Daily Archive

As I mentioned in the previous post, we celebrated Gamma’s 90th birthday this weekend.  We had a party for her in New Braunfels and she had to “limit” the invite list to about 60!  She knows more people than I will probably ever meet in my entire life.  What a piece of work!  And I couldn’t be prouder to be that piece of work’s granddaughter.  She amazes me everyday! 

The outpouring of love from her friends all over the country was pretty remarkable.  In fact, two teachers from Concordia got word of the party and both drove down from Kansas just for the weekend just to see her.  My grandfather, the superintendent, had hired them when they were fresh out of school, about 30 years ago.  Gamma and Pop made such an impression on them, which doesn’t surprise me, and it was obvious by the excitement they felt coming down to Texas to see Gamma.  In fact, when I was introduced to one of them, she told me that she remembered the day I was born.  I asked if it was because she remembers Pop handing out Snicker’s bars to everyone, and she tells me she remembers the actual day… October 7, 1981!  I have friends and family members who most likely can’t tell me the actual day I was born.  How touching this all was.   

Gamma is a perfect example of how one should embrace life and live it to the fullest.  She’s done so many things during the course of her lifetime and I don’t think for one minute has she ever taken herself seriously.  One secret to her longevity is her homemade Raisin Jack.  She fills a mason jar with raisins and Jack Daniels, lets it marinate for 10 days and takes a hit off it every morning. 

And also let’s not forget… everday at 5 o’clock it’s happy hour and time for a drink.

In typical Gamma fashion, we all had to give a toast/performance at the birthday party.  For example, many years ago my sister and I changed the lyrics to Salt ‘n Pepa’s “Let’s Talk About Sex” to “Let’s Talk About Gamma and Pop”.  I decided to take a little bit more grownup approach this year and I redid a Dr. Seuss poem, one of her favorite authors,  to be about Gamma’s life.  I’m not going to lie… my rhyming skills are pretty good. 

Oh, the Places You’ve Been!
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
To celebrate with Many Faces!
From both here and away!

Let’s look back at Gamma’s life just to see,
How much fun 90 years can be!

You were born in Barnard, Kansas
To both Eliza Jane and Hugh.
“Margaret Caroline Whipkey”
Is the name they named you.
From the day you were born, You just somehow knew.
That life was to be enjoyed. And that’s just what you’d do!

As a little girl with blonde hair. You loved to play on your father’s train.
Until he’d say “Margaret Caroline, be careful and use your brain”.
Enterprise, Kansas was the next stop. And the school principal you knew.
This put a chip on your shoulder. But he soon schooled you!

Then it was high school in Peabody. Where making new friends was high on your list.
You called yourselves the TLD’s. And the meaning was a secret to exist
Until the year 2000. When it was time to say
You were the “Trade Last Doll’s” back in your heyday!

With a diploma in hand. It was off-off to college
To fill your head full of knowledge.
Emporia State was your new home,
And you quickly set the tone.

As Delta Sig President,
You made fun evident!
Between sorority parties and studying books,
You were busy toying the boys with your good looks!

Until one handsome jock
Stood at your door and knocked.
Harold was his name,
And you knew life would never be the same!

School was soon over, and a career in Cottonwood awaited.
Although the war had begun, the words “I Do” made you elated.
A simple wedding at home, brought your eye to a tear.
Did you know the fellow in uniform would be yours for almost 65 years?!

While he was off in the Pacific, you roamed the United States once over!
From Tom’s River to Staten Island, to Miami Beach and Key West,
Seattle Tacoma to Long Beach, then home to Witchita to rest!

Soon the war was over and it was time to celebrate.
Little did you know, you’d have an upcoming due date!
Exactly 9 months later, Peggy Ann was born.
Excitement was all around. You had to toot your own horn!

Life with a baby was just so much fun.
You couldn’t help but want another one!
A quick two years later, out popped Thomas Hugh.
And what a sweet little boy was blessed upon you!

Life in Emporia couldn’t have been sweeter.
Parties, football games and friends. What could be neater?
You loved being a teacher, education was key.
Think of the all lives you’ve touched, including me!

After years of hard work, retirement was rewarded.
A country club in Concordia was soon afforded!
You played golf with your friends, but more important to you
Were the happy hours and hat talks, nothing new!

A person like you, could never know too many people.
So, you decided to visit Texas during the winters just to mingle!
A Rowdy group you were, always gathering for a laugh.
Of course, it didn’t hurt that you brought your Raisin Jack!

It wasn’t before long, that grandkids and warmer weather,
Forced you to trade your Kansas red carpet for something better!
To New Braunfels you moved without looking back.
And new friends you met at the drop of a hat!

Between Austin and the White House
You stayed busy, without a doubt!
From the Presby Church to Bridge Club,
Socializing was your thing, not being a flub-bub!

In good times you’ve laughed, in tough times you’ve cried.
Things happen in life. We’ll never understand why.
But you always “stay in the buggy” and you keep your faith dear.
For Peggy and Pop are forever in our hearts. They are always near.

From the Great Depression to September 11th. You’ve lived through many things.
It’s hard to believe just one lifetime could see almost everything!
From the friends you’ve met. To the memories you’ve made.
Why, I don’t think you’ve spent more than a minute in the shade!
You’ve done it right, kid, with a smile on your face and a giggle to your grin,
You’re one lucky duck, Gam. To have been all the places you’ve been!

So…
be your name Margaret or Mags
or Gamma or Gam,
you’re still off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your Raisin Jack is waiting.
So… get on your way!

Gamma probably regrets allowing us all to do toasts, because ESM revealed a very personal secret about G!  About 4 years ago the two of them took a trip to NYC (stopping in DC for a night while I was working there) and Gamma told ESM there was one thing she wanted to do before she died.  Curious as to what it was Gamma hadn’t done, she asked her.  It was to visit a gentleman’s club.  How many 86 year old women out there have gone to a gentleman’s club?!?!?  It was quite a tale and I think Gamma was surprised that ESM brought that little story out of hiding.

Although Halle wasn’t assigned the task of giving a toast, she still wanted to contribute.  The whole night she paraded around the room, talking and dancing.  And when my Dad was giving his toast, she wanted to chime in with a “Hi GG”.  It was adorable.  Once the party was over and we were cleaning up, she wanted to spend some more time on the mic and would pick it up and say “Everybody get up!” and then she would set it down on the ground and clap her hands three times.  And then repeat.  Too funny!

 

All in all it was a fun celebration.  My only regret is that Pop and Peg couldn’t be there for the occasion.  Had Peg been there, she probably would have been able to veto the plastic tablecloths and the boxed wine   Gamma always brings her own booze, so bad wine was the last of her worries!