Happy Birthday, Mom

Jeanbelle Bodtke, my Mother, is 90 years young today.

And she really is young.  Young at heart with a young mind and body.

She goes golfing twice a week and doesn't use a cart but instead walks the course (9 holes).  She goes to exercise class 3 times a week and has been in the same class for over 20 years.  She runs around Clearwater going to yard sales, having lunch with friends and getting into who-knows-what.  She's never home when I call.   Mom is a member of the red hat society and volunteers everywhere.   She watches very little TV, mostly the news and reads constantly.   She had cataract surgery a few years ago and since then doesn't wear glasses.  Not even to read.

She followed her dream to become a nurse, even after she had three children.  Her attitude is always upbeat and happy.  I've never known her to be moody even though she grew up in the depression and had very little, is the child of an alcoholic, has buried two husbands and 3 siblings.   

We've had our differences over the years (I was the "difficult" child) and God knows we've had our fights.  But today, as I look at her with the eyes of an adult, I can only hope that I age as gracefully as she  has, keeping wit, intelligence and strength intact.

And I keep my fingers crossed that I inherited some of those genes that makes her want to exercise!

January, 2010

With her best friend, Brenda.

Picking fruit in her backyard

Classic "two-thumbs up" Jeanbelle.
We've joked about putting two thumbs up on her headstone.

Looking at old family photos together.

A surprise birthday cake at our last family reunion.

Curtseying after being presented with the cake,
making everyone laugh.
 

Mom, my Sister Rosemary and Moi.
Would Sassy be considered her Grand-dog?

Mom is a cool dresser, 

 Energetic Grandma,

Fun Great-Grandma!

(playing "pew stinky feet"with the Bean)

Happy Birthday Mom!