Mathilde Apelt Schmidt's Blog
September 14, 2013
Our great loss
On July 27 we lost our beloved son Marty and our grandson, Denali under the summit of K2 in the Himalayas. Nothing can describe this in words. I went to Germany (a long planned trip) shortly therafter and found that everybody knew about it and was grieving with us (I went with my daughter Doris Schmidt Michaels). There were several memorials for them and my own special memorial will take place on October 27 at the Veteran’s Memorial Center at the Castro Valley Community Center at 11:00. Everyone who knew Marty or Denali is invited, but the event will be mostly for Marty’s military career. It’s my very own memorial. Mathilde
August 3, 2013
Marty and Denali
On July 26 my son, Marty and my grendson, Denali, both perished on K2–together, hopefully hit by an avalanche being asleep in their tent at Camp 3. Right now I cannot say anymore. Mathilde.
July 16, 2013
Lot’s of things going on in 2013
My husband Leo is walking again! After the accident in 2012 his leg has lealed and we are happy he is walking again. However, he is not coming with me to Germany in august. I am going to my hometown Bremen for three weeks to see a lot of friends and relatives there. My niece, Julie Kohlrausch, is now 65 and is giving a big party. I am going with my daughter Doris and her husband, Charlie Michaels. We’ll be having a good time. Our son Marty is right now climbing K2 in the Himalyas togither with his son Denali. We wish them luck! I am 92 now and doing well. I love teaching German (three classes now and three private students). It’s great to be able to enjoy life after 90! Mathilde.
May 20, 2013
Marty did it again.
On May 18, 2013, our son Marty summited Everest again.
We are very proud of him. Now he is off to climb K2 with son Denali. Denali just graduated from San Francisco Arts collge and we are very proud of him, too. I am doing fine. In August I’ll go with daughter Doris to Germany to celebrate the 65th birthday of my niece Julie Kohlrausch in Bremen. We’ll see many relatives and friends. Leo decided to stay home–his leg still gives him trouble. He’ll take good care of my tomatoes!
March 18, 2013
Marty’s Big Day
On Friday, March 15 our son Marty was invited to speak about his climbing expeditions around the world. This event was sponsored bu the Rotary Club of Castro Valley (of which I a am a member) and the Castro Valley Arts Foundation in connections with the Castro Valley High School. Marty had put together three Slide shows/movies, which he performed by simple standing on the stage, operating a small device in his hand. The audience-about 200 people-felt like being with him in mountain wonderland. The event was called “An Evening with Marty Schmidt. He had picked his most recent descent of Denali in Alaska, from 2012, when he and his son Denali summited Denali’s namesake together, last year’s tour of Makuli and, after intermission, the 2012 ascent of Everest. He’ll leave us soon, to guide another group to the top of Everest.
I am still a little weak from my bout with shingles last year after Leo’s accident, but doing all kinds of things. This year’s plans include a trip to Germany with my daughter Doris when I will finally see Berlin besides, of course my beloved home, Bremen. Meanwhile I am still teaching German and loving it.
January 13, 2013
A new year, 2013
After a wonderful holiday season with my family it’s up to a brand new year. We have lots to thank for: Our grandson Jason Crux is back from Korea and will spend the next three years with his family at a base near Heidelberg, Germany. We shall see them this year in August at their new home. My daughter Doris and I will be in Bremen, and maybe in Berlin in August, something to look forward too. Husband Leo is still recuperating from the accident in 2012, but he walks now and gets better every day. right now it’s bitter cold outside (Jan. 12) and we might lose all our oranges.. Our son Marty is back in New Zealand, traveling with his wife, Giovannina. He’ll be back in California in March and do a speech about his climbing at the Rotary club. Our oldest, Leo is having a class reunion with 20 graduates of Castro Valley High after 40 years! Well and I will celebrate my 92nd birthday on April 21. That’s exactly one year after the accident. What I enjoy most is my German class, which is now in its 6th year, students coming and going but always lots of fun. Until next time, Mathilde.
December 15, 2012
Christmas mood
I had a great Christmas party in my classroom with about twenty German students . We read the German Christmas story, straight from Luther, sang German Weihnachtslieder, played a game with presents from and for everyone, and then sat around a tiny Christmas tree and had a wonderful lunch with many German dishes. My favorite time of the year.
December 7, 2012
German Class
I had wonderful classes this year. I teach three levels, beginning, intermediate, and advanced. Altogether I had 21 delightful students. It’s such a joy to teach. We are at the Senior Center on Redwood Road in Castro Valley where we are aloud to teach in a great class room, all thanks to HARD, Hayward Area Park and Recreation District. I hope to continue like that in 2013. Frohe Weihnachten! Mathilde
November 17, 2012
After 90
I am trying to write another book: “After 90″. Very slow going because of the accident in April of 2012. For one thing: I am barely 90 and then on my 91st birthday there was an accident involving my husband and myself. This changed our lives. But that will be told in the book (if it will ever come out)
November 5, 2012
Accident and Shingles
On the day after my birthday on April 21, which our family celebrated at our cabin in the Sierra, my daughter Barbara volunteered to wash the windows. Nice birthday present, but … My husband Leo brought the ladder a rather old specimen and after Barbara had climbed about six steps the whole thing crashed, Barb flew through air and landed on Leo’s leg, the ladder between them. Result: Barb wasn’t hurt at all, the window wasn’t washed at all, but Leo’s leg was broken right below his left knee. I stood next to the mess, speechless. We called the ambulance and Leo was shipped to the nearest ER at San Andreas. The doctor’s verdict: Tibia plateau broken. Too old for operation. Somehow we brought him home and Leo spent several month healing, at first in bed all the time, then wheel chair, then walker, cane, and finally he is walking again. A week after this happened, I came down with shingles, a rather painful affair which I don’t wish on anybody. We are both still not back to normal.
