Aunt Helen's 90th Birthday

I telephoned my Aunt Helen today to wish her a happy 90th birthday.  We sent her a card and 2 pictures which she said she received.   Aunt Helen lives in Delaware and was married to my father's youngest brother George who passed away in 2004.   The picture below was taken in 2004 when we visited there.   Behind Aunt Helen are my cousins Carol, George (in middle) and Roy  (with Tara the dog peeking out beside.)

 It was very good to talk to Aunt Helen.  She is still full of life and not expecting to stop at 90 or any time soon.  She said she always keeps a positive outlook on life.    I said,  "Yes we can certainly tell that."  She said,  "God has been very good to me."   And she told me,  "Just enjoy every day of your life."   I was very glad I was able to talk to her on her birthday.   

Remembering

On November 11 we remember those in the military who gave their lives in war and peacekeeping.  And for Elaine and I,  this year on November 11  it is 35 years since we were engaged.   So for us those memories are  part of our Remembrance Day. 

My Mother's 60th birthday was November 10, 1976 (yesterday she would have been 95) and we were going up to North Battleford on November 11 for a birthday supper.   I was working in Regina and Elaine living in Saskatoon and I was going to pick her up to come with me to NB.   My plans were to stop along the way at an overlook by the river and ask her to marry me and give her the ring.     But Elaine told me we had been asked to pick someone up (Rose) to give her a ride from Saskatoon to NB.  That would make my plans awkward, so I asked Elaine to marry me at her apartment (she said yes) and I gave her the ring right away.  When we went to pick up Rose the couple where she had been staying insisted on us coming in for tea and a lunch.  Elaine was trying to keep the hand with the ring under the table.   The woman must have suspected because she said "Elaine put your hand up on the table so we can see it."    Eventually we went on our way to NB and had the birthday supper but we did not say anything yet about being engaged during the meal.    After supper my Mom and Darlene were whispering to each other about seeing the ring and came out and asked us about it.   We weren't making it a secret just trying to surprise them. 

The picture on the right was taken while we were visiting in NB that weekend.  The one on the left was a surprise party our friends had for us when we got back to Saskatoon.  In these pictures from 35 years ago Elaine looks the same as now, other than her glasses.  I sure had a lot of dark thick hair then which is long gone now (but that does have its advantages in convenience though.)    And 35 years later we are still both smiling and laughing together the same way.