The Heartland

This is what 100 years old looks like. My aunt Pauline became a centenarian on Monday, September 28, 2009. Her birthday party was Sunday at the Long Lake Lutheran Church in Long Lake, South Dakota. The population of Long Lake is in dispute but I was told on good authority that there are 33 citizens of this shrinking town.

There were at least 60 people at her party. Mostly senior citizens, mostly with the last name of Schumacher. (Aunt Pauline's maiden name is Schumacher.) It was a great party. I saw a cousin I haven't seen in about 45 years. Two other cousins attended and I was thrilled to spend time with them too.

Pauline Schaffer was born in South Dakota in 1909. She is now the oldest remaining daughter of Ludwig and Eva Schumacher (German immigrants.) Aunt Ella is 98 now and my mom, the baby, as I mentioned, just turned 85. (I have another uncle who will be 99 in January -- my dad's brother in law.)

When we arrived on Friday night (after a 4 hour drive from Fargo, North Dakota) we were greeted with smiles and hugs and happiness. After a midwestern meal of ham, sliced white bread and kool aid ... and watching the Twins on satellite, we settled into bed and Leah asked me "Why do all those people love me so much? They don't even know me." I said "That's how it is in our family. When you're in this family you are loved."

And that's my foundation. Unconditional love. We aren't an overly demonstrative family but the love has always been constant and unconditional. Long Lake may be a dying town but the heart of our family will always be alive.

Eighty five is the new ???

Happy birthday mom.

She's 85 today. I think her hearing is starting to go but other than that, she's doing pretty well. Oh, she repeats herself a lot but so do I.

I wish I could have been in Eugene to celebrate with her but maybe next year.

The next birthday greeting you'll read about in aarpmom is a milestone. Stay tuned.

Get A Life

At the height of the O.J. Simpson trial back in (what year was it anyway?), we drove to L.A. and met my brother and his family while they vacationed there. We ended up going to lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe (that sounds so pathetic now) and then we had an afternoon of southern California sight seeing.

For some reason we ended up in Bel Air and drove by O.J.'s house. The mob scene included several press vans posted at the curb as well as many tourists walking thru the neighborhood. We didn't bother to get out of the car, we just cruised by gawking at the house (I'm not sure what we thought we'd see.)

At the moment we drove by the house a group of local young women drove by in their convertible and yelled at us "GET A LIFE." We paused for a moment and then our car erupted in laughter. We still joke about running a company called Get A Life Tours.

I remembered this story the other night when I found myself with time on my hands. I spent 45 minutes on the www.awfulplasticsurgery.com web site, looking at bad boob jobs.

Obviously I need a hobby.

Hail to the Chief

I say "you go, President Obama." It's been a long time since we've had a president we can be proud of. I think what the president did today was quite admirable. Maybe I'm naive, but I didn't see a hidden agenda. I think he's a concerned father and he wanted to reach out to kids.

Leah said that one of her classmates was taken out of school because her parents didn't want her viewing the president's speech. I was a bad mom and I said "her parents must not be very smart." Yes. I said that.

It's great that he spoke to kids about responsibility and helping to make our country stronger. It reinforces what I hope other parents and teachers are saying.

Leah seemed unaffected by the speech which concerned me a bit but she is only 8. She has her sights set on becoming a dog trainer which probably doesn't require a bachelor's degree (but she doesn't know that.)

Transfixed at Macy's

Saturday morning I went to Macy's to get my mom a birthday present. After browsing the handbags for nearly 30 minutes I found the perfect one for her. A small, black leather bag with silver accents. Twenty five percent off and then I had a coupon for another 15 percent discount.

I clutched my mom's gift and perused the clothing, looking for nothing in particular. A tall angular woman caught my eye because she had on a dress that I also own. It's a light turqoise and brown print, sleeveless with a small brown belt. I noticed that she was at least 6 inches taller than me, making her over six feet. I couldn't see her face but her dark brown bob looked like a wig. Her hair was too perfect and smooth. I kept watching her just to see what else she'd pick out since we both selected the same dress. I thought she might lead me to another nice outfit.

I ended up buying a blue t-shirt and then made my way to the exit at precisely the same moment as the tall woman in my dress.
We both walked south in the parking lot but the tall woman seemed to forget where her car was and she double backed toward me. It was then I saw her face and I noticed the five o'clock shadow, the adam's apple and the pronounced features. That's no lady in my dress, that's a man. A transsexual shopping in Macy's wearing my dress.

I have the same fashion sense as a transsexual.

I Believe in Miracles

My brave sister-in-law has brain cancer. Well she had brain cancer about a year ago. Right now, she doesn't have brain cancer. Her MRIs and tests are all clear.

She was in a car accident and during the tests to determine why she blacked out, they discovered a malignant brain tumor. She had brain surgery a year ago. When I visited her post-op, I cried and she smiled and she talked. She explained how lucky she was to be in an accident so they could discover the tumor. How lucky she was to coincidentally connect with the best doctor in the Valley, how lucky she was to have supportive kids and friends and neighbors.

She said she would not change anything about the past year. She never thinks "why me?" She only thinks how grateful she is to have such good care and she looks forward to the future and where it will lead.

I told her she is more highly evolved than I.

I wanted to tell her how proud I am of her and how every conversation with her gives me insight into living a better life and how she has been an example to me. How I aspire to ignore the little annoyances and focus on the important things. But I never tell her those things. I don't want her to think I'm summarizing her life or that I'm trying to make things right because there might not be time to do it later. I don't want to doubt her strength. I want to keep believing just like she believes.

So, awestruck, I listen and ask questions. I hope her answers will continue to make me smarter and make me a better person like her.

I don't know what will happen. In my heart, I think she is going to be a miracle. I think her strength and positive outlook will keep the cancer at bay. I really do. But she has told me if it doesn't, she will be okay. She is mostly worried about the toll it will take on her kids and us.