By BJ Nikkel

My husband Phil and I always knew when Bill Kieser was ambling around the woods surrounding his cabin, near where we also live, at Carter Lake.  His signature yodel would always alert us when he was nearby!   We would hear the yodel and know that he and Lucky and Scruffy — and whatever other pack animals he’d picked up along the way, were hiking nearby and likely to stop in.

Those big bags of dog biscuits:   For Bill’s regular visits, Phil and I always kept a handy and very large supply of tasty doggie treats  – because the animals (and Bill) always expected to be welcomed in a certain fashion, you know.  And, we loved welcoming in that fashion – it was the neighborly thing to do.  And, I always had a cup of coffee handy for Bill before we’d head off on a morning walk.   Of course, that was reciprocal when we and Spot and B.B. visited Bill’s turf, too.

The year that Lynn died coincided with me having quit my stressful job – nearly to the month.  I decided I would tag along and make at least one of the twice daily walks that Bill would make with the dogs.  Those morning hikes that summer filled a void for me, as I’m sure it did him — and filled the stomachs of our pack of dogs which followed us, with too many dog biscuits.

Often, Kristie and Phil or Thor would be at the cabin and would join us on these walks and great philosophical discussions would occur — and it was with them on those walks, that I planned my political career.

So, Bill would stop over in the morning for coffee and we’d then walk down to Carter Lake and over the western trail along the lake into what he loved to call Pirates Cove.  We’d most often head down the trail and do what any good hiker would do, and trespass,  in order to hike along the really nice trail which would lead us out of the heat of the sun, into the cool woods and the welcome shade of the pine forest, them back up the road to get us back to our respective “cabins.”

At the end of the hikes, I would leave Bill and Lucky and Scruffy at their driveway and he would end the same way he began, with a “Tedel-odel-a-e-oo” as he walked down his driveway to the cabin.   I would reciprocate and yodel back at him, in different keys of course, since I’m a musician, which always impressed Bill – and he would answer back in like fashion.  This would go on for a few minutes until we could no longer hear each other.

Those days were a blessing and are now precious memories to me.  It may seem like a simple thing, to hike with a friend – but those daily hikes were some of the best times of my life while living here at Carter Lake.  They helped me figure out what my next step in life would be.

And, I believe my husband Phil would confirm that the friendship we both found with Bill –  and with Thor, Kristie and Phil were the “simple gifts” of life.   These friendships were, and are, rooted in the kindness of a man – Bill Kieser – a gentleman who loved to connect and laugh with people – particularly if they shared a love of dogs, hiking, sailing, food and drink.

Kieser the Squeezer – as his old T-shirt said – still makes me laugh so hard… I will miss you my dear old friend, and I will always think of you, as I hike and sail around Carter Lake.