ELEVATING WITH AUNTY...

with Aunty by my side

December 2005

 

A Note from the Universe

 

You can always tell a master by the kindness in their eyes.

 

This Monday November 18th marks the two year anniversary of Aunty's passing. A friend just sent me the above excerpt from Mike Dooley's "Notes from the Universe." And of course I related it to Aunty.

 

I have always said " I see God in Aunty's eyes. Now I know why. She was truly a Bodhishavta.
I don't say this lightly. There is always a reason for everything. I write from the heart with a clear mind, knowing fully that my late Aunty (who inspired this blog) was an elevated human being. She was fearless, and forgiving, and fully compassionate to every person on her path or near it. I honestly feel she achieved the highest level of goodness possible for a human being, and therefore, when she passed she was at the highest level of rebirth possible. Her karmic accumulations were profound.

 

And so, she lives on in me and those who love her. We must do great things and LOVE and FORGIVE and FEAR NOT. She paved a perfect path. I walk now with Grace and happily carry on her legacy of LOVE as I become a blooming human. Amen.

 

Aunty, I adore you forever and ever and ever. Everyone still talks about you and how you "impacted" the world. Whenever you were around the energy was pure and uplifting. Even momentarily you made us all better.
Your spirit thrives and remains miraculous.

We are grateful.

Aunty circa 1944

 

with Aunty November 1992   with her favorite drink...milk and coffee 2008

I'M JUST WILD ABOUT HARRY....

Here's to an Endless Summer...

I tried rounding up the gang again for another night at Tanglewood. It was short notice so not everyone was available. One friend had to take her daughter back to college. Another friend was headed for Cape Cod. And, another had just left for California. But, of course I couldn’t let that stop me. It’s still summer and live music is my passion. I hadn’t seen Harry Connick Jr. before. And I knew Tanglewood, with its perfect acoustics would host him just fine. Two dear friends heeded the call and joined me. We packed the “Bliss Martini Mix” and headed west.  And now all I can say is what a night!

 

Can't you hear the magic...

cozy up before the show

 

We had our lawn party. And you haven’t lived until you spread a blanket out, open some wine, sit by loved ones, and are serenaded with live music! We sipped rose-petal  cocktails and munched on cheese and crackers. We raised our glasses to endless summer fun! Just as we settled in they announced a severe thunder storm was headed our way. No problem…I made a mad dash under the shed and managed to get three seats and enjoyed the show. Harry was sensational. What an entertainer. He really has heart.  He’s great on the eyes too. And, did I mention he can sing. I appreciated his big band and all the New Orleans music. He also crooned  some classics like The Way You Look Tonight and On a Clear Day.  One of my friends raved, “I am so glad you invited me. What a perfect summer night.”

I hope some of you reading this remember some of my posts about how much fun it is at Tanglewood.  It’s worth any effort to get there. I was in my glee…and so were my pals and everyone else who came out to see and hear Harry in the rain.

COUNTING MY BIRTH WEEK BLESSINGS...

 Birthday Ballet

As I look around it seems that adults are having less and less fun. One of the reasons I started this blog was to share my (as well as my late Aunty’s) exuberance and zest for life. I am still grieving the loss of Aunty. I have a serious financial loss on my hands, and I just grew one year older. However, being true to the message of Ageless with Aunty…. I am in the middle of an amazing birthday week! My birthday was Thursday May 3^rd. Yet, here I am still celebrating and basking in the joy of being alive! I made sure with a little planning and help from my friends and family, that I would HAVE FUN! And, I can share with the readers of Ageless, celebrating the joy of your own life is awesome. Embracing your birthday for the mere fact of being alive, and that you were born in the first place, is one quick way to feel fantastic.

 So if you have a birthday coming up, don’t fret. Do the opposite. Embrace it, celebrate it, cherish it, and look for the miracles and small surprises that are sure to come your way when you have your mind set to look for the good that the day is meant to bring. If you are reading this blog you are off to a good start. Here at Ageless with Aunty we always focus on the positive. And, I can say for certain now (having watched Aunty live and die) it DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Aunty never got old (and there is proof of that throughout this blog) and she died fully loved and happy! So, If you make it a happy birth day now, you are increasing your chances for a happily ever after!

setting up tea for three

My Birth Week Blessings

Monday: My dear friend Carroll hosted tea for three. Later, Star gazing. The teacher’s name is Steve Martin. He’s a friend, an author, and super cool astronomer.

