AUNT VIOLA IS 94!

Herb and Darlene (Halvorson) Zirk, Louise and Hartley Halvorson

Viola (Johnson) Halvorson

Yesterday was a very full, fun day.  I started the day with a visit to the lab at St. Joseph's to get blood work etc for my yearly medical.  I had fasted since the night before and it was noon when I got to the clinic. Perfect timing as there was no lineup and I was in and out in record time.  Last year I ended up in Emergency after my ECG but this time all was normal.I had my lunch and then went to visit Howard.  He was still in the dining area, sitting in a big easy chair in front of the TV fast asleep with his Norway cap on his head.  A cap is just part of getting dressed for him.  We went down to his room and I checked out his TV which finally got hooked to cable after sitting in the closet for quite some time.  His new cordless phone didn't seem to be working so I plugged in the old one and took the new one home to check it out.

Wednesday is bath day for Howard.  The nurse noticed that his toe nails needed some attention so he was treated to a pedicure.  It was good to get that done before he ended up with ingrown toenails or some other problem.

Soon it was time to head to "the party".  Signs were out inviting staff and residents to the party for Viola.  And they turned out in full force, plus visitors from Regina, Weyburn, Midale, Torquay, Estevan and even Camrose, AB.  Aunt Viola had organized the program, Louise and Hartley took care of the cake.  Good thing it was a big one and everyone got a piece!  Around 75 guests turned out to celebrate with Viola.  Inis Marcotte was the very capable emcee.  Viola has written and taken part in many humorous skits over the years, often with Lilah Daae.  One they had done called "The Birthday" was on the program.  Viola was "Pa" but decided at the last minute that she needed a substitute for the performance today.  Vickie Skjonsby was the perfect one and we all enjoyed this story of the wife who thought her husband cared more for his cows than he did for her.  He showed his true feelings when he sold his beloved cows to buy her a birthday present.  Both husband and wife ended up in tears!  And as Inis commented, at 94 years old, Viola showed that she can still change her mind.

The Torquay Grannies - Vi Sabin, Vickie Skjonsby, Phyllis Hurren and I sang three numbers - "Amazing Grace", "Jesus Use Me" and "Have Thine Own Way, Lord".  Three members of St. Joseph's staff gave fitting tributes to Viola.  One expressed the desire to be like Viola "when she grows up".  Howard and I closed the program with the song "God be With You 'til We Meet Again".

Vivian Vinge visiting with Viola

Visiting with Brenda Lamb and Joyce Fonstad

Three smiling Halvorsons - Louise, Marilyn and her mother, Irene

Aunt Viola was born on the Johnson farm on June 8, 1917.  She is the youngest in a family of nine.  Horace, Howard's dad, was 16 years old at the time and quite embarrassed that his mother had a new baby.  It was said that he "didn't want to look at her".  Viola was an aunt when she was born as her oldest sister Dorma gave birth to Ruby in 1916.  Not many people can say that they have been an aunt for 94 years!  She also has a niece who is just a year younger than she is.  Edith Vinge was 93 on February 26.  Not many people of her age still have an aunt either!   We are blessed to have Aunt Viola so close by.  I often talk to her on the phone and will give her a call this morning to see how she enjoyed her party.  We hope that she will have many more birthdays, perhaps even getting to the 100 mark.

After the party we reserved a table for twelve at Houston Pizza and several of us from Trinity Torquay had supper together there.  Wednesday night is Seniors night so it was a busy place.  After our meal we headed over to Hillview Manor where we had a program and supplied goodies for an evening lunch for the residents there.  Camby and Ruby Forrester  and Ralph Steinke are former Torquay residents there.  Teresa Halvorson will be moving there in two weeks time.

Howard came along for supper and the program, then I took him back to St. Joseph's with the promise that next weekend he can come home for a visit.  He can't believe that it is still too wet to get in the fields so he can see for himself when we go for a drive.  I don't know if we can even get to our land six miles east of here unless we take quite a detour.  Country roads are in tough shape, many are impassable and grain and oil trucks are not permitted on them.  Oil drilling is at a standstill in a big area.  The excessive rain has really impacted both the farming and energy sector.  But the sun is shining again today so there is hope for a drier tomorrow!

The Stanley Cup finals didn't go very well for Vancouver in Boston so now they are tied at two wins each.  Jeff noticed that a sign in Estevan advertising "Boston Pizza" had been changed to read "Vancouver Pizza".

Well, I better get off the computer and do some tidying up in my neglected house.  Or should I make a quick trip to Ambrose and Crosby for the mail and some groceries?  That does sound more appealing, and I guess I could do both so will sign off for now and take action!