a wonderful time enjoying the onset of fall and the flocks of pelicans landing on the Mississippi river.

The first night we camped at Governor Dodge State Park right along the cliffs. It was late September and we had the place to ourselves. We pitched our backpacking tent and made an attempt to sleep well on insulate which is like sleeping on old cardboard boxes. Following tradition, we strained to read before bed with our trusty headlamps and foggy glasses. I dreamed of our first motorcycle trip to Galena twenty years earlier when we traveled with four other couples while witnessing a lightning filled rainstorm. I was young enough not to worry too much about the metal tent poles attached to the back of cycle. There are some advantages to growing old---such as gaining wisdom.

I highly recommend a trip from La Crosse to Prairie Du Chien and then over the bridge to see the Indian Mounds in Iowa. From there, continue on to Galena and back to the land of more sophisticated names for rivers and roads. By the way, the lowest gasoline prices were in Dubuque, Iowa ---just $3.66. You might also find a deal on a motel but then you’d miss the beauty of being so close to nature at its best.

True Confession?

2011-01-31T23:37:00Z

If you asked family or friends to describe our garage in the past, they would call it a tornado ravaged zone. But after retirement from teaching, Larry spent three solid weeks with occasional help from our son-in-law, Geoff, putting it back in order. He found new homes for the bicycles and parts he collected for the needy. It was an adventure for both to see what they would uncover in the pit of doom. Anyone interested in our 1969 non running motorcycle that still occupies the corner spot?

So for most of my teaching career, I could not put our 2000 Ford Windstar in the garage. But now I have an item called a garage door opener and ‘viola’ I can drive in. The miracle still astounds me especially on snowy and rainy days.

Last week I was in a hurry and it was dark. When I pulled out, I didn’t see Larry’s 2003 Ford 150 Truck until I heard a scrape. In anguish, I quickly got out of the van to inspect the truck; the stars must have been aligned in my favor-----no damage.

The next day we went to Panera for coffee, and that’s when we both saw the scrape on the van----the first in its eleven year history even though the body is wasting away with metal cancer.

Larry yelled out,” Who put the scrape on the van? I can’t believe someone would hit it and then take off----a hit and run.” I listened to him describe the scum bag who would do such a thing and I agreed with him wholeheartedly.

Now here is my dilemma; do I confess my guilt or do I let him pin the guilt on "an unidentified scumbag"?

What would you do?

Being non-accusatory, Larry later asked if I knew anything about this matter. In tears, the 'scum-bag' confessed. Larry reacted kindly by hugging me. We have learned over the years to forgive one another since we both have a record of wrongs. True Confession? True Love!

"A Cold Get-Away"

2011-01-05T02:55:00Z

Life with Larry-1/1/11

Imagine seeing a bison come ambling down a hill behind you as you cross country ski on Tower Falls Trial in Yellowstone at 6278 ft. elevation and -6 degree temperatures. Yes, Life with Larry has given me another first time experience with extremes. Our son Aaron is a chip off the old block. He arranged the two night winter get away at cabins at the Yellowstone Institute in the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park... When I heard that it was predicted to be bitterly cold, I assumed we would be canceling; but the word cancel is not in the Schuerr vocabulary.

I was comforted with the fact that the cabins were heated, but my bottle of water nevertheless had turned to lumps of ice by the morning. I tried to negotiate with my bladder at 1:10 AM telling it to shut up and let me sleep. But it persisted and I had to accommodate it. I grabbed my fleece coat and gazed at the breath taking stars that filled the dark sky until I remembered that I had to be on the look out for stray bison who wandered into the camp occasionally. I heard the sound of a coyote in the distant and hoped it was not hungry for a short squat Norwegian American. Finally, I made it to the bathhouse 50 ft. away which doesn’t sound like much of a feat, but it got down to -28 degrees that night. Yuk!

We covered nearly every inch of skin and donned our cross country skies to face the cold. I didn’t want to get out of the truck until August, my 10 year old grandson, said, “Suck it up Grandma.” Our three grandsons and my son and daughter in law never complained, but just skied along happily enjoying the snow-capped hills and wild life. They totally inspired me as my thumbs were the first thing to freeze and my toes felt like ice cubes, but soon the constant activity, lack of wind, and sunshine warmed me up. “It’s a dry cold,” Larry would remind me. When we got to Calcite springs, we poured cups of tea and nibbled on Cheesites.

When we got to camp to prepare dinner, I said, “Larry, why don’t you sleep outside tonight in your winter tent.” He weaseled his way out and saved face by saying, “I can’t. My sleeping bag is only rated to -20 degrees”.

As it turned out, the temperature improved to a balmy 10 degrees the next morning so we put on snow shoes, a first for us, and became Louis and Clark explorers. By 1 PM Grandpa and Grandma said good-bye to the hardy campers and headed to Chico Natural Hot Springs to thaw and recuperate.

Beef Jerky Montana Style

2010-12-01T20:33:00Z

Beef Jerky Montana Style-by Sue Schuerr

Last year, Larry bought a kit at Cabellas for making his own beef jerky. He spent an afternoon making some pretty tasty jerky for our hikes out in Montana. We eagerly looked forward to a family reunion. Our son, Aaron, rented a newly built rustic cabin tucked away in the woods and surrounded by rivers, hiking trails and the Crazy mountain range beckoning us to adventure. The spacious Bennett Cabin outside of Clyde Park in Montana is a work of art. Its sturdy 80 year old logs are accented with green cedar shingles. It’s very reasonable to rent since it’s devoid of plumbing.

