In Loving Memory of Aunt Ruth (1915-2010)

Long time readers will be familiar with my many adventures with my 94-year-old Aunt Ruth. Sadly, she passed away a couple weeks ago. She would have been ninety-five this November and was an inspiration in so many ways. I had the blessing of one last visit with her just over a month ago. It is a memory I will never forget.

Here are many life lessons I learned from her and a number of blog posts I wrote about our times together, including travelogues from our trip to Alaska four years ago.

She was dearly loved and will be deeply missed.

Priceless!

Tickets to see "Monsters vs. Aliens"... 9 dollars. Picture of Aunt Ruth wearing 3-D glasses... PRICELESS!

A Scene From Kansas City

Playing Rummikub yesterday at Aunt Ruth's. (Her favorite game.) Mom, dad, and I arrived out here in Kansas City on Monday and, as usual, have been having a great time so far with many rounds of Rummikub each day.

According to Amazon's description of the game, Rummikub is for ages 8 to 99. That means Aunt Ruth still has seven more years of fun ahead!

GPS Old and New

My GPS next to Aunt Ruth's:



Aunt Ruth liked mine so much that if Circuit City wasn't closed for Easter, she would have bought this. (How many 92-year-olds do you know who are interested in GPS, let alone still driving?)

Another Great Easter In Kansas City

I had another wonderful Easter with Aunt Ruth in Kansas City (this makes at least three in a row). As always, we had a ton of fun eating, laughing, playing games, eating, watching TV, and... eating.

I arrived late on Friday night and took a taxi out to her place. Saturday morning, we got up and ran some errands and went to our usual IHOP for breakfast. Unfortunately, there a 20-minute wait, so we went over to Roxanne's Cafe instead. It was some great food and they had to coolest tin can man hanging from the ceiling:



After breakfast, we came back and took a long nap with our bellies full. We watched the first half of South Pacific (my first time ever) and then went to her Saturday evening church service.



After church, we went to a Chinese buffet for dinner and then came home and finished watching South Pacific.

We slept in this morning and then Aunt Ruth took me over to Red Robin in Liberty, MO for a delicious Easter burger.




I can't believe she looks this great at 92!

We then drove out to Excelsior Springs, MO -- about 18 miles from where she and my grandpa grew up. After dinner, we came back home and Aunt Ruth took a quick nap while I worked on a bit of homework.

We went to Mimi's Cafe for an Easter dinner and then came back and played our usual game of Rumikub until late.


Did I mention Aunt Ruth is 92? Unbelievable!





I fly back to Virginia tomorrow morning. As usual, we both had a wonderful time and are sad to see me leave. I wish I didn't have to rush back for class on Tuesday, but am thankful for our time together again. I can't wait until my next trip out!

Here are links to Easter 2007 and Easter 2006 in Kansas City. Also, read about Aunt Ruth's and my adventure to Alaska in 2006.

Another Great Visit With Aunt Ruth

Dad and I are finishing up a wonderful weekend up here in Kansas City, celebrating Aunt Ruth's 92nd birthday! Aunt Ruth is my grandfather's (my father's father) sister and is the last of her generation in my family and a truly amazing woman. She shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. She still drives, lives on her own, walks quickly and for long distances, cooks, and knows how to keep her nephews and grand-nephews in line! We traveled to Alaska together last year and she is ready for to go on another cruise with me anywhere in the world as soon as I graduate. Her warm spirit, good humor, and optimism towards life are truly inspiring and it is always such a treat to come visit her. I am sad we have to head home later today.

Of course, no trip to Kansas City would be complete without at least one visit to the IHOP, another to Mimi's Cafe, and many rounds of Rumikub each night:

On Sunday, Aunt Ruth took us over to see a free concert at Park University. It was a great performance and the chapel the band performed in reminded me a lot of Knowles Memorial Chapel at Rollins College in Orlando.

(I still can't believe how good she looks at 92!)

After the concert, dad and I took Aunt Ruth out for some delicious Kansas City barbeque and surprised her with some gifts. We spent the whole day just having fun, enjoying one another's company, and laughing all the way.

