Here comes Mother's 95th Christmas

Everyone loves my Mother.  She is 95 years old, very petite, pretty, lives alone, and walks everywhere.  She loved to drive but,  lost her license when she backed into a tow truck about 4 years ago.  Losing her license broke her heart because it meant her independence no longer existed.  She had to quit her job because she could not drive to the office.  Yes, she worked up until that time, her eyesight was beginning to diminish.    She is now upset that she cannot find a job closer to home.

My Mother only started to age about 5 years ago when for the first time, she had a few medical problems.  For 50 years she stayed the same.   She truly looks about 20 years younger than her age and she is single and lives alone with full mental capacity to handle her life.    Everyone asks, what is her secret to life and youth and she will tell you she takes some vitamins, (very little,) and she eats a small amount of food, but none of that really is the reason.  She has stayed young because it is important to her.  It has always been important to her and therefore, she has learned how to manage stress.  She simply does not deal with it.  She has exercised, (swimming and dancing) and she manages her weight and all that does help.  But in truth, my Mother has lived her life, her way!

My sisters and I (3 of us) have been pretty much on our own emotionally and guidance-wise.  We have all managed our own lives, with mistakes for sure, but Mother just went on.  She did not interfere, nor did she contribute.  We girls just bungled our way on our own.

You would love her, everyone does.  She is a marvel in every way, her biggest joy is dancing.  She belongs to every senior dance group you can imagine in her town.  She dances about three to four times a week.  I mean the old, ballroom type dancing.  Fox Trot, waltz, jitterbug.  You know from the 40's. 

Mother is coming to my house for Christmas.  I have told the Granddaughters that they have to find some time for her on Christmas Day, which they are happy to do.  Last year, she sang for everyone "When My Old Wedding Dress was New" in a soprano voice.  Everyone clapped and was delighted.  She is quite an inspiration to all that know her.