Sundancer, I saw her at my last class reunion (she goes to all of them, for every year) which was three years ago, so she was 97 at the time. Our graduating class was very small (35 of us), so if we have ten people attend the reunions, we feel that it's a good percentage!! Miss Jones sat with our class in church, and then also decided to sit at our table during the luncheon, which is always a buffet. I offered to make her a plate, but she declined saying, "No thank you. I'll get it myself..." I did, however, move her to the front of the line. Being the first one served, she still waited until we'd all returned to the table before eating.
Our school is in Staunton, VA, but Miss Jones has lived in Charlottesville for many many years. I was told at the reunion that she was still tutoring people in the Charlottesville area, at that time.
I'll see if I can find a picture to post. The one that I took three years ago is okay, but there was a potted flower in the way! LOL... I'm no photographer!
The school just celebrated "Founders Day" on Tuesday, and she was supposed to be there, and I think that there was supposed to be a bit of a birthday acknowledgment for her, but I just found out that she's broken a hip, and wasn't able to attend. I don't know when that happened, but I presume it was very recent. I do so hope that this won't cause a sudden decline...
In any case, the woman was very spry when I last saw her, and I took that opportunity to tell her how much she has meant to me.
Okay, I found one that was on the school's site, but it's really small. She's sitting next to a former head master. The other one was taken at our table, three years ago. Sorry for the branches in front of her face!
-- Edited by Moore ideas on Friday 15th of January 2010 04:21:02 PM
Thanks for posting the pictures, Moore. Miss Jones looks very good. That is too bad she broke her hip. When we were living in the Cleveland area and drove to Charlotte, NC, to visit our daughters, we always drove through Virginia. I do remember going by Charlottesville. That trip on I-77 in Virginia is quite beautiful.
There is a 91-year-old woman in my Bridge class. She is very sharp.
Sundancer, I love Southwestern Virginia, and I believe that Staunton is even more beautiful than Charlottesville. Of course, it doesn't have Jefferson's famous dome that's on the UVA campus, but...whatever!! LOL...
The deeper you go into the Shenandoah Valley, the more beautiful it is.
I love older people. They have so much knowledge and energy to bring to a conversation. I always find them to be the most interesting people in any room! I'm glad that my children like and admire older people too.
I agree with you that Miss Jones looked great for ninety-freakin'-seven years old, and I want to repeat that she was walking perfectly well, without the assistance of any cane, walker, or even a former student's hand on her arm, thank you very much!
PS: By the way, for those who may not realize this, Staunton is pronounced "Stanton" NOT "Stawnton". Saying the latter is pretty much a shooting offense down there....
-- Edited by Moore ideas on Saturday 16th of January 2010 01:19:01 PM
__________________
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
(Dumbledore to Harry Potter)
