Approaching 98..and it's official on Saturday

This is a picture of Flo and Maxine: two of 4 multiple personalities that we have identified thusfar. Mom can be such a fascinating force.
As we near the Queen Mother's 98th birthday on Saturday, let me share some experiences in Flo's life journey that show what a real trooper she can be. There are so many stories...some serious...some funny...some surprising...some private.

Let me start with some fun that Flo and I have shared together over the years. In my later teenage years, we signed up at exercise/gym/class. There were sessions that provided a 30-45 minute set of steps and exercises to music. Most people wore leotards and tights. I purchased Flo's outfit for her. It was the color of the pea green feet on this page. She looked like 'The Jolly Green Giant' but shorter and with gray hair. She was in her 50's, and you must try to visualize Flo in her green leotard and tights 'doing the moves' while watching the teacher. And there was laughter. And on the way home, a strong case was made for the importance of the'cool down'after exercising. We followed the rules: Our COOL DOWN was ice cream!

We also made appointments at Merle Norman [a make-up chain], and on a Saturday morning, we learned all the steps to applying the correct color and texture of base, powder, blush, eyebrows, rouge, etc. But the funniest part was the 'facial mask' that was applied wet, let dry, and hardened for a half hour or so. As it dried, things like talking and smiling were difficult and so we would try to avoid the near occasions of laughter as the 30 minutes ticked by. One time, we closed our eyes for just a minute and the ringing of the phone brought us both back into consciousness. When we both faced each other looking through a cemented face mask AT the other cemented face mask...smiling was not an option! 'Crack a smile' suddenly had meaning that we understood much better than before.

"Oh my God! How long have we been asleep? An hour and a half?"

With Flo at the bathroom sink, and I at the kitchen sink...there was water flying everywhere in an effort to get the normal faces back again! Whew! It did come off...and our faces had skin as soft as a baby's bottom!!! But we both knew that we should not sleep with that stuff hardening into plaster -like impressions!

And my third story happened 25 years ago when I was working in the summertime at the YMCA. They had a masseuse on staff and I signed up for a session and found it to be enjoyable. Wanting to share good things, I bought a gift certificate for Mom and told her that it would be a good thing. Trust me. You lie down on a plush towel and relax. And for 45 minutes...Ohhmmm! I told her I would get the car and pick her up at the side door in the driveway. As she got in the side door, I was expecting to hear how wonderful the whole experience was and what a fabulous and thoughtful daughter she was blessed with.... But when I looked at her, something was quite visibly different. Instead of looking younger, her entire face was a mass of dented in wrinkles.

"Oh my God, Flo! What happened to your face?"

"When your face is smushed into the threads of a towel for 45 minutes, this is what happens!

And I thought you loved me! I'd hate to see the results if you didn't!"

Well, we laughed and we laughed.

The texture of the outside of a cantalope is the closest I can get to a good description of her new look. And I can still see it and hear her say, "And I thought you loved me!!"