“Ninety Nine!”
“Ninety Nine!”
Those of you who I might refer to as “fossils” like me will remember the song we sang on trips. Or during a boring afternoon… “Ninety-Nine Bottles of Beer on the Wall.”… ninety nine bottles of beer on the wall. Ninety nine bottles of beer? Take one down, pass it around…!! Remember?
We’d start at 99… and a verse at a time and work our way down. You know. 98 beers on the wall… 97-96 and so on. Can’t remember when we ever got past 60 or so. We just ran out of gas. Vocal cords crashed.
Well, check out this beautiful lady. You’d have to work your way up from 60 singing the song and never get to 99. But she could have. Last Saturday. It was her 99th Birthday! What a party! Family, friends, two or three cakes. Flowers, balloons. Horns. A party fit for nine ten-year-olds. No wonder she has that loving smile on her face. Food, fun, song! But then, whether there was party or not, I can assure you her smile would always be there to greet you.
One of the sweetest ladies I will ever know. Aware, articulate. Wow! She even gets and laughs at my jokes!
I have one indelible memory of this birthday girl that I’ll remember for a very long time.
Tess Brindock has lived with her daughter Mary and husband Dan for a while. If I need help someday, I’m moving in with Mary and Dan Schaefer. Wonderful garage apartment. Caring support I could write pages about. Assistance, always a watchful eye. Most of all loving company. Mary and Dan give her so much. Take her to church every Sunday. Tess goes with them on all their trips. Grandchildren and great grandchildren visit often. Not bad.
But here’s my forever memory.
Nancy and I are at Mary and Dan’s a couple of times a week. They have a beautiful pool setting in their back yard. Tess’s apartment has a balcony overlooking the pool area. One night while we were enjoying one of those idyllic Atlanta evenings. Behold! Tess moves to the rail of the balcony and reaches out. Saying simply, “What’s going on?”
As I looked up at her, I could only think…
“Look at her. Tess! That’s what’s going on. … smiling, beaming. Like a Queen. Enjoyed a brief chat with us before retiring to her ‘home.’ What an inspiration.”
We say often. “We never know how long we’ll be here before the Lord calls us home.” But then if living into our 90s is anything like what I saw that night. Tess on that balcony above. I am going for it! 99 has never looked so good.
Happy Birthday, Tess. And thank you. Above all… for the inspiration you’ve gifted to us all.
7 Comments
What an inspiration she is! I love playing Words with friends with her and she beats me frequently! Just love this sweet lady whom I call Mama Tess!
What a wonderful tribute to Tess, a beautiful & amazing woman! Thank you Bob!
Lovely prose on your part and so simply stated. She is a wonder indeed. Thank you for your kind and truthful words. Above all, thank you for the special recognition of our Donna Tess.
You had me with her smile. She was blessed with the gift of years and no doubt she made the most of it. Best Jack
Age is so in the eye of the beholder. I too lucky to have my Mom almost 97 living independently playing cards three times a week with players 30 years her age. My Dad 96 when he passed a few years back a horseman, that rode horses his eighties. Both like your Tess were the life of the party. Thank you Bob for always bringing out the best in people. We love you for your gift of sharing life’s finer moments.
Thank you for honoring our Queen Mother. You truly touched my heart.
Your gift is a gift to many!💕
What a beautiful lady!