Happy 115th Birthday Grandma Vera From Jason

Today, the day after Christmas, is my mom's mom's birthday. Grandma Vera. 115 years old.

I had not remembered today was Grandma Vera's birthday til an incoming email from my Favorite Nephew Jason ended with "PS---Happy 115th Grandma Vera".

The email also included the above photo, with the following text explaining the photo...

"I set aside this picture to share with you of my favorite brother with your favorite brother and your look alike father.  Best I can guess is that in the far distance is Kami. No writing occurs on the back of most of my Slotemaker family photos to indicate the occasion, but I surmise it was Christmas in the mid to late 80s. My guess 87-89ish, based on Joe's size. If this was Henry playing cards, he would use those long sleeves to hide Aces."

I draw a blank regarding the "Kami" to which Jason refers. I also do not recognize the interior space where my dad is playing some sort of card game with my Favorite Nephew Joey.

The Henry to which Jason refers is Joey's first born, Henry Francis, who I call Hank Frank.

Some more tidbits from Jason's email...

"Hope all is well in Texas. It has been a very wet fall and the start of winter has been more days of endless chilly rain."

The very wet fall in Washington has been very much in the news. Meanwhile, in Texas, it is pretty much day after day of clear blue skies. With the temperature going into the 80s today. 

And this bit of news....

"I'm set to have your Arizona sister babysit your brother in mid-January for a week. We are all looking forward to that."

The last time Jason sent my brother to Arizona, if I remember correctly, Jake was sick for most of the visit. I believe, currently, I have two sisters in Arizona. Both in the Phoenix metro zone.  One of the sisters is a parttime Arizonan. I suspect it is only the full time Arizonan sister my little brother will be visiting.

And then there is this...

"I have been told that I need to make plans to be in Anaheim in December of 2027. I'm only going if you are."

My little sister, Michele, Theo and Ruby's mama, mentioned this to me, this Christmas of 2027 Disneyland excursion. I have not been to Disneyland since Christmas of 1995. Stayed til closing. It was exhausting. 

And then there is this trip invite....

"I still think I should treat you to a week in paradise though, that being Hawaii, and not Fantasyland. Let me know when you are craving a tropical vacation. I'm planning on heading over in early January with some old folks. You are always welcome to join."

Jason seems to go to Hawaii several times a year. He recently made a hasty return from Hawaii when the Washington flood news seemed so dire. I have not flown anywhere with Jason since flying to Vegas with Jason and Joey, shortly before the move to Texas. I remember shortly before the move to Texas driving Jason up to Canada to ride the Skytrain to Vancouver, then the Seabus to North Vancouver. That was fun. 

One more blurb from Jason's email...

"I better get going to work. New Year's Day will mark the start of my 20th year of owning the Fidalgo Drive-In. How quickly the time flies when you are having fun."

That is hard to believe. 20 years. I've been up in Washington since Jason opened his Anacortes restaurant, but have not been to Anacortes. I did not realize til talking to his grandma, my Favorite Ex-Sister-in-Law, Cindy, a couple weeks ago, during the flood, that Jason's first and only born, Spencer Jack, is now 17, or was it 18?, and currently in college at Central Washington State University, where he is learning to be a airplane pilot.

I first met Spencer Jack back in August of 2008, when he was not quite two years old. And then again in August of 2017, at Birch Bay. I think Spencer was 12 at that point in time.

Time sure does fly fast, and the older one gets the faster it seems to fly....