Happy Birthday, Aunt Joye!

Aunt Joye is the only living sibling of my mother. She and I shared the same rung in the family ladder of being 'the baby'. She has always been such a JOY to visit with - she keeps busy with crocheting baby afghans, hats and scarves {which she donates to Festival of the Trees and other needful organizations}, enjoying a day at the Senior Citizens center playing Mexican Train, and of course her favorite thing of all, playing the penny slots in Wendover!

When I questioned Wendy about some info on Aunt Joye she sent me this: The house that she lives in; she and my dad built while she was pregnant with me...they would do like one big log a day. Back then, the logs didn’t come ‘prepared’ so she would strip the bark and such off one log during the day, then when dad got home at night, they would put it on. I heard she was even up on the roof shingling shortly before she went into labor with me.

She used to be a really good bowler, & later in life she and my dad learned how to golf together. She has written an article for the Morgan newspaper titled 'The Other Side of 80' for a number of years, which offers up some advice on aging with grace and keeping your sense of humor intact. Here are a couple of excerpts from articles she has written on age:

Remember When...
I have warned you before, I am not political, I don’t preach religion, and I write about old age, middle age and all the things that go with it. I write to amuse people, to get a laugh about the process of growing old. If you can’t laugh once in a while what is there to look forward to?
Ah, those golden years. You can remember when “the net” was something you wore on your hair.
You get our breakfast out of the medicine cabinet…
Doing the “Hustle” means you’re on your way to the ladies room.
You refer to your stockings, girdle and bra as your “support group”….
People don’t get mad at you when you forget things; they expect it.
You repeat gossip because you can’t remember it from the first time…
You still have everything you did when you were l6 only it is two feet lower!

Gift of Life
Read the title over again. When you get to be my age I am thankful every day for the gift of life. I have enjoyed my life up to now, and I intend on treating it as a gift and do all in my power to take care of myself in body and spirit. I don’t get to church so I have to do something that will let me through the pearly gates. That is what all the crocheting I do, donating it to charities, the homeless shelters, and other organizations that take care of the ones not as fortunate as I am.

Best of Wishes for a wonderful day and year, Aunt Joye. We love you....