Tuesday: Banquet at my church following a comforting women’s faith sharing. And, I do mean banquet. Everything is homemade including the desserts.

Wednesday: Friends took me to the simulcast of the Metropolitan Opera’s La Traviata. I fell in love with everything French Soprano, Natalie Dessay, represents (beauty, grace, and an immaculate voice).

Thursday (actual birthday) a well-planned day with Gracie, placing lilacs on Aunty’s grave, and an unexpected little birthday party at my mom’s. Father Kumar sang Happy Birthday to me when I stopped by my old church to pray.

Friday: another friend took me to the ballet (where her son danced the lead) oh my!

Saturday: (tonight) my friends are joining me at the Ashram (one of Aunty’s old stomping grounds) for a super full moon gong meditation, and, a Big Cake. Sat Nam… I am so excited.

Sunday: my nephew Brayden makes his First Holy Communion. That’s on my Birthday Week list because; I fully enjoy spending time with my family. And I love anything with the word “Holy” in it. Amen...

my mother made a homemade rose cake!

If you read between the lines (as I just did) you can see that by studying the stars, praying in church, listening to the opera, and keeping an open heart full of LOVE…My higher power is what truly keeps me ageless! No beauty bar can beat the Holy Spirit! And, if I can sit here and write to you in the aftermath of losing Aunty, the least you can do is have a Happy Birthday Week tooJ

Ageless Aunty says: Start making some FUN plans for your birthday week. And, for those who have lost touch, consider re-connecting with your higher power…

 ~HAPPY BIRTH-WEEK TO YOU~

I had to get Aunty into the picture too. So, I went by the house we used to live...
The birds and the trees are still out back...and so too are the cherished memories.

                                        last year's birthday toasting with angels

HOW TO STAY YOUNGER LONGER...

Aunty practices an ancient Chineese healing art

Aunty is taking this Ageless Blog seriously. She eats her blueberries every morning, sips her green tea all day, she walks and sings, says her prayers before bed, and  now she does qi-gong. Here she is after two different classes.

The instructor always comments on “Aunty’s  great energy!” I am inspired. To see my great Aunty so happy and vibrant at this advanced age, gives us all hope.  

I realize much of Aunty’s joy is a direct result of my devotion. A major part of my every day existence is to continue giving Aunty a good quality of life. The difference I have made, and continue to make in my Aunty’s life is paramount.  I strongly suggest to anyone dealing with a friend, neighbor, or family member who is elderly….please spend some time with them. Any time counts. It could be a phone call, a short visit, or an overnight stay. I can assure you, the elder you tend to will see it as an eternity.  I know my Aunty would be staring at four walls and crying a lot if I had not stepped in.  The ONLY reason I say any of this is to show others how much happiness you can generate just by giving a little of yourself to someone in need. It is worth repeating >ANY TIME COUNTS A LOT! Even a few minutes  of your time can make a difference in an elderly persons day.

Tomorrow I take Aunty to the beach. I will bring my work, pack her Enquirer, Ice-Tea, and sunblock. With a little effort and creativity I have this care giving down to a science. Many of you have asked if I will write a book about my life and time with Aunty…. Most assuredly, YES!  With over seven years of care giving under my belt, and still going strong, I have a lot to share. And, since our Ageless Aunty truly is the epitome of selfless humility… I know that doing anything that will benefit others is what she wants me to do.  When the time comes to write my care giving story, it will be a continuation of her legacy.  And her legacy  is simple….Aunty Helen (and Nana Helen to some) has always put others first. She is the embodiment of LOVE in its purest form.  She is the quintessential (family)care giver.

Aunty has always had an open and forgiving heart, even when others have not! I call her Mother Teresa in high-heels. Let her be an inspiration for you too. Thanks for following Ageless.

A lot of good energy comming at you

Does anyone know what number sunscreen I should put on Aunty?

Look up the benefits of qigong…. It’s a potent way to stay young… www.qigonginstitute.org

In the Metro West of Boston area I have a friend who teaches qigong. His name is Alan. You can find him at akrentz@comcast.net or www.rootsandwingshealingarts.com

Stay tuned for Renee @ the Millionaire's Club....and MUCH MORE! Having fun is another way to stay young....

