That's a wrap on a 45 year career!
Elaine’s nursing story started early — inspired by Cherry Ames novels, candy striping and working as a nurses aide at the Hamiota Hospital, and caring for her grandparents before she even started formal training. What followed was a 45-year career that crossed borders and bridged eras in health care.
This year began with her easing down the glide path to retirement. Her career has included bedside nursing — in and out of intensive care units – and a 25 year stretch in clinical informatics. During her tenure, she helped implement three electronic health record systems at Harborview Medical Center and UW Medicine.
The prospect of retirement started to feel real in May when Elaine returned to Winnipeg for her 45th nursing reunion with the Health Sciences Centre Class of 1980. She and her classmates had a terrific time together (and thankfully, no one needed bail money). She was also the only one there who was still working.
This year began with her easing down the glide path to retirement. Her career has included bedside nursing — in and out of intensive care units – and a 25 year stretch in clinical informatics. During her tenure, she helped implement three electronic health record systems at Harborview Medical Center and UW Medicine.
The prospect of retirement started to feel real in May when Elaine returned to Winnipeg for her 45th nursing reunion with the Health Sciences Centre Class of 1980. She and her classmates had a terrific time together (and thankfully, no one needed bail money). She was also the only one there who was still working.
Elaine was well feted starting in June with an onsite farewell party with her IT coworkers. Even though her retirement officially started August 1st, her team since COVID is only onsite every 3 months, so celebrate when they are together.
The farewell tour continued with a 65th birthday-and-retirement party with friends in Olympia in July, plus another in August with family in Manitoba, who toasted her milestone with a sash that read “Quitter.”
Elaine with Kim Stuard, Paul and Cindy Griswold as they finish food prep for the church's Harvest Festival.
These days, Elaine has traded alarms for leisurely mornings and midday lunches with friends. These were interspersed with organizing the church’s Fall Festival and helping with other programs. She’s now leading the hospitality committee at church — still using her superpower of making people feel welcome.
She hasn’t lost her curiosity either. Like her childhood hero, the mystery-solving nurse named Cherry Ames — described on the dust jackets of her books as “smart, courageous, mischievous, quick-witted, and devoted to nursing” — Elaine keeps solving mysteries through genealogy and family history. Last year she teamed up with cousins to create a video honoring the military service of their great uncle Charles Wesley Lovatt - “A Stretcher Bearer’s Diary. WW!”
She hasn’t lost her curiosity either. Like her childhood hero, the mystery-solving nurse named Cherry Ames — described on the dust jackets of her books as “smart, courageous, mischievous, quick-witted, and devoted to nursing” — Elaine keeps solving mysteries through genealogy and family history. Last year she teamed up with cousins to create a video honoring the military service of their great uncle Charles Wesley Lovatt - “A Stretcher Bearer’s Diary. WW!”
Dick Toews (1940 - 2025)
That project echoes one from Paul’s side of the family. Years ago, his uncle Dick Toews featured prominently in a CBC Country Canada segment called “Finding My Uncle,” tracing Dick’s journey to England and the crash site where his uncle, RCAF airman Flying Officer Herman Schellenberg, went down during the war. Two wars, two videos, two family mysteries solved.
We lost Dick in August after five years of living with cancer. He was a gifted photographer, model builder, and storyteller — and a kind, funny man deeply missed by family and friends.
We lost Dick in August after five years of living with cancer. He was a gifted photographer, model builder, and storyteller — and a kind, funny man deeply missed by family and friends.
The annual Routledge camping weekend on the family farm was extra special this year. It became a chance to remember Elaine’s cousin Kevin, who died in January. The family held his interment at Scotia Cemetery in August, surrounded by cousins, neighbors, and friends.
While in western Manitoba, we also visited Elaine’s Aunt Shirley and cousins Cheryl, Joel, Chuck and Vern, along with reconnecting with friends Brad and Teri. After missing a trip home in 2024, it was wonderful to be back — catching up with Paul’s brother and sister-in-law, Dave and Karen, too.
A dinner with Elaine’s nursing school friends provided the opportunity to finish the stories being told from the reunion in May. While wildfire smoke benched Elaine for a couple of days, Paul caught up with friends Warren and Viv Preece, Stan Michalak, and Don Hornby.
We even made it to Grand Beach on Lake Winnipeg — Paul’s favorite childhood getaway — for the first time in about 45 years. It was every bit as good as remembered.
We even made it to Grand Beach on Lake Winnipeg — Paul’s favorite childhood getaway — for the first time in about 45 years. It was every bit as good as remembered.
Grand Beach on Lake Winnipeg
Earlier in the summer, Paul returned to Winnipeg for an all-stations radio reunion — three days of stories, laughter, and nostalgia with 150 colleagues and broadcasting legends. He even got to tell the three DJs who first inspired him as an eight-year-old: Buster Beau Dean, Raccoon Carney, and Garry “Double R” Roberts. When Paul thanked them for sparking his radio dreams, Roberts laughed and said, “I’m sorry. That should’ve come with a content warning — there’s no money or future in radio.”
The “radio life,” as Rac called it, has left an indelible mark on everyone who has worked in the business, and Paul wouldn’t have missed it for the world.
On that visit, he also got to spend time with nephew Graham and niece Naomi and her kids. Sweet times.
The Inside Olympia set at TVW in Olympia, WA.
Back in Olympia, Paul’s return to broadcasting has been both rewarding and fun. He’s now programming manager and producer at TVW — Washington’s statewide public affairs network. The media nonprofit airs and streams unedited, gavel-to-gavel coverage of state government and produces original current affairs shows, including Inside Olympia, which Paul produces. He also writes companion stories for TVW Stories on Substack, several of which have been picked up by the Washington State Standard and other outlets across the state.
Another highlight of the year was the wedding of a young man who was just a kid when we met him. Nick and Maddy are both huge Star Wars fans and chose to be married on May the Fourth (be with you). Instead of carrying flowers, the bridesmaids brandished light sabres.
Another highlight of the year was the wedding of a young man who was just a kid when we met him. Nick and Maddy are both huge Star Wars fans and chose to be married on May the Fourth (be with you). Instead of carrying flowers, the bridesmaids brandished light sabres.
Knowing big transitions were ahead, we started the year with a trip to southern California. We began with a seven-day Baja cruise, with stops in Cabo San Lucas, Pichilingue (La Paz), and Loreto. It culminated with visiting friends in San Diego (Cindy), Escondido (Dawn and Henry), and Carlsbad, where our young friend Lindy guided us through LegoLand. It was, as the kids say, incredibly chill.
As we wrap up 2025, we’re looking forward to a (U.S.) Friendsgiving and a FriendsChristmas here in Olympia — grateful for family, friendships, and finally, no early alarms.
Wishing you all a peaceful holiday season and a bright start to 2026!
— Paul & Elaine
P.S. Jerrie has been complaining about how her hoomans have changed things up this year. And here she thought she had us trained. Here is a beauty shot in an attempt to make amends...
Wishing you all a peaceful holiday season and a bright start to 2026!
— Paul & Elaine
P.S. Jerrie has been complaining about how her hoomans have changed things up this year. And here she thought she had us trained. Here is a beauty shot in an attempt to make amends...
"After all this time, still no respect."