Aunt Billie turns 100

Happy Monday,

How is everyone doing on this amazing Monday evening? Did you enjoy your Easter weekend? I did. It was busy yet incredible. How did you spend your weekend? I’d love to hear from you. Shoot me a text or drop me a comment. Messages from you always make my day a little brighter.

My weekend actually started on Thursday after I took Grant to school. I came home and home is where I pretty much stayed until Saturday afternoon, unless you count going to paint and sip with my amazing daughter-in-law to be and with Sandy. Friday I didn’t go anywhere. I got up, walked the pups, baked, and enjoyed reading and getting a few things done around my home. I’m still behind on projects and that’s okay, they’ll still be here tomorrow and the next day and the day after that.

Saturday was a very special day. John and I went to my cousins for what is most likely a one of a kind event. I’m not sure I’ll ever go to another event like the one I was blessed to attend as they are far and few between. On Saturday, April 19, 2025 my Aunt Billie turned 100 years young. What a milestone and one I’ll never forget.

The entire day was dedicated to this incredible woman. Aunt Billie is still by far the smartest woman I know. Even at 100 she holds true to her core values. She treasures every moment with her beloved family and she is proud of her accomplishments, rightfully so. In her lifetime she built a life from the ground up. She left home at 18 years old with a mere $50 in hand one suitcase and a determination that would absolutely make her unstoppable in everything she set her mind out to do.

Aunt Billie was self taught. To this day she loves to learn. She is in her element when talking about aircraft. She use to read all the time but her eyesight isn’t as young as she is at heart. She doesn’t let this stop her though. Instead she asks Alexa random questions throughout the day. Whatever comes to mind she asks. Learning is her passion. Always has been. Aunt Billie is the definition of determination and she truly lives and has lived her life with little to no regret.

Frank Sinatra, “I Did It My Way,” is her song. Through and through, she’s done life her way.

I hope one day to be as strong as Aunt Billie living life with little to no regret. On her birthday I found myself with one regret. My cousin John asked me if I wanted to say something to Aunt Billie and about Aunt Billie. I declined. I allowed fear to overtake me and in some way, I cared more about messing up and what others would think of me instead of just getting up and telling my Aunt Billie just how much I love her. All I had to do was get up and say three words, “I Love You.” I couldn’t even do that.

I’m not going to go down the path of submersing myself in regret. The day is gone and I will always regret not even trying to tell everyone there how much this wonderful woman means to me. I can’t go back, but moving forward I will absolutely think about the other person instead of allowing fear of talking in a crowd to make me say no when asked if I’d like to say or share something.

I can’t even begin to imagine life without Aunt Billie and I know I’m not alone in that feeling. She is so loved, honored and respected.

I know her time on earth is far less then the days she’s had here, after all, she is 100. Her grandson spoke at her party and I felt his love for her as he tried to express how much she means to him. He thanked her for keeping her end of the bargain to live to 100, then he went onto say how they now can look to her turning 101, 102 even 103. Aunt Billie is so loved and that speaks volumes for the life she’s lived.

My cousins hired a singer to come and perform for her party. He’s someone that sings on a regular basis at her new home. When “My Way” was being sung her son-in-law John took her hand, helped her up and danced with her. That moment was priceless. To see Aunt Billie dance to her favorite song all the while singing along to it, it’s a memory I’ll forever cherish. It’s one I will watch over and over again when she leaves this earth behind. I’m glad I have that moment on video because it’s one I don’t ever want to forget.

Below is a photo of Aunt Billie singing. She is so passionate when it comes to this song. She still can belt out the words and those words being sung are from her heart. I love it.

“For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way”

Whenever I go to visit my beloved Aunt Billie, she always plays this song. I guess when you’re 100 and lived a lot of life you are not only entitled to go down memory lane, but you find peace in the simple things like a song that makes you feel every emotion possible while in the moment.

