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Grandma Juna


It's my mother's 82nd birthday today. She is an amazing woman. She is in better health than most people 20 years younger than she is. She just goes and goes and goes. She has slowed down, but just a smidgen over the last couple of years. It seems it has more to do with her back than with her age. She had back surgery a little over a year ago. So, she'll go for as long as her back will go and then she has to sit down. I was with her just a bit ago, and she said she could do yardwork for about 20 minutes, then she had to sit down while working in the yard; she also expressed that it made her a little frustrated because she likes working in the yard. That is crazy, she's 82 years old and wants to work in the yard. But, it's what she likes to do.

She loves to travel. She, KayeLynn and I went on a Panama Canal Cruise a couple of years ago; while doing that we went on a horseback ride, an ATV ride and we shopped and shopped, along with a lot of other tours. Back in November, she went to Australia and New Zealand with my sister and brother-in-law. She's been to Europe. She just loves to go. She used to own her own motorhome. In January, she would pack it up and head south to where it was warmer. She would meet up with friends and hang out down there for about six weeks.

She loves to gamble. I introduced her to the penny slot machines (she thought they woudl be stupid) and she loved them. I know when we go to a casino that I can put her at a machine that she likes and she'll just sit there for hours. My favorite story of that was a couple of years ago. The two of us went to Wendover for the day and she was at this machine. I had been all over and was walking by her and looked down at what she had. She said she needed to go to the bathroom and had her machine up to twenty dollars and didn't want to lose her machine and wanted to know if I would sit there while she went pee. I just about had a stroke when I looked at it - it was over $200 and she thought it was $20. I was telling her to cash it out and she could put in another $20. She is hilarious!!!

Her favorite birthday was two years ago. For her 80th birthday, we gave her a HUGE party. We sent out about 200 invitations (with all of us kids and our families, anyway). She had the best day and I love that we were able to give that to her.

I love my mama. She is just the sweetest in the land and I'm so glad she is my mom. I love you Mom!!
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Comments

  1. Norman & Trynitee PeatApril 15, 2010 at 11:11 PM

    It's awesome that your mommy is still around and going so you can spend so much more time with her then others get to. My mom is young still but she is in such good shape she probably will out live me, ha ha. I hope so cuz moms are the best in the land.

    ReplyDelete
  2. NatalieApril 17, 2010 at 4:08 PM

    When I read your post, it so reminded me of my Grandma. Enjoy every minute with her that you can!
    I bet she's NOT missing Yuma right about now :)

    ReplyDelete

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