I get tickled by how much Aunt Ruth enjoys all the things she does and how active she stays. As an example, she has to drop dad and I off at the airport a little early so she can run to play bridge with her friends. Like I said, Aunt Ruth shows absolutely no signs of slowing down...

See more photos of this trip here (or view them as a slideshow).

Also be sure to read the life lessons I learned from Aunt Ruth and more about our trip to Alaska together.

P.S. -- I also had a post about Aunt Ruth learning to use a tablet PC which just got picked up by one of the top tablet PC blogs. Go Aunt Ruth!

Aunt Ruth Learns How to Use a Tablet PC!

Welcome GottaBeMobile.com readers!

Not only do little kids like Tablet PCs, but 92-year-olds do too!

Read about the rest of our visit with Aunt Ruth here.

Aunt Ruth Turns 92!

I just got off the phone with my great-aunt Ruth. Today is her 92nd birthday and she sounds just as happy and healthy as ever. She is truly an amazing woman. Dad and I are flying out to Kansas City on Friday to celebrate her birthday and have an early Thanksgiving with her.

Aunt Ruth is my grandpa's (my father's father's) sister. She and I traveled to Alaska together in the summer of 2006 when she was 90 and I had a tough time keeping up with her. The trip was with a senior citizens group and she was the oldest by about 20 years and I was the youngest by about 20 years. It was a ton of fun!

Read my previous posts about Aunt Ruth and my travel journals from our trip to Alaska.

Happy birthday, Aunt Ruth!

We love you and can't wait to see you!

P.S. -- Here are just a few of the many life lessons I've learned from Aunt Ruth:

1. Know and accept your limitations, but don’t let them stop you from doing things. Find ways to work around them.
2. Read your Bible every day and go to church on Sundays.
3. Always love and be loyal to your family.
4. Don’t be afraid of voicing your opinion.
5. Take naps every day.
6. Rest when you’re tired.
7. Eat when you’re hungry.
8. Take the initiative to get in touch with loved ones.
9. Stay interested in current affairs.
10. Love your country.
11. Never stop giving of yourself – be generous with your time, your money, and your talents.
12. Manage your money wisely. Be generous to others, set some aside for saving, cover your expenses, and use it to enjoy yourself.
13. Stay interested in the people and the world around you.
14. Make friends wherever you go.
15. Take initiative to meet others.
16. Practice hospitality and enjoy the hospitality of others.
17. Never stop exploring.
18. Take delight in new experiences.
19. Do what you enjoy and enjoy what you do.
20. Take interest in the hopes and dreams of others.
21. Remember the past with fondness, live today to the fullest, and look forward to the future with eager anticipation.
22. Always keep a good sense of humor.
23. Take life as it comes to you.
24. Never stop learning.
25. Take your vitamins.
26. Always set goals for yourself so you have something to look forward to in the future.
27. Eat a little peanut butter every day.

Still Cracking the Books at 95

A friend just sent me this article saying this woman reminds her of my Aunt Ruth. I couldnt' agree more:

Nola Ochs is a living textbook. During history courses, the 95-year-old regaled her much younger classmates with memories of dodging the dust storms in the 1930s that threatened to destroy her family farm in Kansas. “It was dark as night, even after we turned the lamps on,” Ochs says. She also shared tales of cattle drives, life as a farmwife, and living without running water.

Ochs made history when she graduated in May 2007 with a bachelor’s degree from Fort Hays State University in Kansas. She’s the oldest college graduate in the world and will be entered in Guinness World Records 2008.

Learning keeps her alive, she says. Come September, Ochs plans to head back to school--and start working on her master’s degree. “There’s something within me that wants to keep learning,” she says. “I just can’t quit.”

Still sprightly, Ochs checks her e-mail every morning before breakfast, and drives her own car. “I encourage the elderly to keep up their driving skills,” she says, recommending American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) refresher courses for confidence boosters.

What’s her secret to a healthy and productive longevity? Don’t dwell on your age. “People think I’m supposed to be sitting in a chair, crocheting,” she says, laughing at the thought. “If we don’t think about how old we are, that helps give us the enthusiasm to get up and do something.” Her son, Alan, attributes his mother’s vitality to her good attitude.

