May/June 2016 60Plus

May/June 2016

A WHIRLING DERVISH NAMEDRidingJANE RAGBRAI That’s a Word? Bingo!

Omaha Scrabble Club

Memories, Tradition, and Families

Different Celebrations, One Holiday

Clara Sue Arnsdorff Bellevue Little Theater Volunteer

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60PLUS

SPRING IS HERE! I

LOVE SEEING THE LEAVES start to appear after the rain— and all of the flowers that pop up! This is my favorite time of the year.

The area where I live has many redbud trees that line the driveways and appear among the wooded yards. I consider seeing them bud the first sign of spring.

This brings memories of my father. Well into his 80s and 90s he continued to have a large garden of vegetables and flowers in his backyard. When he was 80 he became a Master Gardener. Each Memorial Day, he and I cut peonies from his yard and went to the cemetery in Lincoln to decorate the graves of my mother, my sister, and my brother. My father was a kind, loving man who lived to be 102 years old.

Judy Horan writes about three families with different Memorial Day traditions in this issue. You’ll also find a listing of some local festivals and events you won’t want to miss this summer. Clara Sue Arnsdorff fell into volunteering at Bellevue Little Theater through her kids, and continues to this day.

It is so important to keep the brain active, and a group of senior Scrabble players do just that through their favorite game each week. The way they create words is astounding.

Speaking of keeping your brain active, it is important to stay sharp while driving, and you can read about the special classes AARP hosts to help seniors stay safe on the roads.

I hope you enjoy these stories and all the others in this issue.

Me…I am going to head out for the yard.

Gwen

Gwen Lemke Contributing Editor, 60PLUS In Omaha

CONTENTS

volume 4 • issue 2 HOBBIES That’s a Word? Bingo!

Omaha Scrabble Club............................... S4

FEATURE Staying Safe on the Road AARP Driver Safety Courses......................S6

ACTIVE LIVING A Whirling Dervish Named Jane Riding RAGBRAI......................................S10

FEATURE Memories, Tradition, and Families Different Celebrations, One Holiday.........S14

FEATURE Independent Living Choosing Your Own Lifestyle in Omaha...S16

HEALTH Congestion, Headaches, and Sneezing You’re Never Too Old for Allergies............S18

NOSTALGIA Omaha’s Summer Festivals A Historial Guide to Seasonal Fun............S20

FACES Clara Sue Arnsdorff Bellevue Little Theater............................S22

may/june 2016 | 60PLUS

S3

60PLUS FEATURE

story by daisy hutzell-rodman | photography by bill sitzmann

THAT’S A WORD? omaha scrabble club

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K

IRK TROUTMAN AND JIM Goeken, both age 67, sit across from each other on a Thursday afternoon at A.P. Swanson Library. A rotating Scrabble board lays between them on a table.

This Scrabble board is one of 150 million that have been sold world-wide, making it the best-selling board game in the world. The game, invented in 1938, is played like a crossword puzzle. Players place tiles on the board vertically or horizontally to create words.

This may all be old news for you, being that more than one-third of all U.S. households own a Scrabble game.

What you may not know, however, is how Troutman and Goeken come up with their words.

The term ZA sits on the board.

It is a slang term for pizza, and a relatively new addition to the official Scrabble dictionary.

Troutman sets down QAID for 27, also gaining points for ED from a previously-played E. On his next play, he sets down EXPO next to the term ROOK, ending against the word BUCK. This creates the terms RE, OX, OP, and BUCKO along with the play of EXPO. It’s BUCKO that causes his partner to stop and think. Not to think of BUCKO as a word, but whether or not it is an acceptable play. Acceptable, that is, according to the official Scrabble rules. He writes it on the corner of his score sheet, but does not contest it.

These players memorize words, specifically word patterns. There are 106 two-letter formations acceptable according to the official Scrabble rules, and the competitive players have memorized them all. They have also memorized three letter words, four letter words, etc. Ask them to define QAID, and most of them won’t be able to, but they will be able to tell you it is one of the acceptable Q words that do not need to be followed by a U. In addition to the Thursday gatherings, the two are members of the Omaha Scrabble Club, which meets twice a month on Tuesday nights. The club has lately grown so large that, in mid-April, they moved to the Ralston library for the third Tuesday of the month.

