A Life 103 Years Young

I think I speak for alot of people when I say that attending a funeral is not one of the high things on our lists. We do it out of respect/and or love for the person and the family. But sometimes after attending them we come home with a sense of maybe knowing the person a little bit more and sitting back and reflecting on what we have or have not accomplished in our own lives.

This past weekend I attended a funeral for a neighbor. When we first moved to the neighborhood she and her husband were the "cute little couple" across the street. He was a tall, lanky guy who always helped his wife to the car. Shortly after moving to the neighborhood her husband after a short illness passed away and her son came to live with her. At the time I didn't realize how old she was until another neighbor told me a little about her. She was 90, Herbie was her second husband, and she had four sons, two who she outlived.

Over the years I had a chance to talk to her a few times. When you went to her house it was like going to grandma's. She always offered you candy and hours of stories that I would always love to listen too.

Living out on the farm with her first husband, being a young widow with two small children during a time when so much was happening not only in this town but in the country in general. The late 20's and early 30's were as turbulent as the current time is. But with all that she lived through it. She saw many things in her lifetime, really too much to count on one hand.

The invention of the car, phone, television, computers, the list goes on and on.

Her grandson told of how after his Dad passed away, he and his sister came to live with his grandparents. He said he really had so much to thank her for that if it hadn't been for them he didn't know what would have become of him. He said one story that came to mind was that she taught him how to drive in the local Liberty Park Baseball Field parking lot. Seeing his grandma do donuts with the family car was something he and his grandma kept secret for many years. She drove a car until she was in her early 90's.

Another story that had been carried down was once when "Cindy" and her older son got into a heated discussion so much so that her son lifted her up (she was only about 4'11) and put her on top of the refrigerator until she "cooled down". That visual in itself I still laugh at.

Some people live in neighborhoods and never speak to their neighbors. Others form a friendship of sorts.

I was proud to know "Cindy" and will miss the little conversations.

Christmas Season the Groundhog's Day Approach

Another interesting week has come and gone. Not without drama, laughter, frustration and a little Christmas shopping thrown in. Our granddaughter, Hadleigh hit a milestone that none of my children accomplished at her age. She made her first visit to see Santa. I was in a panic wondering would she sit on his lap, cry some of the things parents and grandparents cringe at in that first picture. But I am happy to say that she did wonderful. To see the wonder in her eyes at looking up at the white bearded man was in itself priceless.

Which made me think several times this week. Maybe I will keep that Christmas joy and its decorations up in my house until just before spring! One thing that I think I may have a touch of is the approaching winter duldrums and just having and seeing the lights, the decorations may keep those duldrums at bay. I will give anything a try.

People laugh at me because ice skating is considered a winter sport and it is cold and I did it all my life, so you would think that winter wouldn't be such an issue. It has only been since moving to the midwest where you experience all the seasons-some more than others.

So if you happen to drop by my house after New Year's Day don't be in total shock if you see a Christmas tree and Santa Claus and all the other symbols of the holiday season, I am just keeping the winter duldrums from knocking at my door.