Happy Birthday, Mom!!!!

My mom is three-quarters of a century old today. If you do the math, it means that she is 75. I hope she doesn't mind that I'm sharing her age with my readers (however few in numbers they are). My grandma didn't want anyone to know her age, but many people asked me, "How old is your grandma?" Grandma said, "Tell them it's none of their business." So the next time someone asked me how old my grandma was, I said, "She said it's none of your business." I don't think Grandma really wanted me to say that, but I didn't know it. I lacked a certain degree of tact, apparently, when I was a youngster. But, I digress. On to my dearest mother.

My mom is a wonderful lady and has had some interesting experiences over the years. Here are a few facts--75 to be exact--about this amazing lady.

1. Her house didn't have a bathroom until she was a junior (or senior) in high school.
2. She liked to play tricks on her older siblings.
3. She worked on a hay-baler in her teenage years.
4. She was the youngest of 9 children.
5. One entire room of her house is devoted to chicken paraphernalia.
6. She is a whiz at Canasta.
7. Her brother is married to my dad's sister.
8. Don't even think about eating at her house unless you've washed your hands.
9. She is quite good at sports.
10. She is a magnificent cook but doesn't enjoy cooking as much as she used to.
11. She hosts many parties and gatherings at her house.
12. Her mother (my grandma, of course) lived with our family for many years during the late fall and winter months. I never remember the two of them having an argument.
13. She met my dad when she was in high school.
14. She picked out her engagement rings at her brother-in-law's jewelry store, and told my uncle to tell my dad that she wouldn't marry him unless he bought those rings for her.
15. She used to work in the Sears and ZCMI gift-wrapping departments.
16. She worked for a tax-preparation agency.
17. She grows a vegetable garden every year.
18. She loves berries of all sorts and used to have her own raspberry patch.
19. She makes the best pickled beets I've ever tasted.
20. She's even made beet jelly and peach pit jelly. No joke.
21. She is very meticulous.
22. She puts her whole heart and effort into everything she does.
23. She loves babies and children.
24. She has a "magic touch" with babies, and can make almost any baby stop crying.
25. Flying on an airplane often makes her ill.
26. I could be wrong on this fact, but I think she took her first airplane trip at 45 years of age.
27. The Sound of Music is her favorite movie.
28. Wheel of Fortune is her favorite thing to watch on television.
29. She doesn't really know much about using computers.
30. She loves to eat at Maddox (and a few other select restaurants), but she will claim that she doesn't like eating at restaurants.
31. She is quite frugal.
32. She dresses very nattily--even to go to the grocery store.
33. You will never ever see her in a pair of shorts.
34. She has a collection of Beanie Babies.
35. She likes ice cream with nuts.
36. Spiders terrify her. Snakes also.
37. She's not much of TV-watcher.
38. She still takes care of her childhood home in Idaho and loves going there often.
39. She loves spending time with her family--especially at the family lodge in Idaho.
40. She loved taking care of her mother and mother-in-law and was very good to both of them.
41. She enjoys traveling--especially by car.
42. She is a very loyal and loving friend.
43. She would never intentionally hurt anyone's feelings, and she would be very sad if she unintentionally hurt anyone.
44. Her house is often a hotel for many visitors. People feel at home there.
45. She has a great singing voice.
46. One day she will win the Reader's Digest or Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes!
47. She's an expert seamstress even though she doesn't sew much these days.
48. Doris Day is her favorite actress.
49. Nat King Cole is her favorite singer.
50. She became a mother at age 24.
51. She became a grandmother 3 months before her 50th birthday.
52. She used to have a penny collection (until my dad mistakenly spent it on a loaf of bread).
53. She doesn't swim.
54. She used to raise chickens and probably wouldn't mind doing it again.
55. Nothing of hers is out of order or out of place.
56. She belongs to a book club.
57. She is a very good driver and has never received a speeding ticket (that I know of).
58. She is gluten-sensitive.
59. She witnessed the birth of two of her grandsons (my boys).
60. She attended a business college.
61. Rock Hudson is her favorite actor. (At least, he used to be.)
62. Iron Port and Cherry is her favorite drink. (No, it's not alcoholic.)
63. She enjoys attending plays and musicals.
64. Her lemon meringue pie is so good, that her next-door neighbor asked her if my mom would put one along with a fork in her casket and bury her with it when she died. Mom honored her request (after "okaying" it with her family).
65. She is my dad's barber.
66. Even though she isn't an "animal person," she cared for a stray cat for a few years.
67. She doesn't like anything to go to waste.
68. She can out-work just about everybody I know.
69. She HATES the word "bored." It's a dirty word to her.
70. She won a beauty contest.
71. She isn't fond of spicy food.
72. Hiking through the Vienna Woods was a dream come true.
73. Meeting her Swedish and Danish relatives were miracles to her.
74. She just wants everyone to get along. (In other words, she hates contention.)
75. She doesn't like people making a fuss over her.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!! I love you!!!

"Eyes" A Gettin' Older!

I noticed my vision getting a little blurry a few months ago. Wearing my glasses didn't alleviate the problem. So, after procrastinating a bit and worrying that I might have an ophthalmic issue similar to my sister's, I scheduled an eye exam. Turns out that I do have an ophthalmic issue, but one unrelated to my sister's. It's actually related to aging. Can you guess what is wrong with my eyes?

Cataracts!!! Yes, it appears that I'm developing cataracts (mild at this point, but it looks like cataract surgery could be in my future) in both eyes, and I'm not 80 years old yet. I won't even be 51 for another 2 weeks or so. Aren't old people the only ones who get cataracts??? Am I old???? (Please don't tell me the answer to that question if it's "yes.") My little brown-noser Mark said, "You'll never be old in my book; just a little aged."

Gray hair I can live with. I just cover it up with hair dye. Varicose veins are a little harder to live with, but I cover them up with pants and long skirts. Wrinkled skin? Maybe cataracts are a good thing; they make it harder to see the wrinkles. Mark again: "I don't care about your wrinkles, Mom. You always look beautiful."

Beautiful, maybe? But, old!?!?!?!