The group is currently looking for a place to play.

Troutman is the organizer of the club where people of all ages and all skill levels gather to play their favorite game. Some players obtain an average living-room player’s score of around 200-250 points, but others may score into competition levels of more than 300 points.

Bev Chaney, age 68, is a retired insurance compliance analyst and administrative worker playing at the library on this Thursday. She started playing three years ago with Goeken, whom she knew through mutual friend Jim Bechtal.

“I just play for fun,” she says nonchalantly, smiling.

She studies word lists sometimes, but she doesn’t make a habit of it. She comes to be among friends, and play a game she has loved for a long time.

Her partner at this time is Brian Zdan, 62.

If only that wasn’t a proper name. It would garner 13 points without any double or triple spots on the board. Zdan began playing with the club in November 2014 because he read about the small group meeting in the Dundee Memorial Park newsletter and thought, “why not?”

Back at Troutman and Goeken’s table, Troutman plays NIGHT down from OPE, creating OPEN and hitting a coveted tripleword score for 37 points. A pyramid of words sits so tightly on the top right side of the board the pharaohs would keep dry for thousands of years…or maybe just the 60 minutes of play.

“You dog,” Goeken whispers in a combination of “great play” and “damn you!”

Goeken plays CAB down to join with ROOK, also creating BROOK, for 24 points.

The wood tiles that come with a standard Scrabble set aren’t used here. These players not only use a rotating board, they use special tiles that lock onto the squares of the board.

But the real specialty about these tiles isn’t the fact that they lock.

The original wood tiles are made with raised letters. These are made so the letters aren’t raised. With the competition-acceptable letters, one can’t feel around in the bag for the two coveted blank tiles.

Goeken has recently used a blank as a G, playing SELLIN(G) for 84 points.

That’s 34 points for the word and 50 for the bingo, or playing all seven tiles at once. Below that, he has also played the bingo S(T)ANGED for 65 points.

Two blank spaces in the bag, two bingos.

“When I get a blank I almost always try to get a bingo,” Goeken admits.

Troutman plays YIN next to AERIE, also making YE. He waves his hand in a “meh” gesture.

“11,” he says.

Goeken plays PEH for 11 and shrugs. Huh? Troutman explains that any play in serious Scrabble that garners no more than 10 points per play is considered average.

As the hour ends, Goeken has accumulated 348 points. Troutman has accumulated 387 points. BUCKO, incidentally, is an acceptable word. The pair will study the board, figure out where to earn more points, and meet again in a week…same time, same place, same game.

Different tiles, different words.

Visit meetup.com/Omaha-CompetitiveScrabble-Meetup to learn more.

may/june 2016 | 60PLUS S5

60PLUS FEATURE

story by allison janda | photography by bill sitzmann

STAYING SAFE ON THE ROAD the benefits of AARP driver safety courses

M

OST DRIVERS HAVE BEEN witness to fellow road warriors behaving badly. Whether they cut you off, didn’t use a blinker, sped around you, or some other dangerous offense— chances are you thought, “learn how to drive!”

While some drivers neglect the rules of the road, help is available to keep safe on the streets.

A ARP Driver Safety was first launched in 1979.

It is designed to meet the needs of older drivers through the use of four educational programs. In fact, the f lagship A ARP Smart Driver course is the nation’s largest classroom and online driver safety course. It was designed for people age 50 and older. Courses are available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. >

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Lana Fitzgerald, AARP Smart Driver instructor may/june 2016 | 60PLUS 

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60PLUS FEATURE

< Lana Fitzgerald is an instructor of A ARP Smart Driver courses. She says the driving landscape has changed dramatically in the past 30 to 60 years, and it will continue to change.

“Keeping pace with the changes is helpful to all drivers,” Fitzgerald says.