Aaron and his wife Lynelle climbed out of their van with our three energetic grandsons August, Jasper, Isaac and their chocolate lab, Gracie. Family fun would now begin. But it didn't take long for Gracie to discover a strange substance she enjoyed chewing. She also rolled into some foul smelling pond and only a bath in the nearby stream could get rid of the stench.

We shared Larry’s delicious beef jerky with the family while hiking along the stream. But after a half hour or so we were stopped by fallen trees that were the result of a June tornado that swept through the area. That evening, we came across the journal where visitors describe their time at the cabin. We were told to look for a fantastic view of the stars, a visiting owl and an occasional bear sighting. But what caught our attention the most was an entry from the previous week. It went something like this.

Entry 7/8. We were sitting around enjoying coffee and conversation when a very polite forest service man informed us that our serene time was coming to an end. A downed tree caused by a tornado killed a cow and now they, meaning the forest service, were going to have to deal with it. Yes, they were waiting for an expert to arrive from Bozeman who would help them with the situation as a resident bear had discovered the beast which made it unsafe for cabin residents like us. More trucks began to arrive--- some seven or eight of them donned with helmets and chain saws as they cut through the tree. They then covered our cabin windows with plywood and asked us to park the cars behind the cabin suggesting we take a hike. We went toward Target rock over fallen trees not knowing what to expect. Soon an explosion ripped across the mountain----an earth shattering and auditory resound of military impact. What we were hearing was the sound of an exploding cow. An exploding cow! It took a legend to blow up one single cow. There was enough gusto to take down a herd of cows. Any resident bears must have fled completely out of the Crazies for good------with need of therapy. We went back to our cabin and were greeted by a considerate and good humored forest service employee informing us that the danger was now over. I felt it was my duty to walk to the gate where the deed was done to investigate. The dirt road was strewn with clumps of red meat the size of salmon servings and flies were swarming in mass. The smell was pre-historic. I was witness to something that looks simple, but is complex. Now little critters will nibble the bits. As for bears---the therapy continues.

Now we understood why Gracie was having such a feast. The mysterious substance was nothing other than---Montana beef jerky. Her last treat resembled a cow's ear---Yuk! Coming from Illinois and chewing our own beef jerky, we knew we were witness to the aftershocks of an event done only Montana style.

Bicycling from Birth into Infinity

2010-11-21T23:45:00Z

Larry got his first very used single speed bike from his Uncle Bud at age twelve. Larry painted it a cool chocolate brown to cover up the dinks. But he didn’t care; the new wings gave him mobility to connect with the neighborhood kids since he had been the only one without one.

My first bike was a tricycle with large wooden blocks my dad taped on with style. He kept the electrical black tape handy when one would fall off. At age four, my short legs flew and I knew I was hooked on biking forever.

Old Blue Bell was my next prized possession. I learned how to ride my first two-wheeler by crashing into the nearby hills. After painting myself black and blue, I finally learned the concept of balance. I talked to Blue Bell, my old friend, and she very affectionately learned to cooperate.

When Larry and I got married in 1968, we couldn’t afford bikes until after our third child, Aaron, was born. Taking care of babies aged four and under kept us well occupied. But the day arrived when we finally bought brand new Sears black three-speed bicycles and tooled around the neighborhood in fashion. Aaron, who was under a year, would face Larry on the front carrier while Deb, with her long thick blond hair blowing carelessly was perched in the rear carrier. Julie, traveling on the back of my bike, would be giggling and laughing with her red curls bouncing up and down. Later, we fearlessly ventured on the prairie path in Wheaton, IL to visit our favorite ice cream shop, Cock Robins. Larry would have to wait for me to take baby Aaron off the front carrier before he could dismount. Traveling as we did helmet less in the 70’s was the standard unsafe mode.

Now the kids have all flown the coop and we have an assortment of bicycles including road and mountain bikes along with crash resistant helmets, but our prize possession is our beautiful red aluminum framed, carbon fibered forked 27 speed Santana tandem. Each year along with 5,000 of our closest buddies, we travel to Bloomington, Indiana to participate in the Hilly Hundred bicycle event. Our goal is to ride into infinity.

Life with Larry in Germany

2010-10-24T15:53:00Z

Life with Larry has taken me to Ramstein and Spangdahelm Air Force Base in Germany. Larry spent four years in the Marines where our first daughter Deborah was born---cost was $7.50. He then enlisted in the Navy reserves for 18 years and now we are reaping the benefits. We drove to Scott Air Force base where our adventure began. From there we flew to St. Andrews base in Washington, D.C. and then off to Germany. Being friendly and chatty, we met many other retired military people. We hooked up with Charlotte and Jack Lyons and have been traveling from base to base in a rented car with Mandy our friendly but persistent GPS system. Tomorrow we leave for Edleweiss Lodge near Munich for a couple days and then to Aviano Italy where we will attempt to fly back to the US.

Life with Larry requires flexibility. Flying this way is space available which means we could end up in Turkey. We have flown in a refueling tanker and a med-a-vac jet. It's all about the mystery and adventure and when you're over 60 years old--why not??