My great Aunt Jean turned 100 years old last week. I asked her 5 questions.
Where were you born?
I was born in Vancouver, Canada in 1914. When I was 8 my family moved to Oshawa. I had 16 dolls and my mother told me there wasn't enough room to take them all so she stood on the corner and gave them to little girls and told them not to tell Jean. To get to Ontario we took the train and then a ship. I shut that whole ship down when I got measles. Quarantined the whole thing (laughs hysterically).
Tell me about your husband.
My husband Jack died half a century ago. He was a navigator in the Lancaster Bomber and went on 45 missions during World War II.
What was the very first movie you went to see and what movie star did you have a crush on?
What?! That was a really long time ago. I have no idea (hysterical laughter). I don't remember who I had a crush on! Charlie Chaplin, I guess. I used to go to the movies all the time. My father owned a menswear store downtown and the theatre was right across the street so I'd go visit him and he'd give me money to go to the movies to watch a show and buy candy. If I wasn't at the movies, for fun I'd talk to all the construction workers around my house and if they weren't around my mother could always find me in the one room school house across the street sitting beside the teacher.
If you could only have 1 beauty product what would it be?
Lipstick and wrinkle cream. I started using wrinkle cream a year or two ago. I just buy whatever's on sale. I don't think those ones on television where they want you to call in right away are any better. Just buy the stuff that's on sale.
What do you want for your birthday?
An iPad. I really want an iPad. If no one gets me one I'll just go to the Apple store at the mall and pick one up. It's only money.
You can say that because you're 100!
(Laughs hysterically.)
Have a good weekend. Make it count.
Lynn
Can anyone else see the resemblance? Like two peas in a pod. I'm amazed that she never remarried...50 years is a long time. Her husband was the love of her life maybe? Any children? Love your Aunt Jean - everybody should have one. I had an Aunt who I adored. Aunt Jean reminds me so much of my grandma - same bling, same sense of humor, same joie de vivre. I miss her.
She deserves an IPAD...hope you have many more.
Tigersmom
I think Aunt Jean is living proof that a good attitude is one of the keys to longevity. That, a good sense of humor and not giving a crap about the opinions of others.
Wow. I'm gonna live to be really old. Good to know there's no rush to run out get wrinkle cream, tho.
Leslie
What a doll!
Melissa in North Carolina
Someone please get Aunt Jean her iPad! Wonderful interview and a great photo!
Tisha
Aunt Jean sounds like an awesome lady!
Ruth
LOL! I would have enjoyed '20 questions with Aunt Jean' even more.... or even 100 (1 for each year of life). She seems to be a positively delightful person. :-)
Now, now, now, Karen... you need to get Aunt Jean an iPad, pronto! You heard her... it's only money. :D
Dan
That's interesting about her husband in the Lancaster. There's only two of them left flying in the world today (17 total in existence out of an original 7000+). One is flying in the UK and one here at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum at the Hamilton airport. My grandfather managed the rebuilding of that one back in the 80s.
Jan In Waterdown
I was going to mention that but you and Jody (above) beat me to it! I love it when the Lanc flies over my house . . . the "music of the Merlins" (engines) is unmistakable! My dad was an RAF pilot who flew a Mosquito in WWII and was stationed for a while at Mt Hope airbase. He left us just 2 weeks ago today at 93. My best, Karen to you and your Aunt Jean . . . she's a treasure.
Karen @ My Little Home and Garden
Your Aunt Jean sounds like a fantastic person! There was a lovely old guy, "Dusty",who lived across the street from me in (Oshawa) who was in Lancasters during WW2. Who knows, perhaps his path once crossed with Aunt Jean's late husband.
-Karen
Karen @ My Little Home and Garden
PS: I really should edit before I hit "post". Sheesh.
Dagmar
I think all the comments have already been said. Aunt Jean in a stunning woman, on the outside and the inside. You are too, Karen. It all makes sense now, your genes are a blessing. Statistics and ages and numbers and scales, and weights and measurements. We spend our whole lives worrying all about these things, when none of that really matters- because even seeing the picture of you and Aunt Jean made me realize a happy outlook can change the world. So be happy, stay happy, and to many happy more.
Karen
Thanks Dagmar. From both of us! ~ karen
Jean
I like that she listed two things for the one beauty product. That's what I want to do -- live long enough to make up my own damn rules! Rock on, Auntie Jean! PS. Love her name ;-)
Jody
Love the questions and especially your aunt's responses. Did she go the Warplane Heritage Museum to see the Lancaster take off for Britain--a day late--2 weeks ago?
Carolyn
Love her!!
Beckie
awesome...I miss all my older folks
did she get her iPad?
Shana
My Grandma will be 102 this month. I'll bet they would have a lot to talk about!
KimS
Love it. I had to google Vancouver to Oshawa--that's an unbelievable amount of distance--especially for way back then (before airplanes). What made her family uproot so far away?
Su
:)
AmyKate
Get Aunt Jean an Ipad for pity sakes!!!! I love her attitude!
Bonnie
I hope she got her iPad, but where can we get an Aunt Jean?
Sally A
I'm so glad we got some more of Aunt Jean! I love her already! So interesting!
Catherine
How lovely!! What a pair of gorgeous women - you both radiate such vitality! Thank you for letting us meet Aunt Jean. I too hope she got her iPad.