The A ARP Smart Driver Course is optional. It boasts an award-winning, research-based curriculum. In Nebraska, the entire course takes only four hours if taken in-person. Some participants choose to learn the information at their own pace via the online course. Either way, many participants find themselves eligible for insurance discounts upon completion of the class. Best of all, there are no tests to pass in order to qualify for these discounts.

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Mary F. Allen, 83, is a course participant who came to Nebraska from Arkansas to spend the winter months with her family.

“It’s imperative that drivers avail themselves of state-by-state rules and regulations and traffic law changes,” she says.

While Allen originally intended to take an online version of the course, she instead signed up for an in-person class with her daughter, Kim Moss-Allen, 53.

“The program online would not have been as beneficial as the personal atmosphere of the classroom,” Allen says.

Not a member of A ARP? Not a problem.

An A ARP membership is not required to enjoy all of the benefits this refresher course has to offer. While designed for drivers who are over 50, the course has seen participants as young as 14 benefit from the information.

Participants engage in a variety of lessons, such as learning research-based safety strategies that can reduce the likelihood of a crash. They also learn how aging, alcohol, and health-related issues affect driving ability. Additionally, it focuses on areas that can use more training, such as roundabouts, pavement markings, stop-sign compliance, and much more.

“Over 16,000,000 participants have gone through A A R P Driver Safety classroom and online courses, which have been taught by more than 4,000 A ARP Driver Safety volunteers,” Fitzgerald says.

Fitzgerald herself is a second generation A AR P Driver Safety Instructor, and has been teaching the course for more than four years. Her dad taught classes in North Dakota. Fitzgerald teaches in Nebraska at several locations, including CHI Health Midlands and Sunridge Village Retirement Community.

The course is available throughout the year, and is taught by volunteer instructors nationwide.

Visit aarp.org/findacourse to learn more.

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60PLUS FEATURE story by leo adam biga | photography by bill sitzmann

A WHIRLING DERVISH NAMED JANE riding RAGBRAI W

HEN THE REGISTER’S ANNUAL Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) rolls around in July, Omahan Jane Reuss will saddle up with her Team Angry mates for the 15th consecutive year.

Reuss has cycled since childhood. Back then she would traverse the Interstate to Council Bluffs to get her Gitano serviced. Nowadays, she treks 80 miles on a single ride. She and her husband, Jerry, a retired Omaha firefighter, keep a getaway cabin in North Bend, Nebraska. The ride there takes four-and-a-half hours, but Reuss says it’s a breeze.

Getting on a bike and going somewhere, anywhere, is her therapy.

“I just love it. It’s like my time. Nobody can ask me anything,” Reuss says. “I don’t have to do anything except ride my bike, listen to music, or a book on tape. It’s time off from my normal routine.”

Reuss also golfs, swims, skis, and works out at the gym. Jerry joins her on shorter rides, and the pair play sand volleyball together.

“There are some mornings when I think I should just sleep in,” she says. “But I don’t know who I am if I can’t be active.”

Though she used to run, rollerblade, and even compete in women’s triathlons, she prefers cycling now. >

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may/june 2016 | 60PLUS S11

60PLUS FEATURE

< “It’s a great, stress-free activity for any age, especially as you get older,” Reuss says.

“I’m seriously more comfortable on my bike than anywhere else.”

For years she’s commanded the road atop a Greg LeMond road model bicycle she’s affectionately dubbed “Old Blue.”

Reuss can’t wait to do the weeklong R AGBR AI again with riders she considers family.

“We do feel a real camaraderie. We do a lot of bike rides during the year away from R AGBR AI. We’ve gotten to be good friends,” Reuss says.

Then there’s the folks she encounters along the way.

“I love meeting people. The townsfolk are great,” Reuss says. “It’s a big party for them.

They love us because we spend money.”

S12 60PLUS | may/june 2016 | omahamagazine.com

She and fellow team members stay with host families while completing the 460plus mile route.

Beyond the social aspects, Reuss enjoys testing her limits.

