90-Year-Old Resident Receives Heartwarming Surprise

by Vickie Jenkins, Staff Writer

At the age of 90, Al Postelwait is well known and a beloved resident of Tealridge Retirement

Community in Edmond, Oklahoma, where he has been a resident for three and half years. Known for his gentle demeanor and dedication to helping others, Al has touched the hearts of many in the community. His upcoming 90th birthday was a highly anticipated event and the entire center was excited to celebrate such a remarkable milestone. The staff planned a grand celebration in honor of Al. The day would include a birthday party and a ‘surprise geese release.’
As I introduced myself to Al, he told me a little about himself. “I was born in the small town of Radeltt, Texas, a small farm town. It was a place where hard work was respected and family bonds were strong. After high school, I had a long career working for Olin and Mobil Chemical with the fertilizer division. I attended Oklahoma State University, where I earned my masters in Agriculture.”
“In February 1957, I was stationed in Brunswick, Maine as a Navy commissioned officer, serving as a navigator of seaplanes, patrol planes and search and rescue planes. I was the navigator and I never got lost and that was definitely a good thing,” Al said, laughing. “These were the old World War II-era planes, propeller planes, not jets. During my military service, I was assigned to various locations. I was assigned to Malta, Spain, Iceland, Guantanamo Bay and Bermuda, spending a lot of time away from home. I also served as a navigator during the Cuban Missile Crisis which was a significant part of my career.”
Al enjoys living at Tealridge, finding it to be the perfect place for his needs and desires. His room overlooks a beautiful pond with ducks and geese, which he watches everyday through his large picture window. There are a few benches by the pond, where it’s common to see residents feeding the ducks and geese.
About three months ago, Al and his friends were sitting on a bench close to the pond when a gaggle of Canadian geese walked by. Al noticed one goose had a bad leg and was hopping to keep up with the others. He began calling the goose Hop-a-long. The injured goose struggled to cover even half the distance of the others. Al reported the injured goose to the staff, who contacted Wildcare Oklahoma, an organization dedicated to rescuing native wildlife and providing medical care and rehabilitation. They came out, caught the goose and assured everyone that it would be well taken care of.
Signs about Al’s birthday were posted throughout Tealridge and the residents began walking down the hallways, ready for the birthday party. As they entered the room, they were greeted by Al’s three daughters. Al was the center of attention, receiving congratulations, hugs and handshakes. The room was decorated with balloons and streamers as family and friends gathered to wish him a happy birthday. Cake, ice cream and cookies were served as one of his friends played ‘Happy Birthday’ on the piano. Little did Al know, the staff had another surprise waiting for him. With the help of Wildcare Oklahoma, today was going to be special. Hop-a-long was ready to be released on this special day.
As the birthday party was winding down, an announcement was made:
“Al, we have a special surprise for you. Do you remember about three months ago, you told us about the goose that had a hurt leg? Wildcare Oklahoma restored him back to health and now, Hop-a-long is ready to be released!”
“I was excited as my friends and I made our way towards the pond. There was a cage with a cloth over it, and as I got closer, I could see four geese inside. The cage was opened and out waddled Hop-a-long, with three new friends. It was quite a surprise to see the injured goose home again.”
“Today, I still take great pleasure in watching the ducks and geese land on the pond, flapping their wings back and forth. Each descent reminds me of a seaplane gliding smoothly onto the water. While I can’t always distinguish one goose from another, I like to imagine Hop-a-long is among them, adding a bit of joy to the onlookers. The water and the soothing motions of the birds bring a sense of peace and contentment to my day. I’m not sure which goose is which, but I have a feeling, Hop-a-long must be there somewhere. I like to think so.”
Al Postelwait is a devoted father and grandfather who shared a wonderful 60-year marriage with his beautiful wife, Carole. A proud U.S. Navy veteran, he served as a commissioned officer and navigator, always maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle. He walks daily, attends exercise classes with 5-10 pound weights, and enjoys his weekly Bible study sessions. Additionally, he finds joy in working puzzles and watching the ducks and geese at Tealridge Retirement Community.
Happy Birthday Dad,
Dad taught us three girls to be independent and able to take care of ourselves during a time when most dads weren’t doing that. He was a ‘girl dad’ before being a girl dad was hip. He was steady, reliable, loving and caring. When our mom started suffering from dementia, he cared for her so well over the years that we didn’t even realize the extent of her illness. He was exemplified loving someone in a patient and unselfish way. Love, Lisa, Lora and Cara