Nonagenarians

Yesterday was a gorgeous day in Seattle, a stark contrast to the constant rain that fell from a grey sky all of Saturday. We enjoyed highs in the 60's, dry, sunny weather permeated by that young green of deciduous trees. Only a few lone trees wait to sprout out with leaves; bareness is the exception these days. Blooming trees and shrubs are everywhere.

Yesterday was special because Mom and I attended a luncheon in honor of Rosemary, a dear friend who turned 90 years old this week. Her two daughters threw a great party for her with family, old friends, and new friends (like Mom who met her at Merrill Gardens last year) at a local restaurant on lower Queen Anne. No gifts; only a donation to a local food bank if we were so inspired. Rosemary is an amazing woman whose down-to-earth style, humor, and personality attract attention immediately. Her kindness towards Mom and Dad was obvious as she took them under her wing at MG, ate lunch with them on countless occasions and enjoyed afternoon tea and cookies on many an afternoon. She also escorted Mom down to the corner QFC supermarket last August to buy me my birthday cake. That was a feat and one that Rosemary reminded me of at the event; the cake was quite heavy and the journey longer than they anticipated, especially with Mom's walker and a slight uphill climb on the return.

I'm grateful to have had this special outing with Mom yesterday; for the ride to and from the restaurant with the brilliant blue sky accenting the lushness of an early spring day and for the occasion itself. Our elders are precious and we are honored to celebrate their birthdays. Acknowledging all of their wisdom and witnessing all that have accomplished and all they continue to offer the world is nothing less than astounding. Mom, Dad, Rosemary and all the other nonagenarians stand on a pedestal in my mind. What an accomplishment! We younger ones have only to look into their eyes to recognize the mystery of life imprinted in their faces.

I enjoyed looking at Rosemary's photographs that chronicled her life from the time she was a young girl through to her 90th Birthday. Congratulations!