“I love the physicality of it. I love that I can do that,” Reuss says. “I love the sense of community and accomplishment.”

Not everything’s ideal. She’s waited out tornados in barns, slept in tight quarters on hard f loors, and taken communal showers in school gyms. On one ride she took a hard fall that left her with a broken rib and punctured lung. After treatment, Reuss kept riding.

Reuss says she relishes challenges.

Projects fill her garage and house.

“Thank goodness Jerry doesn’t mind,” she says. “He’s very supportive.”

In addition to bicycling, Reuss creates sculptures, often bicycle-themed, and works part-time at the Saddlebrook Branch of the Omaha Public Library. She sells her art at the Garden Gallery in Elkhorn, and even has a new commission to make a metal eagle for Eagle Run Golf Course.

In July, Reuss will be all geared up in jersey and gloves with a headband reading, “Not a sagger.” Once again she will ride from sunrise to sundown atop “Old Blue,” passing more than 400 miles of the Grant Wood landscapes called Iowa.

“I’m determined to do all the miles.”

Visit ragbrai.com to learn more.

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60PLUS FEATURE story by judy horan | photography by bill sitzmann

MEMORIES, TRADITION, AND FAMILIES different celebrations, one holiday

THE NATIONAL MOMENT OF REMEMBRANCE ACT: Signed into law in 2000, the act asks Americans to pause at 3 p.m. local time to honor Americans who died while defending our nation.

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Myron Roker

W

ORLD WAR II ENDED 70 years ago, but Myron Roker still feels the pain of battle. He served with 324th Infantry Regiment of the 44th Infantry Division on VE Day. The 93-year-old now lives in Glenwood, Iowa, and still carries shrapnel from a wound sustained in France. His hearing is almost gone, stolen by explosions in war.

But the most painful wound he carries is the loss of friends in combat.

“Freedom is not free,” says Roker. “We have to pay for it. Those are the heroes.

The wounded and the ones that gave their lives.”

Memorial Day has a deep, personal meaning for Roker.

“I lost a close buddy over in France to one of our own mines. Sometimes I still tear up,” Roker said.

He and his wife, Karen, spend Memorial Day at the graves of family members in their hometown of Clatonia, Nebraska.

Thomas Shimerdla, holding flag A FAMILY TRADITION OF SERVICE Thomas Shimerdla’s family has a proud military tradition. When he was fighting in Vietnam, so was his brother. His father served during World War II in the 14th Army Air Force. His grandfather fought in France during World War I. W hen Shimerd la wa s a youngster, Memorial Day meant visits to cemeteries w it h his fat her a nd gra nd fat her to honor veterans.

Shimerdla enlisted in the U.S. Navy Seabees when he was 19. He spent two years serving in Vietnam, a war that took more than 58,000 American lives. “I lost classmates in Vietnam. I think about them on Memorial Day,” he says.

He fought in the devastating Tet Offensive in 1968 that turned Americans against the war. Many who fought faced danger in Vietnam and disdain in the United States.

For Shimerd la, Memoria l Day is about spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Before suffering injuries in a motorcycle accident in October, he was part of the American Legion Riders, and rode with them to a cemetery on Memorial Day. “I was proud to be there, honoring soldiers who were killed,” he says.

The motorcycle enthusiast also rides with the Patriot Guard Riders, formed to provide shield from harassment at the funerals of “Fallen Heroes.”

Bill and Susan Eustice, with son Sean TRADITION AND FAMILY Susan Eustice says tradition is a big part of her holiday. She agrees that time with family is what Memorial Day is about.

For four generations, her family has spent Memorial Day at Lake Okoboji.

“My mother was six weeks old when she first spent the holiday at the lake,” Eustice says.

Her mother’s paternal grandparents, the Rectors, built a home at the beach. Eustice is also related to the Clarke family, who were among the first families to settle on Okoboji’s Omaha Beach.

This year Susan and her husband, attorney Bill Eustice, plan to enjoy fireworks, boating, swimming, sailing, biking, and dinners with family members.

