"Memories Are Like Cash"

Today I had the wonderful joy of spending time with my Great Aunt Louise and Great Uncle Bob. I don’t see them often, but when I do, I love every minute. Aunt Louise and Uncle Bob are both 83 years old and have been married for almost 54 years.

“You are only as young as you feel”, or “young at heart” are the most perfect phrases to describe the two. When they met, Uncle Bob was in the air force. Like many military families they traveled lots of places: from Missouri, to Texas to Japan, to Korea, and many more places in between. I love hearing my aunt tell stories about cooking with her Japanese friends, laughing about the story of an unexpected hailstone braking the window of her car while driving down the road, getting upset with Uncle Bob for inviting a Japanese acquaintance home for dinner without notice and not having any food prepared (devastating his new bride!), accidentally scheduling 3 families to vacation at their house during the same week… “all great memories,” she said thoughtfully tonight.

My Uncle Bob is sharp as can be! His mind is quick which makes him seem very young. He can tell me all the details of how to make a fighter plane. He is quick to congratulate too. I cannot think of a time that a celebratory event went by that both Uncle Bob and Aunt Louise did not come to or send a sweet letter… or email! My Aunt and Uncle drove 11 hours from St Louis to Dallas to come to my sister’s wedding. They were there for less than a day. They are so quick, and intentional to love family and friends. It's evident relationships matter to them.

At 83, they are still on the go. Today they drove 4 hours to my cousin’s wedding, stayed 3 hours, and drove 4 hours back home... all in one day. Next week they are driving to my aunt’s high school reunion, the week after to her family reunion, and later to Uncle Bob’s 65^th year high school reunion… plus trips this summer to Tennessee to visit their son, and trips to visit grandkids and other friends and celebrations.  Seriously, they are 83!

“It keeps us young,” my aunt said tonight. “We are blessed that we can get out. I have some girlfriends that sit inside all day and watch TV. There’s no fun in that! We want to get out! Even if it is working in the garden. And I think doing that all these years is what has helped us stay so young!” 83, people… 83! They are on the go more than me!

“I would love to go to Japan and spend time with my girlfriend soon. We haven’t see each other in so long… I just want to keep traveling…we’ve talked about going over there soon…”  - Aunt Louise

My aunt and uncle love family well. They are the FIRST people to celebrate and congratulate. They are true cheerleaders. They are also people that live life as one great big adventure… which is what this is, isn’t it? They are an inspiration to me.

“Memories are like cash. You make them, put them in your bank, and take them out as precious treasures each day.” This "young" couple isn’t done making memories. Each day they are ready to love people and have an adventure… Oh, that is how I want my life to be… right now at age 27… and at age 83.