Skip to main content

"90"


Yesterday we celebrated my Mom's "90th" Birthday. If she is any indication of what being 90 is all about, it isn't going to be so bad. Mom loves conversation full of fashion, food and family. She dresses sharp everyday with matching jewelry, often Fifth Avenue. She loves her iPad and can manage her phone to talk or text. She lives with other seniors and enjoys their company. She has been a widow for 18 years; she has endured losing her home to fire and relocating to another town when she was 88 and a massive heart attack at 89.  Mom didn't want a public celebration, but it was a celebration none the less. It started the week before and I am sure we will cherish the memories forever. Nothing could have been more perfect than how we celebrated Mom.   

I had planned for 4 years to do this on Mom's special milestone birthday. I asked people to get involved in "90 Cards for Carole". That certainly made for a fun week of anticipating the mail drop-off. It is remarkable how many "90" cards that are out there to be purchased. What a mixture of cards, some were handmade, some were from total strangers, but every one of them was full of love and birthday wishes. My nephew's friend, Sherry Anderson, sent wishes and a team picture. My niece secured a video message from Brad Gushue. Mom got a special care written in Cree and a bundle of messages from the Arcola Daycare. The "90 Cards for Carole" was achieved and exceeded. Thank you to the Elliott family for the wonderful idea. 

There is a small bakery business in my Mom's community. We purchased some cookies from this talented young baker. Not only are they a work of art, but they tasted as good as they looked.  

Purple is the color for a 90 celebration. That worked great because mom's favorite color is also purple. We transformed the common area where mom lives, and it was wonderful to have a big open space all to ourselves.  

Mom chose turkey for her birthday meal. It was provided by "Tailgate", one of Mom's favorite places to eat. Taylor not only owns the business, but she is also Mom's great niece. We finished the night with birthday cake and memories. 

September 28, 1934, was a Friday. Once you turn 90 you are a nonagenarian, only 36% of Canadians reach this milestone. We couldn't be more blessed to have a Mom that is so independent and is living the 90-year-old life and loving it.  










Comments

  1. AnonymousSeptember 29, 2024 at 7:46 AM

    Your mom is certainly an inspiration to all of us! So happy she had a wonderful day and was able to enjoy !My family and I love her dearly!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousSeptember 29, 2024 at 9:55 AM

    You ate so fortunate Faye and I am fully aware how much you appreciate having her still in your life❤️Tetesa

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2024 at 11:38 PM

    What a wonderful tribute to your mom. You are so fortunate to still have her and she is doing so well. I'm so glad she had such a special day.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

When Pink is just another Color

Just  over a week ago, Waves of Hope hosted an awareness day. We called it "A Day of Hope and Education". It was decided in October that Waves of Hope would get behind a researcher at Brandon University. Dr. Majumder is working on early detection of breast cancer, through a simple blood test. She is also researching to predict treatment outcomes for triple negative breast cancer. TNBC is extremely aggressive and has few treatment options. Her work is to lower the resistance of the cells and make them more responsive to treatment. She is also working on developing treatment options that are not so toxic, but still just as effective when treating breast cancer.  Her dream is to find a cure for cancer.  Little did we know in October what April was going to bring.  It has been an absolute honor to spend time with Dr. Majumder and her husband who I call her wingman. Sujit is her lab manager and so much more. They are two of the most caring and wonderful people I know. The...
7 comments
Read more

Final Requests

I was just rolling through Facebook as I often do, when this touching post caught my eye. A final request was made by an elementary schoolteacher in Georgia. Before she passed, she asked that instead of flowers that people bring backpacks filled with school supplies to her funeral. Her final request resulted in hundreds of backpacks from friends, family and strangers. Children she had never met will have what they need to shape their future.  At the time of death, people want to do something. Often it is a donation to a charity either identified by the family or of the donor's choice. I have to admit, I am poor at giving to a memoriam, I'm not sure why. But I would certainly buy and fill a backpack. I don't think I am alone when I say, I love creativity. I am also all in when it is for a cause and especially if children are involved.  This woman is leaving a legacy behind. She just wanted to help children as the last thing she did. She had no idea the magnitude of her reque...
4 comments
Read more

Just put your head down and do it!

I recently attended a competition at my gym. By attending I mean I simply watched and volunteered. The CrossFit competition was called the "Grit Games" which explains how grueling it was. The competitors were in a zone and did their absolute best to finish what they had started. The competition was a timed event and as they neared the end of their time and the tank appeared to be empty, they just put their head down and did it. Not one single person quit, that was not an option.   Waves of Hope recently had a practice day which started in the morning. We got in the boat, and there were a few more waves than usual, so the decision was made to paddle to the other side of the lake, where it was calmer. It is moments like that where I am in absolute awe. The steersperson is in position at the back of the boat calling the shots. The coach has her voice turned up. The long-time paddlers are set and ready to go. I have to say one more time, I have the utmost respect for the long-tim...
2 comments
Read more