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Blog Entry 11 of 11 Musings from Momma
I am a retired teacher who is pushing 80 (but not too hard) and I will be writing about my past, my family and thoughts on almost any subject. My three sons live in Colorado, and # 3 son talked(wrote?) me into blogging. He has put me on his site, now it's time to get out on my own... I guess. My two daughters live in Michigan and I really like to travel between the two states. I hope I hear from some of you.

Blog Url: http://denver.yourhub.com/~MommaRulePastImperfect

Aunt Doris, here I come ---- eventually
Contributed by: Phyllis R Rule   on 7/18/2008

I was sitting at my computer today, playing Mah Jong (my favorite indoor sport after reading) and out of nowhere, I decided to pull an Aunt Doris. The big 80 is getting closer than I like to think, and it's been bothering me. I got past 50, 60 and 70 with just a flick of a finger to fate, but 80 is something else.

You see, I'm the last of my immediate family and the only one left in this vale of tears. Only my oldest brother lived past 84, so turning 80 turned my thoughts to my chances and made my mind dwell on dying, not living.

Aunt Doris wasn't my aunt. She was my ex-husband's aunt, but she regarded me as her kin and I visited her at least once a month for the last few years of her life. We went to Scotty's for fish and chips and took home enough fish for another meal. She was a petite, pink and white lady with a whim of iron and a wonderful way of manipulating the people around her. She had no children; her doctor in England told her she was "delicate" and shouldn't have a child when she was a newly married young woman during WWI.

When I met Aunt Doris, she was living in Detroit with Aunt Mabel, her spinster sister. Aunt Doris and Uncle Willie were leaving for America in 1957 and at the last minute begged Mabel to go with them. So she did. The three of them lived in Canada, California and Detroit, and when Willie died Aunt Mabel and Aunt Doris lived on together.

Aunt Mabel did everything for Doris, all the time letting Doris think she was running things. Aunt Mabel was a forewoman in a chemical plant in England during WWII and received a small pension every month. When she died it went to Aunt Doris, and when Aunt Doris died, I was told to keep the last payment --- in a personal letter written by the chemical plant owner. How often does that happen now? Aunt Doris and Aunt Mabel lived on the pension and social security.

Aunt Doris had two main ideas which bothered her, and which she referred to often. One was, "Phyllis, what will I do when I get old?" (She was in her 80"s) And I would answer, "I don't know, Aunt Doris. We'll have to face that when it happens."
The second was a wish to live until she was 90. She would often say,"You know, Phyllis, no one in my family lived to be 90. I'd like to be the first to live to 90."

Aunt Doris died one month after her 90th birthday. She was born in 1894 and died in 1984.

So I've decided to pull an Aunt Doris and make 90 (or die trying?). I intend to be as eccentric as I wish and do and say what I wish. And I'll worry about getting old when I get there.

Here's to you, Aunt Doris, I know you'll be rooting for me.



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Showing 1-8 of 8 comments
Submitted By: Barbara Neff
posted on 7/23/2008 @ 3:36:00 PM
Rated Blog Entry
Getting old sounds a ways down the road for you, Phyllis. I'm thinking aiming for 100 or 110 might be just as practical for you. Great blog.
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Submitted By: Barb Fielder
posted on 7/21/2008 @ 5:41:21 PM
Rated Blog Entry
I really love your blogs, especially the family history. Soon to be 80! Fabulous!!! So be eccentric and do as you wish. Show us what you've got and keep on laughing with the wonderful distinctive laugh of yours!
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Submitted By: Candace Ebbinghaus
posted on 7/21/2008 @ 5:48:28 AM
Rated Blog Entry
Hold out for 100...I think you can do it! :-) Keep writing! Love, #5
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Submitted By: Joseph Kirchmer
posted on 7/20/2008 @ 4:45:58 PM
Rated Blog Entry
Happy (soon-to-be) 80th birthday Phyllis! And here's to many more to come.
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Submitted By: Phyllis R Rule
posted on 7/19/2008 @ 3:16:31 PM
(Not Rated)
I'll work on 100 while we're camping for my 90th.
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Submitted By: Susan Rule
posted on 7/19/2008 @ 8:17:53 AM
Rated Blog Entry
and keep on writing, will you?
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Submitted By: Susan Rule
posted on 7/19/2008 @ 8:17:27 AM
Rated Blog Entry
That was fabulous! I have a feeling you will live to be 100!
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Submitted By: Michael Rule
posted on 7/18/2008 @ 7:57:02 PM
Rated Blog Entry
Awesome!
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Showing 1-8 of 8 comments
CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Phyllis R Rule

Lansing , MI

Phyllis R Rule has posted 11 blog entries and 14 comments since joining on 4/9/2007. Phyllis R Rule 's average blog rating is 5.
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