My Great Aunt

I went to visit this cute lady yesterday. She is my grandmother's little sister. There were eleven children; my grandmother was the second child, this woman was the tenth. She is my oldest living relative. Just take a guess at her age. While you think, I'll tell you a little about her.

She remembers my grandmother coming back home to live with them when she was just a child because grandpa found work nearby building a bridge. At that time, my grandparents already had three children. And the great-grandparents still had ten kids at home, so that's sixteen people in one house! Above is a photo of the family about that time. My great aunt is one of the little kids. My grandmother and grandfather are at the top right holding two of their three children. My mother wasn't born yet, so she isn't in the photo. My great grandparents are the two in dark clothes.

My great aunt has always had a strong personality. She remembers learning to drive in a boyfriend's car. When he asked her for a date, she said only if he would let her drive his car. She knew her Daddy would never teach her to drive, but she had a great desire to drive so she found a way.

Her first marriage was bad so she left him. That was unthinkable back then, but she quickly found another husband and they had one child. That husband died young, so she married for a third time. He died around 1985, so she lives alone now, but don't think she's lonely! She's always busy visiting with friends and relatives and she always seems to have a boyfriend. The current boyfriend occupies her weekends, so don't go to visit her on the weekend - that's reserved for him.

Did you guess that she is 80? or maybe 90? Nope, she is 97. And see her left hand there in the photo? See what she's holding? Her car keys. She still drives! I noticed when we finished lunch at the restaurant, she got her keys out even though I was driving. She's still sharp as a tack, so I don't think she was confused. I think she just likes to be in the driver's seat. And you know what? I want to be just like my great aunt when I get old.