What would I have said to Aunt Billie on her 100th birthday? First I would have wished her a very happy birthday. I would have done my best to hold back the tears. Tears of joy and tears of knowing that my time with her will come to an end sooner then I want. I would have then thanked her for all the advice she’s given me over my life. I would have thanked her for loving me unconditionally when I was a little girl. I would have told her how much I treasure the time I spent with her on weekends when my mother was starting her new life with the husband.

Uncle Bud and Aunt Billie cared for me when my mother didn’t or couldn’t. I think in the back of my mind I must have always heard Aunt Billie’s voice telling me, “you can do whatever you set your mind to little girl.” It only took me 48 years to wake up and listen.

My Aunt Billie is fearless in the eye of the many storms and life challenges she’s seen in 100 years. She never judges anyone. She listens. She is kind. She does everything she can to uplift you. She loves with the entirety of her heart. She’s proud of her family and she holds her daughter up on a pedestal.

John, my John, knelt down in front of her and asked her a simple question, “what piece of wisdom do you have for me?” She told him, “respect everyone. Everyone deserves to be respected no matter what their belief’s are. No matter the color of their skin or status in life, everyone deserves to be respected.”

The lesson she wanted to convey was and is, nobody is better then anyone else. Unless you prove otherwise, everyone deserves to be spoken to and shown respect.

Aunt Billie and I are working on her book. Her story about the life she’s lived and we’re working on something special for her family. I really need to step up and get to working on finishing this for her.

Whenever you hear the song, “My Way,” by Frank Sinatra I hope you can embrace the words and think about your life and maybe my Aunt Billie’s life and the one she continues to live and embrace. Perhaps when you listen to the lyrics you’ll hear Aunt Billie saying, “regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention.” I hope you have to few to mention in your life, after all you never know when your last breath will be.

Below is me and my amazing, wonderful and incredible Aunt Billie. She’s a straight shooter and she’s full of life, love, compassion, understanding and gratitude. Aunt Billie is an example of how to live life, love life and embrace life. Turning 100 years old is most definitely not for the weak. Aunt Billie has continued on in this life for 18 years without her husband, my Uncle Bud and I know she misses him every day. I also know he’s up there in heaven looking down on her and his family smiling, knowing she’s continued on taking care of the family and life they built together.

Aunt Billie and Uncle Bud most certainly did and do life their way.

My John and Aunt Billie deep in conversation:

And now, before I say goodnight, I’d like to leave you with the lyrics to “My Way”:

“And now, the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I’ll say it clear
I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain
I’ve lived a life that’s full
I traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way

Regrets, I’ve had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course
Each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way

Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all, and I stood tall
And did it my way

I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried
I’ve had my fill, my share of losing
And now, as tears subside
I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way
Oh, no, oh, no, not me
I did it my way

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way

Yes, it was my way”

Aunt Billie, Happy 100th Birthday. I love you. Thank you for being in my life for the past 56 years. You are my inspiration, my rock and the person I admire most in the world. You have taught me so much and I am forever grateful to you for the love you’ve given me over my lifetime. You’ve always believed in me, even when I doubted myself. You still believe in me and have faith that I will one day soon become the author we’ve always dreamed I’d be.

Aunt Billie, you raised your daughter to follow in your footsteps and she’s done one heck of a job. I know how proud you are of her and I’m blessed that you share the love you have for her with me. I never tire from hearing how proud you are of Sherrie. I embrace the stories you share about your grandchildren and I love how much you love John. He’s more then your son-in-law, he’s become a son to you.

Your daughter is a pillar not only in her family, but in her community and she’s passed down to her children the values and determination that you started your life with when you hopped that train to California with just $50 and a single suitcase. You were 18 years old with your entire life in front of you and you paved the way for the richest life possible, one that continues to surround you to this day. You have your family and each and everyone of them love, respect and admire you. You complete so many lives and I know I speak for your entire family and extended family; You are loved beyond words.

I love you forever and always Aunt Billie. Happy 100th Birthday.

Until next time, don’t forget, Love Life++ Hugs.