He had such beautiful long curly hair no one wanted to cut it so my brother Ernie at age five was  still running around every day looking like a beautiful little girl.

Take a look see!!!

It was a very difficult decision to finally make, to cut off  those beautiful curls. But in all fairness to this little boy they had to break down and finally say………..ok! It’s time.

No one ever told me who did the honors but I know my sister Geneva used to cut hair so it is possible she did the honors. Anyway you gotta see the results.

So take a look see now!!!!!

LOOK AT ME NOW MOMMA! I’M A BIG BOY !!
And……….so he was!!!!!!!

FRF❤️

I want to start by showing you a picture of the handsome young man in Ohio who works with my grandson Matt Bender and puts my blogs on line for me. I type my stories on my IPad, place the pictures and then Email the completed blog to him in Ohio. I have to have someone smarter than me put   them on line for me. He is my angel!!!!

Kevin Dreslinski with his friend Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown

It was my choice, because they, my daughter Pamela and my son–in-law Tracy Drake, kindly ask me where I wanted to go, my choice was Marina Jacks restaurant located on Marina Bay. So on Saturday after my birthday we three pile in Tracy’s van and away we go for a 20 minute drive.

Marina Bay by Marina Jacks is where I found that big sailboat with the young captain and his wife as mate that I chartered for a five hour party celebrating my daughter Susie and Terrell Smith’s wedding so many years ago when I lived in Venice. I wrote a blog about it.

Their so nice valet parking allowed us to drive right up to the entrance and we all walk in, me with my walker (no wheelchair). It was quite a walk through until we got to the outside where we were seated at a table shaded by an umbrella on the intra-coastal water way. BEAUTIFUL SPOT!

Pamela took the above photo of me with her iPhone

Tracy and Pamela each ordered a cocktail but since I had a glass of white Zinfandel wine before  leaving home, old lady me dare not drink anything but refreshing water.

Tracy ordered Oysters Rockefeller with a side salad, Pamela wanted a side salad with grilled grouper and French fries. And for my 94th birthday 2:30PM lunch ( it is too much for this old lady to go out to dinner) I ordered my favorite coconut shrimp with a side salad. YUM!! Yum!!. Marina Jack’s chef made the best coconut shrimp I have ever had. A delightful surprise to savor the flavor.

Then just when I thought we were about to leave……. on my left side our waiter on the table in front of me, placed a slice of Key lime pie topped with whip cream, a little lavender orchid and a candle that he lighted and they sang happy birthday to me right there in the restaurant and I blew out the candle. With the three clean forks he placed on the table we had each tasted but were too full to finish. I ate that at 1:30AM orchid and all. This old lady never goes to sleep until well after midnight!

Oh but the celebration isn’t over because when we get back home my daughter Pamela brings a coconut cake to the table, lights the six candles and they sing happy birthday again. We each have cake with Breyers strawberry ice cream and how nice, they gave me a big bag filled with gifts. It just keeps on getting g better!

There is a new lamp for my bedroom, a pretty dressing gown, a box of cards to mail greeting to my friends and family, and bag of Lindh chocolate covered coconut cream truffles. My favorite!

This was the end of a perfect day. JUST HOW LUCKY CAN I GET???????

How some ever………I have a treat for you as my finally, have a look see at my family ready to attend this years Deer Creek Halloween party.

My daughter Pamela and her husband Tracy Drake. He is walking with a cane because he just had a hip replacement. How you like that light blond wig???????

Hope you enjoyed!!!!

FRF ❤️

Why don’t I feel old? I use a walker to get around. When family take me anywhere it’s in my wheelchair. I can’t do many things that I did when I was younger. But if I don’t look in a mirror I even think I look young! Maybe that is natures way of keeping us old folks happy! Go away mirrors!!!!!!!

We are going to celebrate my 94TH birthday next weekend but I’ve received several delightful birthday cards and I’d like to show you some of them so here goes………

Flowers and card from my beautiful daughter Pamela and her husband Tracy Drake who I now live with in their home in Deer Creek community Sarasota Florida. I’m very lucky!!!

My faithful always there for me niece Peg Eastman

My wonderful Venice Bird Bay friends Tom and Debbie Winters who spend summers in their Tomahawk Wisconsin home on the lake..

My nephew Larry Gardner and his looks like a movie star wife Pat

My nephew Steve Gardner and his lovely wife Karen

From my beautiful granddaughter Sarah Drake. So thoughtful and sweet of her

Candy covered strawberries from my dear friend in Ohio Lisa Ellyson. I already ate one YUM!YUM!

This card is from my very special niece Jean Kraus and her husband Jim

And…what a lovely surprise! A two page letter included from my niece Jean Patrick Kraus! And here is a paragraph included in that letter……she wrote

I think you have led the most interesting life of anyone I know and you have done it all by yourself. Very gutsy lady!

Thank you Jean,

YOU JUST MADE MY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FRF️

Halloween in Salem Ohio was very special for me. Tracy would purchase 300 dollar size candy bars of various kind. I always went to their home to help him greet all the many children and some adults who came from towns around to be sure they hit Quaker Lane where great treats were given out each year.

Tracy’s 300 candy bars were gone before the 2 hours were up and he had to close the inner doors and turn out the lights, so next year he bought 400 bars and still ran out. More people showed up each year so had got 500 candy bars and didn’t run out that time.

Quaker Lane ends in a cul-de-sac where the towns multi-millionaire (actually he is worth over half a Billion) lived and was a home they all wanted to be sure they didn’t miss going to that door!

Tracy purchased the large candy bars because there was no way he was about to be put done by that wealthy man. Turned out that Tracy outdid the rich man. We could hear children coming in the yard saying “This is where you get the BIG BARS!!!!!!!

You want to see. Some family trick or treaters.

Little Evin Drake with her Daddy at the door

Evin, Tracy, Sarah and a friend Sarah Rupert they were greeters at Tracy’s  home on Quaker Lane in Salem Ohio

Matt Bender’s little niece Sofie was brought by her gramma Renee Bender, to trick or treating. Evin Is with her at the door to give her a treat in her pumpkin carrier, PRECIOUS!!!!

Pamela and Tracy Drake ready to go to a Halloween party in Deer Creek where we live.

We should have taken more pictures but I didn’t know then I would be doing blogs. I’m just happy I found these in my box of pictures. Hope you enjoyed!!!!!!FRF️

IN Salem Ohio where I lived in the Highland Creek condos our mail was placed at thee different locations that each included a large metal box with many peoples mail box.

When I got so crippled up I could no longer get myself to that box, the association gave me permission to have a regular black mail box placed at the corner of my garage.But low and behold this old lady got so she (me) couldn’t even get out to that mail box.

That is when this kind hearted, very special lady, would come into my garage and leave my mail on the seat of my wheelchair that I kept at my kitchen door. I just open my door to the garage and there was my mail.

I want to show you a snapshot she gave me…………

She is on the kayak in the lake

I had painted portraits of many of my family and always said “sorry I only do family” to any one who ask me to paint a portrait for them.

But for this kind hearted lady I painted that picture of her on a 16×20 canvas. Purchased a frame for it and gave it to her.

Here is my finished gift to her. When I handed her this painting which she did not know I was doing , she was so surprised and happy she cried.

She and her husband built a new home and she told me she put this painting on a wall where anyone coming in their front door would see it.

She truly is a VERY SPECIAL LADY!!!!!

FRF❤️