December 30th, was Evelyn’s 97th birthday. We weren’t sure if she would want to celebrate it but we wanted to have at least cake and ice cream. We started referring b to it as cake and ice cream day when talking about it with people. She is quick and would catch on and say, “I think they are talking about my birthday!” It was fun to see how she reacted each time. Sometimes it would be with excitement and sometimes it would be with dread or tell us to just forget it she was old enough.
It was also fun to hear how old she was. She didn’t/doesn’t remember well all the time. The most common age was 90. She said 110 but got laughed at so went to 102. She also mentioned 100 and 95. Mostly it was “How old am I?”
Some one would start to say 97 but she would stop them at the 90 and say that’s old enough.”
She had a slow but steady stream of visitors all day. Some masked some not. We probably aren’t as careful as we could be since most of us had Covid. Evelyn enjoys seeing our faces and she is on hospice.
She was in really good form all day. She had a quick funny or very honest remark about almost everything.
One of the funniest things was when we ask if we could bring the picture of Roberta out to put on the piano so she could be with us too. She was not for that. She said, “ It’s not her day and she’s left us hasn’t she? Unless you want me to join her?” We kept the picture out of sight.
It was the perfect way for her to celebrate 97!
As a way to remember Evelyn’s guests were- Ali, Marian, Ellie, Kayci, Lucy, Beth, Lisa, Lynn, Jen and Andrew her social workers from Hospice, Rebecca and Brandon her chaplains from Hospice, Larry and Janene Richins, Maridean and Katelyn Mines, Her relief society president, Sandi and Cocoa Turner dropped of a gift-her ministering angles, Leon Ewell her ministering brother, Stephaine Johnson and Lilly, Emily and Sadie Rose Becker, Derek Smith, Jill, TaLyn, Mark’ Teagan, Mason, Logan, Ridge, and Raif Egbert, Joe, Julie, Lincoln, Clara and Anna Egbert, Glen, Daryl, Ruth Richins and Arla- her hospice nurse. We also face timed Melodee Garvin.
There is another funny story I don't want to forget. When Evelyn's Relief Society President came to visit she brought some chocolate her daughter had sent from Germany where she is on her mission.
Evelyn didn't say anything while she was there but once she left Evelyn started asking questions.
She asked, "Who was that who was just visiting?"
Lucy said," That was your Relief Society President."
Evelyn ask, " What is this stuff that she left?"
Lucy said, "She brought you some chocolate from Germany."
Evelyn said, "Germany. We were against them in the war. Was it tampered with?"
Ali said, " No, Her daughter is on a mission there."
Evelyn said, " Mission, What kind of mission? Is she a bomber?"
Ali said, "No, It's an LDS mission for the church."
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