Happy 95th Birthday Aunt Ida

Today is Aunt Ida's 95th birthday. She is the last living member of my dad's family and the last of the four elderly ladies (my mom & 3 aunts) for whom I have been caregiver to. She currently requires 24 hour a day care because of severe arthritis and lives in a private room at The Terrace, a beautiful nursing facility in our little town. They had a special celebration lunch for her today. AJ, GJ and I visited with her and took gifts from family and friends.

Aunt Ida is very special to me and my family. She has been a widow for 40 years and lost her only son to a terrible illness when he was only 21. She has been like a second mother to me. I have many fond memories of spending time with Aunt Ida when I was a child. She traveled with GJ and me when our girls were young. The girls loved to stay overnight with her and dress up in her clothes and use her perfume and make-up. Aunt Ida gave me my first etiquette book when I was 16 years old, and as a young adult, she started me on the journey of collecting beautiful teacups.

GJ & I acquired her house a few years ago when she needed to downsize and we have turned it into a tea house/guest house with a woodwork shop in the basement for the guys. I call it "Aunt Ida's Tea House." It is not a commercial tea room, but is a private tea room "by invitation." She is very pleased we were able to keep her little 1936 house and so are we!

Happy 95th Aunt Ida!