This is the Schneider-Farris Family's Blog. Keep up with what we are doing by logging into this site regularly! (The reason this site is called "Tragedy and Triumph" is that when I first founded this site, my husband, Dan, had been in a horrible accident, and he recovered. His recovery was a miracle! Go back to the 2005 archives to read our story.)

Thursday, October 06, 2022

October 6, 2022 Schneider-Farris Family Updates



I have been staying away from Facebook because I’m not sure at this time if it is good for me to be on social media.  There is just too many people who are my “Friends” on Facebook and it was becoming almost like work to keep up with so many lives.  I’ve discovered that through Facebook I also hear about deaths and loss more often than I am able to handle at this time.  

When I shared on Facebook in early September an update that said I was just so sad about the losses that have occurred in my life recently, it seemed that some of the comments were not helpful, so I decided it is best to stay away from Facebook for a while.  I am cautious to go back; it’s almost like kicking an addiction for me.  I think if I do go back, I’ll have to limit looking at Facebook to once a week or once a month or something.

The thing is I miss all those people that I have kept up with electronically.  I also miss posting photos of fun things I do.  Doing that gave me great joy.

So…instead…I will post a bit on this blog about my family’s activities.

At the end of May 2022, after spending a month in Colorado Springs with all three of my children, my husband, and my dog, my husband Dan and I decided it would be best for him to go to Long Beach to help his siblings take care of his 98 year old mother.

That of course was a good and necessary idea and shortly after Dan left for Southern California, I headed for Sun Valley.

And…to sum things up:  My summer in Sun Valley was the BEST!  Every day, every week, every thing I did there made me so happy!  My son Joel was in the ensemble cast of the Sun Valley On Ice summer ice show.  He skated every day and I skated a lot too.  I road my bike.  I hiked.  I road my scooter.  I swam.  I played tennis and pickle ball. I made friends.  We went to the farmer’s market every week and even made friends there!


Joel was in the ensemble cast of Sun Valley On Ice and taught some skating at the rink and worked at the Sun Valley hotel all summer and skated almost every day.  He rode his new electric scooter to work and to the rink.




Shorty’s Diner in Hailey, Idaho near Sun Valley


We went to every single thing that the Wood River Jewish community offered.  On Monday mornings, I ran the Zoom Temple Israel Long Beach New Testament From Jewish Point of View class.  

In late August, my friend Anne came to visit and that was truly a highlight of the summer.  

The last show Joel was scheduled to perform in was on the Friday just before Labor Day.  That was when a disappointment happened when both ice sheets in Sun Valley closed suddenly when the rink’s compressors went out.  The show was canceled, but also we learned there would be no more ice skating in Sun Valley until May or maybe April of 2023!

Joel and I decided it was best to go back to Colorado Springs so he could continue to skate and so I could skate when I felt like it.  So…in mid September, we left the Sun Valley paradise and drove back to the Springs.  

Joel skated at the ice rink in Provo, Utah on our way back to Colorado Springs - I wasn’t feeling well enough to skate


Before we left, even though I have been vaccinated four times, I came down with Covid and I was very ill.

I didn’t know returning to Colorado Springs would bring back so many painful memories though.  I may need to go back to Idaho where it seems easier for me to put a bandage on the wounds associated with grief.

Everywhere I go in Colorado Springs, memories of the past resurface.  Ever since I returned I’ve missed my dad more than ever.  

Annabelle moved to Boulder and I miss her.  She and her wonderful boyfriend Ben are loving Boulder and Joel and I will go see them soon.  Rebekah was in Japan touring with Disney On Ice all summer, but stayed in Asia after the tour and is doing research on elephants in Thailand.  Dan is needed in Long Beach to help take care of his mom and it looks like we won’t be in the same place for some time.  

So…it’s only Joel and Jo Ann and our dog Duchess in Colorado Springs.  Joel is skating every day and hopes to pass his last two gold dances soon.  (He passed the Quickstep and Argentine Tango in Sun Valley this summer!)

I had a really hard day on Rosh Hashanah since I miss my dad so much.  I also miss my friend Hellene who died and I hear her voice all the time.  She was like family and was just part of my life in Colorado Springs.




I am trying to make new memories in Colorado Springs and I’ve tried to take advantage of beautiful Colorado Springs.  Joel and I got to try out the new ice rink at Colorado College this past weekend and our dear friend Larisa joined us.  We go to Cheyenne Mountain State Park almost every day.  Today, we went up Rampart Range Road in Garden of the Gods and road our electric scooters up and then scootered down.

I may post this update on Facebook, but I’m not sure yet. 

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Jo Ann Schneider Farris has participated in skating for most of her life as a competitor, coach, and author.

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