I

HOW TO STAY YOUNG!

Our resident Ageless Guru…aka Aunty may be almost ninety years young, but she still knows how to kick up her heels and have fun. Friday night, she turned a night of dining into a night at the disco!

My family and I were having a nice quiet dinner, enjoying some fine wine and conversation. On our way out, Aunty dragged us into the adjacent club for some dancing. “I love to dance,” she declared, as she started moving her hips and pulling us into the joint as soon as she heard the music.

She was flirting with the singer; she danced with the waitress, and made friends with the guys next to us. Before we knew it she got the entire room on its feet. What a sight to see; her happy spirit doing what it does best…making others happy.

How does she stay so vibrant being only a decade away from 100? I think the blueberries, the omegas, and all the green tea I give her help. I also supply her with daily doses of hugs and kisses. And, Aunty does go into the stratosphere of super-happiness when she is around her family! But, most important….she DOES follow the blog Ageless with Aunty. Judging by these pictures and Aunty’s advanced age, I dare say, I think the potent mixture of all of the above is working! She continues to inspire me, and everyone who meets her.

look at that childlike grin on Aunty

For the record, I had to literally pull her out of the place because she would not stop dancing! I was worried  she might not be able to move the next day. I am glad to report....Aunty is alive and kicking! We started our day today listening to Frank Sinatra's You Make Me Feel so Young! And then we danced...

GET UP OFFA THAT THING and PASS THE SALT LAMP?!

If Aunty can be this happy at 87, you have no excuse at 27, 47, or 77, to be anything but blissful!

Aunty glows with the flow….and takes me along. Let her take you along too…

Here she is dancing around the living room to I Got the Feelin’ in a fevered frenzy.

I get giddy when I am able to use words like healthy, rapture, and joy, when writing about Aunty. Here is our Ageless Aunty enjoying a Sunday afternoon like only she can. Keep in mind it’s a few days after her 87th birthday.

We were hanging out and I decided to exercise at the house instead of going to the gym.

As soon as the first note from James Brown’s All Time Greatest Hits CD came on, Aunty "got up offa" her thing, jumped on her "good foot" and joined me. She just let it go.

When I see my great Aunty this happy I have to ask: is that magic Himalayan salt lamp really working (you can see it in the pictures, and I hear these magic lamps have been scientifically proven to increase the negative ion count in the air around you, helping you feel tranquil and relaxed), or is it all the love in the world that I give her, that the world gives her…and she’s just giving back? It’s a beautiful reciprocation. We all win.

Okay, all you Ageless readers…group hug round the salt lamp!

P.S.
I hope someone who knows the late great James Brown is reading this. The Godfather would be delighted to know how much people of all ages still appreciate his music. Some even flip their lid!

PENNIES FROM HEAVEN....

Louis Prima Jr.

If you are looking for something fabulous to do this cold Monday night, if you live in the Boston area, look no further than House of Blues. The son of music legend, Louis Prima, Louis Prima Jr., will be causing a sensation. You know most of his late father’s songs already....And, they belong on this blog because they are absolutely Ageless...

The catchy tune being played at the beginning of the movie ELF, as Will Ferrell makes his way down the streets of New York, is none other than Louis Prima's Pennies From Heaven. Louis Prima's songs have been featured EVERYWHERE, from Disney's, Jungle Book (that was Louis singing the Monkey Song, I Wanna Be Like You), to Gap Commercials, Woody Allen Films, countless other films and television shows, including The Soprano's. He is the original “King of Swing!”

You couldn’t/can't sit down when Louis Prima (father or son) is up on stage. I can not think of anything more fun than dancing to some of the greatest music ever, like Jump Jive An’ Wail, while being this close to a music legend. And, it's all for a good cause.

For more info about the show go to www.hob.com/boston

All you hep cats, it’s going to be a Big Night (and, Mr. Prima’s songs are played in that 1996 film too).

What a tribute….it’s just fantastic that Louis Jr. is keeping his dad’s OUTSTANDING musical legacy vibrantly alive. Check http://www.louisprimajr.com/ for a show in your area.