The family reunion/Christmas in August was fun and too short. There was so much good food and not nearly enough time to talk to family and catch up. My Great Aunt Madolyn is an inspiration. She's 93, looks great, is physically active, mentally sharp and active and I want to be like her at her age. One family fact I find a bit fascinating is that Madolyn and her sister/my grandmother, Ruby Angeline, married cousins, both Joneses. The first time I met Madolyn's daughter, Cathy, in Tulsa, probably about 1988 I knew she was family. She looked so much like my Aunt Suzie, my father's youngest sister! Cathy and I had a nice time talking about weaving on Saturday and we exchanged email addresses so the discussion can continue. Here's a photo of me and Cathy.
Another photo I really like from Saturday is one of Great Aunt Madolyn with my Uncle David.
I have other more "traditional" photos of these two, but this one captures some of the essence of my uncle. Family reunions can be stressful and this one was a little bittersweet for me since a part of me expected to walk into a room and see my father having an indepth conversion with someone at one of the dining tables. Some habits die hard.
This week I worked out three times at Curves, all at the West Bend location. Today was a work-out, too, with additional stair-climbing and box-hauling in our continued effort to empty the basement. One more day of carrying will do it and that day will be the two-person stuff and a little bit of packing. Really, it isn't *all* my stash. However, I did take a peek in some of my plastic bins. I really could stand to make a quilt or five. Anyway, no evidence at the scale of any progress but I feel it in my muscles and there is a hint of ease in my waistband, I think.
Here's a hollyhock from my Aunt Virginia's garden after a brief but enthusiastic shower.
And I should have a finished object to share if I can take a modeled photo tomorrow!
Wow, she looks great at 93. I love all your family pictures. Can't wait to see the FO!
Posted by: joan | Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 11:53 PM
What a great reunion! 93 and still active is fantabulous. Sounds like it was a good time. Great job on all your exercise, in and out of the gym! Oooo an FO!
Posted by: Deborah | Monday, August 11, 2008 at 06:49 AM
Aunt Madolyn looks awesome and so happy. I want to be like her too. Love the older generation family names: Madolyn and Ruby Angeline. Glad you had a nice weekend. You are a work out machine!!
Posted by: Kim | Monday, August 11, 2008 at 09:24 AM
Thank you for sharing that wonderful day. :D I can't wait to see the FO. It's nice to have family you can share your obsessions with.
Posted by: Evil Stacey | Monday, August 11, 2008 at 09:38 AM
I hope I'm still going strong at 93. She looks great.
You're really inspiring me to get off my tush and get some exercise going.
Darn you. :-)
Posted by: Kathy W | Monday, August 11, 2008 at 10:14 AM
She is gorgeous! I want to look that good now.
My hair is much worse, btw. o.0
Posted by: Cookie | Monday, August 11, 2008 at 05:20 PM
Your aunt looks great! Looks like you had a nice weekend for the reunion too.
Glad the exercising is going well. I'm going to have to do some more; I'm feeling distinctly lazy.
Posted by: Brenda | Monday, August 11, 2008 at 08:04 PM