He and his band, The Firm, will perform at the Barefoot Bar. They haven’t missed a Memorial Day celebration at Lake Okoboji in three decades.

For them, the day is about tradition.

may/june 2016 | 60PLUS S15

60PLUS FEATURE story by daisy hutzell-rodman

INDEPENDENT LIVING choosing your own lifestyle in omaha

R

ETIREMENT COMMUNITIES STEREOTYPICALLY BRING to mind senior citizens playing shuffleboard and bingo, perhaps eating some form of dry meatloaf and mushy potatoes in the cafeteria.

That may have been your grandparents’ retirement community, but it certainly won’t be yours, or your parents’. Independent living communities today offer trendy gluten-free items on the menu, yoga and tai chi in the gym, and even the chance to take in Broadway shows downtown. They are located in trendy midtown as well as quieter west Omaha.

Independent living is any housing arrangement designed exclusively for seniors, from apartments to freestanding homes. The housing is generally more compact and offers easier navigation and no maintenance or yard work.

People can live their own lives, but they reside in a community with activities and services geared towards seniors.

S16 60PLUS | may/june 2016 | omahamagazine.com

GREAT ACTIVITIES George Bakhit, executive director of Fountain View Senior Living, said that these popular amenities are making family members look at senior living, including independent living, in a different light.

“I’m seeing children who are looking at senior living for their folks, and they are intrigued,” Bakhit says.

Bakhit says part of the key to being a great retirement living facility is the quality of activities. Fountain View does provides bingo, and many people play bridge, but residents also go to the movies, baseball games, and the theater. The establishment provides live entertainment by popular local entertainers like Johnny Ray Gomez.

Key for Fountain View is maintaining a feeling that residents are at home and have the amenities they need. They have easy access to shopping areas, banks, and the Interstate. The Fountain View community also offers assisted living and care for those with Alzheimers or dementia. The ability to provide a variety of services is something Bakhit stressed people need to look for when choosing a facility.

“When looking for a senior living community, one might be conscious to look for a continual care community to make the transition from an independent living to assisted living smoother,” Bakhit says.

Kindness, conversation & care for your loved ones.

GREAT FOOD At Maple Ridge Retirement Community, residents don’t have to wait for a specified mealtime to eat. The community offers a Freedom Dining Program, based on the cruise-line model of dining.

They don’t serve mystery meat, either. One dish the executive chef serves is chickenfried steak atop a crispy fried potato cake, over a chive oil drizzled corn soubise. The meal is finished with fried baby spinach and brunoise red peppers.

That’s just one meal that was recently served in their fine dining option. Maple Ridge serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner… and they extend their lunch for another hour by leaving the soup and salad bar open.

Hungry between 3 and 4 p.m.? They offer snacks and sandwiches.

“The Freedom Dining, the ability to come and go more to fit with their lifestyles, is something that is totally unique to us,” says DeniseTownsend, a manager at Maple Ridge.

While they don’t cater to special diets, such as low-sodium, in the independent living area, they do offer some trendy options, like gluten-free or vegetarian.

URBAN LIVING Indulging in trendy PieFive Pizza Co. before catching a movie at Aksarben Cinema might be something for hipsters, but residents at Aksarben Village Retirement Living Community just walk right across the street for a slice. They can also grab some morning coffee at Starbucks.

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may/june 2016 | 60PLUS

S17

60PLUS HEALTH story by susan meyers

CONGESTION, HEADACHES, AND SNEEZING you’re never too old for allergies

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M

ARILYN MODLIN WAS IN her late 50s when the sniffles, congestion, and headaches began. She never suffered from allergies before, so she waited it out, hoping the symptoms would go away. But instead they got worse. So bad, she had to sleep sitting up.

Over the next couple years, Modlin visited several allergy doctors, tried various allergy medications, and had sinus surgery and allergy testing. When symptoms did not subside, Modlin began allergy immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots. Immunotherapy involves the injections of allergenic extracts typically given over a period of about five years to desensitize your body to your allergy triggers.

