Missing Trish

 So much energy, humanity, humility, and humor... Trish was the most reliable, genuine, and hard-working person I ever met, and she is deeply missed.

People with cottages have the gift of having a home life, and an away life. The cottage often provides a getaway, an escape from... well, whatever. Often, owners of both leave "the city" and upon arriving "up north" (in Michigan, anyway), they cross the cottage threshold and emit sighs of relief, both literal and figurative. 

They can relax.

And so it was for Trish, I think. She worked hard at both abodes, for sure. But I believe the lake lifted her spirits, what with the sunsets, sunrises, boat rides, entertaining friends and family, communing with loons and swans and hummingbirds, pursuing fine dining (both home and "out"), and just generally enjoying the great outdoors and its all-embracing laid-back ambience.

Thank you for that gift, Erwin "Erv" Bettinghuaus, Ph.D., who we lost July 7, 2025. Trish loved you greatly. We are all in your debt.

Life for Trish up north was mostly on Intermediate Lake, but also at many other stops around the region, and often on the water. Here, on the Inland Waterway, with her beloved Bruce, just north of Alanson, MI on the Crooked River on Aug. 31, 2008:

I would be remiss if I did not include the very next frame on the camera roll, a companion shot, that of cousin Dave photo-bombing in his typical quiet and unassuming way (side note, Dave had an uncanny ability to roust Tammy, sweet Trish's salty alter-ego, with Dave deserving a more-often-than-not display of her middle finger):

And who could ever forget the cottage invasion of the Colarossi, Dalessandro, Fitzke, and Hecker families of July 9, 2012? Lifelong memories for all:

 

 

 

 

Oh, there were other memorable events and occurrences at home and away... cooking with Linda, for example, DeWitt, April 8, 2022 (not hard to get a shot of that happening!):

 

  

These were moments upon moments, which, stitched together, weave a narrative of a life well lived. The Nebraska football road trip, for example... hey, Dave! Hello again!!! Oct. 29, 2011:

 

 

 

Or, how about the book club nights? How about the many other gatherings of friends, for example here celebrating day one of 2019:

 

 

Trish was always present, engaged, and never hesitated to make her voice heard ... May 24, 2024: 

 

 

 

 

Let us not forget Karen and Paul, and their sharing of car bombs (the beverage concoction), who also explored trails on foot and bike with Bruce and Trish among the hills of northern lower Michigan... here's Trish, in May of 2024, standing alongside Bruce as, together, they charted the course:

 

 

We will forever love and cherish you, Trish. You brought friendship, joy, and love to everyone you ever met.

 

May you rest in everlasting peace.