Happy 90th Birthday!

This week, someone I've known for about 50 years turned 90.

Not long after my late mother in law and father in law moved into their new house, in a brand new small development in a then-rural suburb of New York City, a family moved next door:   J, his wife M, and their children.

J, M, and the family that became my inlaws stayed neighbors for some 50 years.  During that time, additional children were added, and their families grew.  

For both of the families, life wasn't always easy, but the friendship survived and grew deeper.  

Eventually, I married into one of the families and became friends with the other family.  I especially became close with M, who grew up in the same part of the Bronx as I did.  We went to different schools and are of different generations, but there was a lot we had in common.

In the 1990's, both my father in law and J passed away.  In widowhood, the friendship between my mother in law and M. grew even stronger.

Eventually, in 2015, my mother in law moved to be closer to two of her sons, but she and M. never lost that friendship.  My spouse and I visited M. several times, the last time in September of 2019.  We spent wonderful afternoons with her.  M. is a great cook and insisted on cooking for us.

M. remains healthy and active into her 90th year. She still drives. She's maintained her house with help, and still lives alone. You would never, ever know her age.  She texts and uses social media. We keep in touch with texts, in fact.  

M. remains so busy, with her far flung family, that we never did arrange a visit in 2021.  This year, we hope to finally see each other again when the weather moderates.

This past week, her family, which has grown quite large by now, gathered in California, where one of M's daughters lives, and celebrated her birthday.   Pictures, of course, were posted on social media.

Happy belated birthday, M.   You've aged with grace, and have a zest for life I admire.   Here are some virtual flowers for you.