Well, she did it: My great aunt just celebrated her 104th birthday. (Nope, that's not a typo: one-zero-four.) So we packed up the car and the kids and drove for five hours (in bumper-to-bumper traffic, no less) through three states to give her a big, well-deserved hug. Because if turning 104 years old isn't hug-worthy, then I don't know what is.
I'd love to be able to say something profound and poetic about reaching the ripe, old age of 104. About living through two world wars and eighteen presidents. About outliving a much-loved spouse for three hefty decades. I'd like to say something poignant about outliving your own child and all of your siblings. But here's the thing: It's not my story to tell so I can't give it the full weight of well-earned wisdom. All I can tell you is that I felt an immense wave of relief and gratitude to have spent a few more precious days with my aunt. When somebody you love reaches 104 (or frankly, 94), you just never know if there will be another visit. My mother died suddenly at age 64, two weeks shy of her 65th birthday, so really, every birthday is a remarkable gift.
As we drove back home, everything was in bloom. The skies were pure blue, the branches were weighed down with bursting blossoms. Spring was in full swing, all dressed up for a very big celebration.
*********************************************************************************
Did you enjoy this post? Get more like it by subscribing to Joyfully Green via email or RSS reader: just click here.
Come say hello to me on Instagram!
© 2016 by Joy Sussman/JoyfullyGreen.com LLC. All rights reserved. All photos and text digitally fingerprinted and watermarked. Please do not use any photographs without asking me first for permission at [email protected] and then clearly linking back to this site with photo credits. Site licensed by Creative Commons.
Comments