This weekend, I attended the surprise
birthday party of my Aunt Minnie Lee. She is one of 15 children by my
grandparents Daisy Mae and Jesse. Aunt Minnie Lee just thought she was going for a ride when she stopped by my
cousin’s house. She did not want to get out but when she got inside and they
took her out to the deck, she almost dropped to her knees when she saw her
siblings, nephews, and nieces. What a wonderful surprise indeed.
Aunt Minnie Lee is an example
of someone living life to the fullest no matter the circumstances. My auntie has battled illnesses for years.
She has been in an out of the hospital countless times. Just last week she was
at the emergency room for four hours. However, you would never know it by the
smile on her face at the party. My
auntie lives in a nursing home and I learned this weekend she is the life of
the party. Residents fight over who gets to sit by her when she comes down to
the lunch room. Everyone wants to chat
and laugh with her because of her spirited personality. For many years, she used to sew and make
quilts and she is still putting her skills to use by hemming uniforms and other
clothes for workers at the facility. She has been known to say, “look at those
pants, you need a hem, give them to me” and she goes to work.
Auntie is very organized but she has a
lot of stuff. I remember that from growing up. Well she only has so much space
in her room at the facility and at any given time, she is in her closet
organizing. Many times her sisters can’t reach her because the closet has her
attention. She calls right back though once she gets things situated. One time
my cousin was over for a visit and she went to move one thing in the closet and
the entire rack fell down. LOL Auntie did not find that funny though. And when
I say she is organized, apparently she has a notebook with every item listed so
if anything goes missing, auntie knows it.
One of her favorite things to
do is go to the thrift store. One of my cousins lets her have free reign
rolling through the aisles in her wheelchair as long as she wants. While the
other puts a time limit on her escapades. When time is up and they are rolling
her to check out, in one last ditch effort she just grabs stuff from the racks,
does not matter the color, style or the size.
Before auntie blew out her
candles on her birthday cake, she closed her eyes and made a long wish. Once she was done, with one
blow, all the candles went out. I know
her wish will come true and I hope she has many more to come. She is a
wonderful, feisty little lady who despite the medical issues she has had to
deal with in her life; she is living it, embracing it and thanking God for it.
We can all learn a thing or two from her. Here’s to you Aunt Minnie Lee!
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