Alma

She is my cousin, but because of our age difference I’ve always thought of her as my aunt. Last Saturday Alma celebrated her 90th birthday.

I missed it. Not feeling well, I couldn’t make the 80 mile drive. But my better 3/4’s, my wife, daughter, and son (with wife and child) attended.

Every family has a center; a person who, without knowing it, helps glue the rest of us together. For my immediate family it was my mother. But for the whole extended family it is Alma.

This wonderful, unassuming woman quietly sees to the small details that make a person feel loved. For as long as I can remember Alma has sent me birthday cards. And a couple times she and her now belated husband sent hand-made Christmas gifts. Once it was a beautiful clock built into a varnished alder round. Another time it was a huge cribbage board. (It was 3 feet long and on legs like a table.) I’m also the proud owner of a book she wrote.

In her usual giving way, Alma turned the birthday party on it’s head – giving instead of receiving. She gave everyone a home-made jar of blueberry jam with a thank you note on top of the jar.

Alma, if you’re reading this, I want you to know how much I appreciate and love you. I am shamed by the realization that this is the first time I’ve said so.

Our entire family is blessed to have you.

Thanks.

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4 Responses

  1. Willie says:

    Willie,

    I read Jim’s article about Mom and tried to add a comment but just got a blue box ( I am no good at adding comments on the internet). Would let him know that I really enjoyed it and have printed it off for Mom. She keeps all of his articles in a 3 ring binder.

    It was good to see you at the party. I didn’t have a lot of time to visit. Maybe at the next function.

    Hope Jim is feeling better.

    Take Care

    Sheila

    • Jim says:

      Hi Sheila, I’m glad you are giving the article to your Mom. It’s just like her keeping a notebook of my articles… She’s always so organized it puts the rest of us to shame. And I’m very honored she thinks they are worth saving.

  2. Sheila says:

    Jim,
    What a wonderful tribute. W missed you at the party. I always look at the blog and print off anything new for my mom. She will really enjoy this. She keeps all of your writing in a 3-ring binder.

    • Jim says:

      Hi Sheila… I see you figured out how to do a comment on my blog… very good… you’ll be a real computer techy soon! I responded to your last comment under Willie’s comment since that is where you did your first one. Please tell your Mom I meant every word of that blog entry. She’s an amazing gal.