100 and Counting
Our friend Miss Joy turned 100 last Thursday. Her party was a week ago today. I was out of town visiting one of our children, so I was of two minds: thrilled to be where I was and sorry to miss the party. Ray and Mother were there and the reports about the party were spectacular.
Miss Joy sang, tap danced, and played the keyboard just as she does every year. Here she is with her older son Mike. Does she look 100? I don’t think so!
Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent (the duo I told you about last Monday) were there, too, because Miss Joy and Jamie are good friends. They sang a special song for her.
Other regular performers participated as they do each year, including Ray who did a stand-up comedy routine and Mary Evelyn who wrote a new song for the occasion: “One Hundred Words for Joy Brown.” Ray said the applause for Mary Evelyn’s song was long and that Darrin Vincent, in particular, laughed and laughed at his jokes. Ray was pleased.
When Miss Joy’s son Mike spoke after the entertainment, he mentioned a song from World War I. Miss Joy sang it extemporaneously; and when Jamie Dailey asked her to quote “The Old Ragged Flag,” she did that extemporaneously, too. This morning at church Ray heard someone talk to Miss Joy about the reason he couldn’t be at the party. She told him he could come next year!
On Saturday I asked Bethany and Gregory if I could take Eva out on the town (that is one of the weirdest things about having grown children–asking them if you can do something!). Eva and I went to an art show. We both enjoyed wandering around looking at pottery, turned wood, jewelry, and Christmas ornaments.
At a booth with beautiful turned wood items, this display captured my attention.
It was the framed sign above the pens that I noticed first: “These items were made by 98 99 100 year old Marion B. Dunham.” The original sign was printed with “98,” but it had been corrected by hand twice.
I visited with the couple behind the table and learned more of the story. The man had taught Mr. Dunham to turn wood when Mr. Dunham was 95 years old. Mr. Dunham has purchased some of his own equipment since then and he creates these pens and key chains. He donates the money he earns to young people to enable them to do mission work in foreign countries.
I asked the couple for permission to take some pictures so I could tell you about it. The lady asked me if I would please ask homeschool students to write to Mr. Dunham. I am thrilled to comply. Email me at charlene@notgrass.com and I will tell you how. Let’s encourage this devoted elderly gentleman with many letters, okay? And, while we’re at it, let me know if your children would like to write Miss Joy, too. Thank you!
The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree,
He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Planted in the house of the Lord,
They will flourish in the courts of our God.
They will still yield fruit in old age;
They shall be full of sap and very green,
To declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
Psalm 92:12-15