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Hike Part Of Life's Grand Design

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By MICHELE SAGER

msager@tampatrib.com

Published: February 4, 2009

TAMPA - When Beverly Ostrom moved to Florida several years ago, she imagined her days relaxing in warm weather in her new Carrollwood home as she worked toward retirement.

The 65-year-old left her job as a graphic artist with the Detroit Red Wings and moved to Florida to pursue a freelance career. Her freelance opportunities took off when she landed Capital One as a client.

But when the economy started to sour in 2006, Capital One stopped using freelancers, and Ostrom lost her main source of income.

Desperate to hold onto the retirement home she loved, the divorced mother of two grown children depleted her savings, then her 401k to stay afloat.

"That was a big mistake I made," she said. "I should have sold the house when I could, but I just couldn't let go. When I did finally put the house on the market, the bottom had already fallen out."
Ostrom said she had to make the painful decision to file for bankruptcy.

"It's embarrassing and devastating," she said. "I've worked hard my whole life and I never imagined I would find myself bankrupt."

It was at her darkest times that her son suggested she take a trip in April for her 65th birthday, a hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

"I don't know why, but I've always wanted to hike the Grand Canyon," she said.

So Ostrom flew west and made her 7-hour trek to the bottom of the canyon.

"It was difficult and painful because you are carrying all your supplies on your back, and it's pretty scary during parts of the trail," Ostrom said. "My son could look ahead and anticipate what was next, but I just couldn't do it. I just looked down and watched each step I took. And step by step, I made it down there."

On breaks during the hike, Ostrom did manage to look up and catch a magical site.

"There were these California condors that circle above the canyon," she said. "To watch them soar above us was amazing."
Ostrom learned the condors are an endangered bird, and some were moved to the Grand Canyon for protection. The condors thrived in their new habitat, an inspiring thought to Ostrom.

"It was at that moment that I realized that if these birds could thrive after near extinction, then so could I," she said.

So Ostrom completed the hike down and up the canyon and returned to Florida a changed woman.

She now rents a condominium from friends in Dunedin and is working to rebuild her life.

"It still isn't easy, but when I get down I just look at a picture I took of one of the condors and I feel inspired," she said.

She is building her freelance business, The Innovations, and her Web site, www.the innovations.net. But Ostrom admits that money is still tight.

"I eat a lot of vegetable soup for dinner, clip a lot of coupons and ride my bike to save money on gas," she said. "It's still hard to go into a department store because there is so much I want to buy sometimes it makes me want to cry."
Ostrom knows her life will never be the same.

"I try to take it one day at a time," she said. "I think what's happening with our economy will affect this generation forever much like the Great Depression. I've learned better than anyone that all that material stuff can be gone in an instant, and it's how you live your life that really matters."

Reporter Michele Sager can be reached at (813) 865-1523.

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