How I remember our ages

Gus, Oct. 2009

There is one time during the year that is easy for me to remember the ages of Betsy and Jim. That's when Jim has his birthday on January 31.On that day he "catches up".

For example, I'm 72 right now and Betsy is 71. On January 31st Jim will be 70. For 11 days our ages will be consecutive: 70, 71, 72.

Then on February 11 I'll "move ahead" to 73. On May 11th Betsy will be 72. And Jim will be hanging back there as "the young 'un" until next January 31.

And Clellie? Well, she's out there, ahead of me...

OK, now I want everyone to just forget that my birthday is February 11. No cards, no presents; just forget it (that my birthday is the second Saturday in February this year).

Just totally forget that my birthday is nine days after Groundhog Day. And three days before Valentine's Day. And one day before Lincoln's "real" birthday. It's just 19 days from now. So forget it!

The Dollar

Clellie knows which one...

Way back in 1951 Clellie's Christmas present to me was $1.00. That was when a dollar was worth something. Even in St. Louis.

The next year, when I was 13, I gave it back to her! And wrote on the back the exchange of gifts for 1951 and 1952.

And the next year? She gave it back to me.

And every year - every year - since, the same envelope has gone back and forth. I'd like to say "the same dollar" but one year one of us put in a $2 bill, and then in a later year, one of us took it out and replaced it with a $1 bill and, even later, with a $1 Silver Certificate dollar bill. And that's what is in the envelope now.

Click on the envelope to enlarge it. All the earlier dates are on the back, out of sight, but Clellie and I know there are there.

Thanks, Clellie, for a truly memorable gift! Lots of love to you!