Ninety Nine and Counting!

On June 27, 2008, Aunt Thelma celebrated her 99th Birthday! She is so awesome!!!! Her hearing isn't good, but she listens intently and if one speaks loudly she understands and participates in the conversation. Her mind is still sharp as a tack! She seemed to enjoy the day! Pam, my daughter, and Julia, Sam, and Charli (my three cherished grandchildren) and I went down yesteday morning, and we took her to Shoney's, in Clanton, for lunch! Brenda and Mike met us there, and we shared a fun lunch before going back to her house. We spent the afternoon there, and then returned home.
I don't want to end there! Let me tell you about this wonderful "ROCK" in my life! As a small child, our family lived next door to Grandmother, Aunt Thelma (who never married) and Uncle James (the youngest of the family) who was still living at home. Our "village" was full, with relatives visiting on a regular basis, and we loved it! Aunt Thelma, a first grade school teacher, had an amazing level of patience with us, and would read stories to us, bring home her school supplies and teach us, and make us happier than anyone could imagine! We moved from there when I was in the first grade, and when I was in the 2nd grade, Grandmother died, and Uncle James was in school at Auburn. That fall, I stayed with Aunt Thelma, though the rest of the family lived in Clanton, and I attended school with her. It is really my happiest and most memorable year in my entire school career. Being one of 6 children, there were seldom moments for individual attention (understandably) but with Aunt Thelma, I was truly an ONLY child! I thoroughly enjoyed being spoiled by her, yet she made me mind and corrected me when I was wrong. One of the strongest lessons I learned was to tell the truth. She has been my spiritual mentor my entire life, and has encouraged me to do my best, and remain strong in my faith. The summer after second grade, I made a personal decison to follow Christ, and was baptised after a summer revival at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in the summer of 1957. That fall, my parents and siblings moved to Gadsden to follow my daddy's job, but I chose to stay with Aunt Thelma for the rest of the school year. We went to chuch on Sunday mornings and nights, and on Wednesday nights, as well. It was a very small church, but there were several children from the community there to enjoy learning with. The one incident I remember most is that I lied to Aunt Thelma about taking some medicine she had to give me following a bout with the flu. She and I both had the flu, but she had to go outside to do something outside. I didn't want to take my medicine, so when she came in, I told her I'd taken it. In fact, I'd poured it down the kitchen sink. I think she knew I hadn't taken it, but I kept up the facade until bedtime that night. Each night, we would read our bibles and say our prayers before going to bed. I can't say for sure, but I think Aunt Thelma may have chosen the scripture to "guide" me because after we finished reading, and started to say our prayers, I confessed to Aunt Thelma that I didn't take the medicine--- so she led me to ask forgiveness, and set it right with God. How well I remember that time, on our knees, beside the bed, asking God to forgive a 9 year old for lying. It had a great impact on my life, even to this day!
The year which I spent with Aunt Thelma bonded me even closer to her, and she has to be the most awesome person in my life! She gave unselfishly to me, and to my siblings and cousins, having us for weeks in the summer, spring break and Christmas holidays each year. She worked tirelessly to feed us, work in her garden, put up summer foods by canning and freezing, and still managed to keep 6-12 kids in her home! She took us to church, even though she sometimes had to make two trips to get everyone there. She'd take some older, and some younger, and drop them at the church, then return home for the rest! We never stayed home from church because there were too many kids! She, and her older sister, Aunt Myrtle, cooked for the crew, and we took turns cleaning up. Aunt Myrtle worked at Belk Hudson in Montgomery, and sometimes came home on the weekends! She was more stern than Aunt Thelma, but it was evident she loved us too.
Aunt Thelma told me an amusing story yesterday that summarizes her sense of humor. She said that her brother, Uncle James told her that if she lives to be 100 she probably won't ever die. She laughed and said that's because you hardly ever hear of a 100 year old dying!!!! She just laughed!