Birthday Party For Doris

The years just seem to fly by and Doris never changes. She will be celebrating her 94th tomorrow. Most people look their age or older but Doris seems to have that quality which keeps her eternally young looking. We are having her birthday party a day early so as to accommodate her well wishers who have plans for the long weekend. As Theresa and I were preparing for the family and friends gathering, Doris would not be denied the fun of helping with the food and organizing and was there right in the middle of the mix. She even helped herself to the cake pan and licked the last little bit of batter as she did when her mother baked cakes for the family.

There is no putting on airs with Doris as she reminisces about her life back in Coot Hill, N.B. Her memory of those early days are filled with the happy moments and are missing those times which must have been trying for everyone who lived through the depression years. Being the only girl in a family of six brothers gave her special status and has fond memories of her father and mother and admits she was her father's favourite.

Doris is a great traveller and has been to many places during her later life and even in her nineties she drove to Florida with us every year and never slept a moment because she never wanted to miss anything. Her love of trees is amazing and as we travelled through the American countryside she always comments about the trees. Her love of nature probably comes from her early life in beautiful rural New Brunswick.

Doris is an inspiration to our family and has had this role as grand old lady down pat but never wishes to be thought of as old. In Florida she loves to swim every day and take walks in the neighbourhood with us or alone. There is a major re-construction job here where we live and she gives adequate supervision to see the job is properly carried out. I have written about Doris on every birthday for the past 13 years and my wish is that this tradition will continue for many more. So Happy Birthday Doris and many more to come.