The 100th...

What is the magic of a 100th birthday? Is it just the physical fact of someone reaching this milestone?

No - it goes far beyond and deeper than that. It is the knowledge that a person close to you (in this case, mother) has seen so much in one lifetime that you can't begin to imagine. A life that spanned early radio, early flights, (the Times of London, on her birthday February 1st, 1908, carried ads for properties in which the presence of electric light was a prime selling factor), early cars, two world wars, expansion of telephone networks, jet aircraft, Concorde, moon landings, the introduction of television, the introduction and then explosion of computer technology, the cellphone - well, you fill in the remaining blanks that we have missed.

And, of course, family. Three children, seven grandchildren, and a horde of great-grand children, one of whom is Charlie, for those of you who read the blog (notes-from-inside-my-head), from Sparx.

I am the middle son (well, now the eldest as our older brother died a few years ago). I wonder if my genes are anything like hers, which are similar to the late Queen Mum - the same line of Scottish ancestors going back to Angus Lord of the Isles (do we want to admit to having such a bloodhtirsty sheep-stealer in our background?) Personally, frankly, - yes.

So the weekend celebrations are over, Sparx and I fly our different routes home tomorrow - she to her beloved Frog and Spud in London, England, me to the frigid airs of Alberta. I have just seen cousins that I have not seen for many years, and all because a venerable lady (in the true sense of the word) has reached a humungous milestone. Yes, there were messages from the Queen, the Gov-Gen and the Prime minister, but the real message from the weekend was one of great love and respect.

Mother -(who will probably never read this) - you inspire us all.