Since starting treatment about three years ago, Modlin says her symptoms have been reduced by about 50 percent. “It’s like night and day difference,” says Modlin. “I’ve reduced my meds in half and I hope to keep cutting out more.”

At 63 years old, Modlin thought she was too old for allergies. But the truth is, allergies can occur at any age.

Not only that, but as we age, we become more prone to developing a non-allergic condition similar to allergies, called irritant-induced rhinitis. This condition causes a persistent drippy nose due to exposure to irritants like smoke, dust, or chemicals.

In addition, “people’s lives often change in their 60s and changes in your environment can trigger new allergic reactions,” says Jill Poole, allergist at Nebraska Medicine. “For instance, you may get a new dog or cat, you may move to a new part of the country, or spend your winters in warm environments where you are exposed to new molds, pollen, dust, or sand.”

Modlin attributes the onset of her symptoms to the Iowa/Nebraska f lood of 2008, which left fields upon fields of dust, and wet, moldy, decaying matter.

A resident of Crescent, Iowa, Modlin says she was surrounded by the dust and debris, and shortly thereafter, the allergy symptoms began.

“If you develop allergies in your 60s or older, don’t minimize your symptoms,” stresses Poole. “If allergies are impacting your sleep, they need to be addressed and treated aggressively. Sleep problems can lead to a host of other issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and depression. Your doctor also needs to be aware of other medications you may be taking to prevent negative drug interactions or side effects.”

So how do you know if those recurring symptoms of congestion, runny nose, and sneezing are allergies or just another cold?

Allergies are more persistent, while the common cold will usually dissipate in approximately seven to 10 days, notes Poole. Like the common cold, allergies are associated with congestion and runny nose. But with allergies, you may also experience achy muscles and joints, watery eyes, itchy nose and eyes, a chronic cough, sinus headaches and chronic fatigue. Another clue, if you’ve tried various antibiotics to treat a supposed cold or sinus infection without success, it may be time to see an allergist.

“Allergies can have a large impact on your life as you get older,” says Dr. Poole.

“An allergist can help guide you in taking the most appropriate medications or nasal sprays or determine whether you are a candidate for immunotherapy.”

may/june 2016 | 60PLUS S19

60PLUS NOSTALGIA story by maggy lemicke

OMAHA’S SUMMER FESTIVALS a historical guide to seasonal fun

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OTHING BRINGS BACK FOND memories like festival season, with the incessant summer heat carrying vivid recollections of outdoor parties. No need to reminisce when we can take you back ourselves. Here are some of our favorite festivals that have prevailed over the years:

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ARBOR DAY

TASTE OF OMAHA

SANTA LUCIA

April 29-May 1, Nebraska City, Nebraska Not every celebration can boast an entire holiday dedicated to the preservation of trees. In 1872, an estimated one million trees were planted in Nebraska, marking the first Arbor Day in American history.

But you don’t have to be a tree hugger to enjoy the 260-acre expanse of orchards on the Arbor Day Farm. Though many of the original orchards and estate structures still stand, Arbor Day Farm offers contemporary attractions such as interactive exhibits, hiking trails, and a 50-foot treehouse.

June 3-5, Heartland of America Park and Lewis and Clark Landing Omaha was just beginning to be known for food other than steaks in 1997, when Taste of Omaha began. These days, attendees can discover some of the finest restaurants in the area. They can taste the specialty dishes of local eateries, meet local chefs and enjoy live music performances across the festival’s multiple stages.

June 9-12, Lewis and Clark Landing Most of us weren’t born in noble, Roman families…but we can certainly pretend. With Italian music at our fingertips and a queen coronation to look forward to, Omaha’s Santa Lucia festival has given us a celebration to enjoy time and time again. Whether it’s the annual feast or the image of the Santa Lucia statue that prevails in your mind, this festival is one full of tradition and poignant memories.

