90 and Not Even a Little Fragmented!

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I was going to attend the 90th birthday party of a dear family member.  Alice Yasek, my mother's sister, has entered into her ninth decade, with the appearance and energy of a 60 year old!  Alice is an amazing woman who has never let anything or anyone stop her from living her life to the fullest.

Twice a week she swims at the Y.  She used to compete in a Masters Olympics program and has a roomful of medals to show off.  These medals are well-deserved!  Alice was a member of the 1940 Olympic Swim Team...part of US Olympic Team that did not participate that summer as the games were held in Germany...not really a safe place to be at the time.  My heart swells knowing how much disappointment was felt, but the safety of our athletes could not be argued.

In addition to regular exercise, Alice volunteers at her church thrift shop, drives for Meals on Wheels and finds time to stay in touch with many close friends.  Her five children are spread out over the United States (California, Washington, New York and Massachusetts) and she travels to see them as often as possible.  She became grandmother to my children (and mother to me) upon the passing of my mother 30 years ago.  I have been blessed to have her in my life, and so have my children.

My trip was a very fast, but extremely enjoyable, three day visit with Alice in her New York home.  I was able to visit with my cousins, as well as, see many of her friends.  We had a wonderful time celebrating with friends and family in the "party room" at her church.

Alice with Friends

What, no pony?

Sustenance!

The Best Part of the Day!

I was told that she slept for a week after everyone went home!  It was a wonderful day AND weekend for all concerned!

Please stop by A Star In My Own Universe and say hello as you read the Friday Fragments of other bloggers like me!  Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a wonderfully Fragmented Weekend!

                                                                           

Friday Frags - Oh is it Friday Already?

Just a quick howdy and here's what's new!  THE CARDINALS ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS!!!!

Spent last weekend purging the basement at the St. Louis house...I survived...I didn't even have to take pictures of stuff I threw out!  Will go back again next weekend to (hopefully) finish the job!  Need to pull off some wallpaper...not excited about that!  While standing at the kitchen window, watched a family reunion of squirrels, the resident woodchuck, and a small group of deer who like to pass through our common area.  We just get skunks in Chicago! Sorry, didn't take any pics! 

The highlight of my weekend was getting together with my YaYa Sistas!  We all worked together at the same preschool about 10 years ago, instantly became bestest buds, and continue to keep in touch.  One summer we all went to see "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" which has bound us together forever!  One sister lives in Washington state, one in Kansas, one in Illinois (moi) and the last one in Missouri.  I LOVE  these ladies, and it was Divine intervention that got us all in St. Louis on the same day!  May I introduce (our movie star names given to us back in the day) from left to right, Lisa Marie Presley, Elizabeth Taylor, Jennifer Lopez and Rita Hayworth. It's been a week since we saw each other, and it still seems like just yesterday for me!

I get to spend my weekend at work...making up for the lost wages of last weekend's fling!  That's okay...I'm taking notes for my book on retail adventures!  Big shoe sale at Macy's this weekend...come on by!

Thanks for stopping by here today!  Please check out the Fragments of some wonderful friends over at Mrs4444 at Half-Past Kissin' Time.  Just click on the logo below!  Have a great weekend!  It will be full of Baseball (ahem...Cardinals), football, hockey and all the fun things the kids will be doing!

SIMC - Chicago Botanicals

Dark Angels Dracula Dahlia

This week I had the ultimate pleasure of reconnecting with an old friend, and, at the same time, experience a new place in my new town!  My friend was visiting her family and asked if we could meet at the Chicago Botanic Gardens.  I was familiar with the Gardens in St. Louis (my former City) and jumped at the opportunity to explore the natural beauty of nature's many gifts in a local setting.  Wow!  The pictures my friend took captured just a small sampling of the expansive and incredible landscape of the place.  I will return at a later date, and submit a "Part Deux" as I like to do so often!

Blue Star

Spanish Bluebell

Willows have such a special place in my heart...

Japanese Gardens and Good Friends...

Thanks for stopping by today!  Please take a tour of other Sundays in My City, hosted by Unknown Mami, by clicking on the logo below.  Have a spectacular Sunday!

Frag Attack!

Welcome to Friday Fragments...a wonderful place to be at the end of the week where you can analyze, criticize, ponder, contemplate, adjudicate and atone for the week! Thanks to Mrs4444 at Half Past Kissin' Time!

I must admit that I'm sort of a klutz.  If there is a hole, or raised concrete, my feet will find them.  If something heavy needs lifting, no amount of forethought or planning will keep me away from the inevitable!  It happened this week!  I was cleaning a towel rack/glass shelf combination when the glass shelf became dislodged (how, I will never figure out) and dropped to the floor.  On its way down, it hit the tank to the toilet, breaking the lid, splitting the side so as to begin an ever-so-slow leak and then landing square on my foot.  The glass never shattered, nor chipped (why, I will never figure out), nor was my foot injured in any way!  Go figure!  Being the handy dandy man that my hubs is, everything was repaired with no leaks, and just a slight tell-tale crack on the lid.  The next day when I arrived home from work, I accidentally knocked a travel coffee mug off the table while checking to make sure the coffee had been set for the morning.  This travel mug landed square on one of the weakest of my toes, and felt like someone had just blown it off with a gun!  I yelped a few choice words and hobbled to the nearest chair where I moaned, cried, and showered myself with pity.  By the next morning, the toe was a few shades darker and a few centimeters thicker than it's counterpart, but miraculously, I could stand up, and walk without making a sound!  The first accident was a miracle; the second, a miracle with a message....slow down, woman!

On Wednesday, I met with a friend whom I had not seen for about two years!  We met at the Chicago Botanical Gardens and had a lovely time, which went by so fast that we promised to meet again soon!  I will be sharing this wonderful day on Sundays in My City in two days.  Just spending the time with this good friend, walking, talking and loving the beauty of everything the Gardens had to offer, made my entire week a joy and I will be thinking of the day for weeks to come!  We all have friends whom we can just "pick up where we left off," don't we?  My friend is just one of these wonderful friends!

Hope your week was as eventful as mine!  Enjoy the weekend...now that I can walk...I will, too!

Please click on the Friday Fragment logo below to be enlightened and entertained from others who join in each week.  Thanks for stopping by!