Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "Do not follow where the path may lead; go instead where this is no path and leave a trail."
And for Ruth Geiger, those are words to live by. Pointing to the framed poster with the famous words, Geiger laughed and said, "That's a good quote for my life."
Though Geiger's worn many hats in 67 years, she's been most recently connected with her identity as the adopted mother of Haitian-born Hannah Geiger-who was attacked in a hate crime June 1.
After the incident, the Magnolia community rallied in support of Hannah at a Seattle Parks sponsored community barbecue, sending a clear message that such actions won't be tolerated in Magnolia, or any other neighborhood. And it's that kind of support that will make it difficult for the Geigers to say goodbye to their community.
Ruth Geiger retired from her seven-year-position as pastor of the Magnolia United Methodist Church June 30. She also had her first radiation treatment for breast cancer on Monday.
"I feel like I've had two full lives already. I'm ready to start my third," Geiger says.
Though fighting cancer was not part of the planned third life, Geiger regards her radiation treatment that will take her into mid-August merely as interference on the trail she plans to forge next.
"Right now it's a lot of psychological preparation. When you first hear the word cancer you're frightened to death," Geiger said. "You go through all these tests and you live in the world of 'don't know;' now we have names for these things and we know which direction we're going."
But sitting in a cluttered office, next to her youngest daughter, Hannah, Geiger does not exude fear. Between the pair, there's hardly a moment without a smile.
Geiger reflects cheerfully on what she terms her first life as a special education teacher in Alaska for 18 years, and her second life-as a church leader and single mother of five adopted children.
"I have mixed feelings about retirement. I love this congregation and I will miss them," Geiger said.
The church fits Geiger's life philosophy to "love yourself and love others." While a pastor at this church, it became a reconciling congregation and Geiger said she enjoyed what she called creative worship-a more interactive and imaginative way to preach. For one sermon on obstacles, Geiger moved all the pews so that she had to physically maneuver over them throughout her sermon.
Despite her attachment to the church and her role as a pastor since 1990, Geiger says she's ready for her third life in which she plans to write a book and move to Sequim, Wash., where she owns property.
"When you retire you're shifting what you've done for a long time. There's sadness, but excitement; there's more in store for me."
Balancing two
medical needs
It is only when the conversation turns to Hannah's upcoming brain surgery that Geiger's excitement for the next stage in life dims slightly.
"I'm scared to death, but if it helps her it's worth it," Geiger said. "When she has a seizure I say, 'yes, we have to do it'."
Doctors have told the Geigers that Hannah's surgery on July 13, where by surgeons will remove part of Hannah's brain, may reduce her seizures by 75 percent. The seizures happen frequently and unexpectedly, leaving more potential to diminish Hannah's brain function, Geiger said, imploring the need for the operation.
Though Hannah betrays her own nerves about the surgery, as she tells the story of Trevor-a friend who had brain surgery and hasn't had seizures for four years-she becomes more confident.
"He told me not to worry about it. Now that I've been talked to about it I guess I'll be all right," Hannah says. And after a short pause, she smiled and added, "He talked me through it; he gave me encouraging words."
The surgery will leave Hannah in the hospital anywhere from 10 days to three weeks. Though her only admitted fear is Hannah's surgery itself, Geiger said, "I'm confident both of us will be fine."
Forging a new trail
Despite a summer ahead of hospital beds, Geiger's thoughts faithfully focus on her future life in Sequim-the nook of nature that all her thoughts seem to trickle down to.
"The move will be hardest for Hannah because she's so active in the community, but Hannah's outgoing," Geiger said, looking at her daughter. "She'll make friends faster than I will."
The statement elicits a doubtful look from Hannah, and when asked about saying goodbye to the community, Hannah at first only says "No" and her body language doesn't hide the fact that she's not as excited about the move as her mother.
But eventually Hannah concedes she has a knack for meeting new people.
"I will make new friends, but it's not easy," Hannah said. "But I have experience in it."
To the community that has embraced her, "There's a lot of stuff I'd like to say," Hannah said after careful consideration. "The people around here are nice; I will miss that."[[In-content Ad]]