At age 91, Aunt Ruth still drives, has high-speed internet, and e-mails on a regular basis. (She always tells me she'll "send me a wire".) According to the article, Nola is planning on going on a crusie to the Caribbean this summer with her granddaughter. Aunt Ruth and I went on a cruise to Alasksa together last summer and she is rearing to go on another cruise after I graduate from my PhD program.

Hats off to both wonderful ladies!

Great-Great-Grandpa Hollar and the Henry House

I was talking to my father today about visiting the Manassas Battlefield yesterday. I didn't realize it, but my great-great-grandpa Hollar fought in one or both of the Battles of Bull Run. (We think he was in the first one and probably the second as well.) Apparently Aunt Ruth has a small piece of brick or ceramic he picked up as a memento. We think it is a small piece that somehow came from the Henry House which I saw yesterday. When I was on the battlefield, I had no idea great-great-grandpa had fought there.

My Great-Grandpa's Barn

This is a picture Aunt Ruth had of her father's (my great-grandpa's) barn on the family farm in Missouri. Seeing this somehow makes me feel a little more connected to my family's history.

I thought that was cool...

Leaving Kansas City

I'm back on a plane getting ready to fly back to Virginia. David and Gwen dropped Aunt Karyl and I off at the airport on their way back to Michigan. Aunt Karyl and I were one gate apart and she took off about 30 minutes ago. It was sad saying good-bye to everyone this morning, but especially to Aunt Ruth. She enjoys our visits so much. We do too.

"An Easter Story"

Today after church, Aunt Ruth took us out to the Crown Center here in Kansas City for an Easter meal. Unfortunately, when we got there almost all the restaurants were closed. The one place that was open was a Japanese restaurant called "Kabuki". Aunt Karyl ended up convincing us all to eat there and the food was delicious.



I don't know why, but for some reason this experience reminded me of this scene from "A Christmas Story" where the family has their Christmas dinner at a Chinese restaurant:



I asked Aunt Ruth what she thought of having Japanese food for Easter to which she replied:

"It's alright, but I'm not gonna do that again!"

Needless to say, we all had a great time!


(click on images for larger view)

Happy Easter From Kansas City!

David (dad's cousin), Gwen (David's wife), Aunt Ruth (my grandpa's (my dad's dad) sister), Aunt Karyl (my mom's sister), and me.

I'm In Kansas City!

Made it safe and sound to Kansas City! Arrived without issue ~ 6 PM Kansas City time. Aunt Ruth is doing well. Aunt Karyl flew in from Denver about 30 minutes before me. My Dad's cousin David and his wife Gwen also arrived earlier this afternoon. We're having a mini-family reunion out here. Aunt Ruth is in her glory.

We had dinner at Mimi's Cafe and came back for lots of laughs and great conversation. Everyone else just went to bed. Wonderful to see everyone and looking forward to some more fun tomorrow!

My Alaskan Adventure With Aunt Ruth

(Click on images below for larger views.)

Today, I had quite an adventure trying to unsuccessfully fly out of DC to visit my 91-year-old Aunt Ruth in Kansas City for Easter. I will try again tomorrow.

In the meantime, I am staying at my brother's house and after writing so much about her, I thought I'd share some photos from Aunt Ruth's and my trip to Alaska last summer. (Aunt Ruth was 90 at the time.) Some of my favorite pictures are below and you can see many more on my Flickr page.

You can also read my Alaskan travelogues here, here, and here. Also be sure to read the life lessons I learned from Aunt Ruth.

Here are a few of the photos from our journey:

After Aunt Ruth flew home, I stayed over a few days extra to explore Vancouver and Victoria Island for the first time, including Butchart Gardens:

It was a tremendous blessing to be able to take a trip like that with Aunt Ruth. I can’t wait to see her tomorrow. She is my grandfather’s sister and is the closest thing I have to a grandma right now. She spoils me rotten and I love every minute of it! :) She’s already talking about us taking another cruise together to celebrate when I finish up my PhD. I can’t wait!!! :)