SHAKESPEARE ON THE GREEN

OMAHA SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL CINCO DE MAYO

May 5-8, 24th and L streets A lively tradition full of community spirit, South Omaha’s Cinco De Mayo celebration dates back to the 1970s. Whether it’s the thrill of the bull races or the harmonious melodies of the Mariachi, memories of Cinco De Mayo are strong recollections that seem to stand the test of time. Sample some delectable food and honor the city’s rich, Mexican heritage, all whilst having fiesta f lashbacks.

June 10-12, Farnam Street from 10th to 15th streets This festival started in 1975 with visual arts lining the streets outside the courthouse.

Today, Farnam Street is decorated with national performers and giddy children with painted faces, as well as the 135 juried artists that have gathered from around the globe.

An ever-changing landscape that manages to uphold a memorable Omaha tradition, the Summer Arts Festival is not to be missed.

June 23-30, Elmwood Park Marking the fourth centennial of Shakespeare’s death, Shakespeare on the Green’s 30th anniversary continues to engage, educate, and entertain. Though the idea for an outdoor Shakespeare festival in Omaha wasn’t conceived until the early ‘80s, many of us have immersed ourselves in the talented performances and natural beauty of Elmwood Park over the years. Don’t miss this year’s literary workshops or the annual sonnet contest.

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60PLUS FACES story by greg jerrett | photography by bill sitzmann

S22â&#x20AC;&#x192; 60PLUS | may/june 2016 | omahamagazine.com

CLARA SUE ARNSDORFF

volunteering a lot of time at bellevue little theater

W

HEN CL ARA SUE ARNSDORFF, 73, moved to Bellevue with her Air Force family (husband Gordon, son John, and daughter Susan) in the late ’70s, many things in what seemed like just another short-term assignment turned out to be key ingredients for a sweet life.

“The Air Force sent my husband’s whole unit here in 1977, and we have been here ever since,” Arnsdorff says.

“We loved the area. Good schools, kids were settled nicely, so we stayed until my husband retired. Both kids attended Hastings College and got excellent educations. All because we moved here.”

It’s funny how helping out becomes habitual for some folks. When the Arnsdorff family was still new to Bellevue, it was the younger members who set the stage for their mom’s backstage life promoting the Bellevue Little Theatre.

“I blame that on our kids. When they were 7 and 9, there was an open audition at the Bellevue Little Theater for the first of a series of family shows to be done there, ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,’” Arnsdorff says. “Both kids auditioned, and our daughter was chosen. I had absolutely no idea that some 35 years later I would still be so involved.”

The next year, Arnsdorff’s son John, then age 10, was cast in “Oliver,” then “Cheaper by the Dozen.”

“The list continued for some time.

I guess I became a familiar face down there. When the publicity person moved on, I was asked to take over the job,” Arnsdorff recalls wistfully about the amount of time and effort that went into spreading the word in the ’80s. “Back then, all the info had to be mailed to the newspapers, radio, and TV stations, and I used our old Apple to type that up, print it, and mail it.”

It didn’t take long for Arnsdorff to become a permanent part of the Bellevue Little Theater team.

“After a couple of years, I was asked to be on the board of directors, and I have been active there ever since,” Arnsdorff says. “I have been corresponding secretary for about the last 10 years...and I must say that the job actually involves much more than ‘corresponding.’”

As co-chair of the play and director selection committee, Arnsdorff is tasked with reading and selecting the plays and musicals to be staged at the Bellevue Little Theater. She even invites the directors for each show.

Arnsdorff says her life in theater has taught her about patience, empathy, and understanding.

“As you get older, I think you appreciate more the everyday struggles of families and working moms. Raising kids is a full time job. I was fortunate that I was a stay-at-home mom, but that luxury is fast disappearing,” Arnsdorff says.

“Volunteering has helped me to be more empathetic. It reminds me that we have to be patient with volunteers.

It’s hard sometimes. Many expect volunteers to be experts at their jobs, but it doesn’t work like that.

We have to share ideas, be ready to admit errors, and move on to make things better. We have to listen, but be open…that is hard.”

Visit bellevuelittletheatre.com for more info.

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