That's Flo calling from the bath-phone. Get it, Robin?
Flo – that’s my mom — turned 93 on Monday. My four sisters and I celebrated by taking Flo to Geneva for a two-night stay in a beautiful restored old inn. This was in Geneva, Illinois, but if you talk to Flo about it all, you might think we brought her to Switzerland.
Trying out her poster bed, enjoying her first ever massage, looking over the balcony at the series of brides being photographed in the courtyard below…Flo was enthralled. We did a bit of walking around town, but most of our time together was spent in our two adjoining suites, talking, laughing and drinking wine.
My sister Bev had brought her laptop along, and conversation often turned to topics like Facebook or Twitter. At one point Bev skyped her son Brian, who teaches English in South Korea. Flo could hardly believe her eyes – she was watching her grandson on the computer screen from all these thousands of miles away. “I just can’t keep up!” she’d explain. “I’m not in this world!”
That phrase became the theme for the weekend, and after Flo’s first trip to her hotel bathroom she was convinced she really was in another world. It wasn’t the bidet that threw her off — it was the phone. “It’s right by the toilet!” she giggled. She’d never seen – or imagined – such a thing, and she could hardly get over it.
With our encouragement, she went back in the bathroom, picked up the phone and gave my husband Mike a call. She practiced her lines out loud as the phone rang. When Mike answered, she was ready.
“Mike?” she asked, somehow managing to stifle a laugh. “You know were I am?”
“Well, you’re probably all sitting at a round table, each with a glass of wine, right?” It was a pretty good guess. Flo was delighted to tell him he was wrong.
Sisters, sisters.... From the top (of the stairs) that's Bobbie, Bev, Cheryl, Marilee, me, and mom Flo.
“No,” she said, taking another big breath to avoid laughing. “I’m sitting on the pot!”
Mike was stunned to silence. Flo repeated. “I’m on the pot!” she said, finally bursting into giddy schoolgirl laughter.
As the weekend drew to a close, we asked Flo what it was like, living into her nineties. She said she doesn’t really think about her age much. “One thing, though,” she said. “Every year, something new happens. And it’s always something I would have never, ever thought of myself.”
Flo, having her cake and eating it, too, at 93.
Such a cute story. Happy birthday, Flo!
How wonderful, Beth, for all of you. Can you really call yourself a writer, though, if you can’t come up with a picture book story that lives up to the title, “Flo on the Pot?” Get working on it, Beth. The kids are all waiting to read it.
Aha! I’ve been looking for inspiration for my next book. Thanks to you, Francine, maybe I’ve found it here!
What a cute story! By the way, I finally got to speak to Bryan on the phone. Now I see why you said “you’re in good hands with Bryan!”
Sandra
What an amazing woman, and a reminder of the amazing world we all take for granted. It’s easy to see wonder in the eyes of a child, but to hear it in the voice of a woman almost three times my age is staggering.
The people of our generation are conditioned to think that the world is a dark and obvious place and that, as we get older we should get edgier and more cynical to stay relevant to the current culture.
The reality is that there is no need to be jaded by life’s experiences. In fact it is usually the happier and more awestruck people that we idolize. Flo is the perfect example of how to prepare yourself for life: when you’re young work as hard, but also as smart as you can; maybe sometimes you’ll seem strict to your kids but as long as you’re fair you’re winning. Then, as the need for work gets less and less; slow down. Look up; and smile at what you’ve created and what you still could. It’s not about pride, it’s about simple pleasures. Keep it simple and you can’t lose!
Thanks Flo!
Well stated Mark Hoover! Aunt Betha, I am so happy you told this story for all to read! I am sure it is a trip Minke will talk about for years!!
Sandra, thanks for your note — I just *knew* you’d like Bryan, he’ll take good care of you at University of Illinois. Mark, what a beautiful comment — Flo inspires us in so many ways, now she has inspired you to write more, well, more Floetry! Jen, I think you’re right: Flo will remember the weekend, and her special phone call, for a long, long time!
Another thing that our mom amazed us with was her morning exercise routine. She kept saying ” I just tell myself that I have to do this”. She was kicking her leg up to ten counts – as I watched, I wasn’t sure that I could keep up! She lives in the moment-even when she is not of this world-
I loved this story….and no way does Flo look 80 much less 93. This makes me think of my Aunt Mabel (85) asking me last weekend, “do you twitter?”. Must be something about these long lived women still being interested in the world. And, I think working hard their whole lives probably helped too.
Thanks for another wonderful story, Beth. Love the way your writing turns life into art.
Happy Birthday, Flo! You go, girl!
I printed a copy of your blog for Mom to read and she shared the copy with the “girls” at the beauty shop this morning. Some of the ladies at the shop didn’t realize Mom was 93 years old till they read the blog. Her hairdresser, Josephine said she can’t wait for the book, “Flo on the Pot”, to come out. I think it would be a big seller at the beauty shop.
Great times! Flo on the Pot is a perfect snapshot or our weekend. And as for Marilee’s remarks, I challenge the sisters to join Mom in her little morning exercise routine at the next Sister’s Weekend. Suggestion…you may want to start getting in shape now. You have 1 year minus a week. Good luck!
Aww – this story is adorable!
South Korea?! Wow! Perhaps he and I should have a conversation. *grin* I’m Korean.
Happy Belated Birthday to Flo! *smile*
Sarah – I knew you had Asian background, but didn’t realize you were Korean. My nephew Brian would *love* to hear from you, probably the best way to get in touch with him is, guess how? On facebook! His name is Brian Miller, you ccan look him up there. Or maybe if I get ambitious I’ll have Hanni (she has a facebook page) suggest Brian as a friend to you via facebook. Cheryl, I am so glad to hear you printed this blog and the comments out for Flo — I wanted her to hear from all these folks wishing her a happy birthday. Thanks! Bev, I accept your challenge. Am starting to train now so I’ll be ready for next year’s Flo-athon.
Hi Beth,
Finding Brian on Facebook was a breeze. I just friend requested him. I friended Hanni too. I believe she accepted me. *grin*
Hanni was flattered you asked her to b a friend, and of course she responded “yes” immediately. I’m guessing Brian is as wise as Hanni and you’ll be getting a positive response from him soon, too! I wonder, though — should I write Brian to explain who you are?
Flo-athon sounds like a great idea. Good motivation, Bev. Can others sign up for it too? Just let us know where and when. Maybe we can make it an annual event? Homemade christmas for winter, Flo-athon for spring. We could raise money for Flo’s favorite charity. I can see it all know.
Love it, love it, love it. Bev, you up for making all the arrangements?!
One of the events that you’ll definetly have to include at the Flo-athon will have to be the Chicken Dance. We could set it up like the old dance marathons that took place in the ’40’s. Who ever lasts the longest out on the dance floor doing the Chicken Dance would win that event. Of course the down side of that event is that the rest of us would have to listen to Chicken Dance song over and over and over and over…..
Chicken dance? Are you kidding? No way. I mean, if the Chicken Dance is part of the Flo-athon, I may as well quit training right now and give in. We all could work out and train every day until next year, and there is *no way* any of us would ever beat Flo at that event. We couldn’t even come close.
How did we get to Flo-athon? Chicken dance? Girls, I merely challenged y’all to attempt to keep up with Flo’s morning workout (including multiple leg lifts..that’s the scarey part). That’s a big enough challenge for us. The Chicken dance may be over the top for us, but well….if Flo can do it…..just add another 1/2 hour to your daily training gals. The bar has just been raised.
I’m with Bev. In fact, right before Sister’s Weekend my physical therapist gave me a series of new exercises I’m supposed to be doing each day to strengthen my shoulder. I see the PT today so she can see how I’m progressing, and truth is: I haven’t done a single one of the exercises since my last appointment. Need to follow Flo’s example and do it first thing in the morning, just make myself do it! Will save practicing the chicken dance for later…
Only just getting to these pix now. I definitely WANNA BE FLO!
Get in line, sistuh! I mean, who *doesn’t* want to be Flo? I cannot tell you how many people have seen that photo of her with her birthday cake and have told me personally what a beautiful woman she is. They use words like “striking” and “handsome.” I wanna be Flo, too, but it’s a lofty goal!
[…] 93.You know her as the birthday gal who dances with younger men at jazz blubs, the sophisticate who insists on having a phone near the toilet when she stays in a hotel room, the athlete who bounces back from serious injuries – broken […]
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