Summer of 1955
If you’ve been reading The Art of Doing Stuff for a while, you’re familiar with Betty. My mom.
Well … Betty’s special day is today. No, she didn’t “become a woman”. She became 75.
75 years ago in a small valley town in Ontario, Canada, Betty was born. And here is a quick rundown of how things have gone since then.
Age 0 – 14
Pretty uneventful. Sock hops, rolling up the rug, discovering really red lipstick … that sort of thing.
Age 15
Betty becomes a bit high spirited and her parents send her to the local nunnery to get straightened out.
Age 15 and a few days
Betty declares she loves the nunnery and proclaims she’s going to become one.
Age 15 and a few days and a few hours
Betty’s parents squeal into the nunnery parking lot and drag Betty back home.
Age 17
Betty decides to start her own dress shop. She runs it out of her bedroom. She is an entrepreneur. As a dressaholic, she makes the poor decision to buy all the sample dresses in her own size.
Age 17 ¼
Betty’s Dress Shop goes out of business.
Age 18
Betty meets a boy. They fall in love, get married, have 3 daughters.
The rest of the stories having to do with Betty involve broken bones, swearing, the odd shotgun incident and a recent Red Bull obsession. She thinks it’s medication. As in, she been overheard saying “Oh! Shoot! I forgot to take my Red Bull“.
Betty, as you may have guessed, is still high spirited. We’re considering sending her to a nunnery.
Dear Betty,
I hope you have and have had a wonderful birthday !!! Best wishes from Sweden
/ nina
Happy Birthday Betty!!!
Wishing the best of birthdays to Betty. Enjoy your day.
Happy Birthday Betty!
Happy Birthday! Have lots of fun!
Dear Betty,
May you have the happiest of birthdays!! You are by far the coolest, funkiest, youngest 75 year old we know!!!
Love Leslie Dave & Matthew!!
Happy Birthday, Betty! Don’t let Karen open your Red Bull by whacking it against a tree. Let her serve your cake in a bird bath. I hear she has three of them.
Karen, you and your mom look so alike. And evidently share the same spirited nature!
Happy Birthday Betty, many happy returns!
Happy Birthday Lovely Betty and thanks for giving us the art of doing stuff!
Happy Birthday Betty!
I want to see more of Betty. Her appearance in the wine/shoe caper was stellar. I love her comments and laughter!
Betty, hope you have the happiest of days!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREAT GRANNY BETTY!!!!!
Love you lots! Declan, Oliver, and Estelle
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETTY! Yum, Red Bull cake, I’m imagining it now, tastes delicious!
Happy birthday, Betty! I hope it’s the best one yet!
my best wishes for your birthday betty:)
Happy Happy Birthday Betty . . . and many more! Cheers to you as I “take” my Red Bull today. Red Bull Cake? I like it!
Happy Birthday Betty, have a wonderful day!!
Happy Birthday, Betty!
All the way from Malaysia – one of Karen’s faithful readers :-)
Happy birthday, you young’n! Lordy, such a looker (and a determined young lady) and btw, love your jacket in the contest selection spin : )
Happy Birthday, Betty!
Happy, Happy Birthday Betty!!
I can imagine all the chaos that might ensue from mass consumption of a cake made with the stuff.
Children, party excitement, ice cream, icing and sugary red bull laced cake = fun for about 15 minutes….maybe.
After that you’ll all talk about for years to come and no one will ever let you provide the refreshments again.
If you’re looking for a way to get out of cooking for family functions it might not be such a bad plan :P
then again..who needs a bunch of grandkids running around hopped up on sugar AND red bull?
They’re not my kids … what do I care. I think it’d be hilarious! Bring on the Red Bull cake! Excellent idea Shannon!
so so cute, you’re a sweety Karen.
Happy birthday Betty!
You should bake her a red bull cake! I bet that would work, seriously Karen. Just an ordinary vanilla cake but remove the milk & add red bull.
Happy Birthday Betty!!! (and now we know that the apple did not fall far from the tree!)
Happy Birthday Betty!! May your day be full of happiness, love, laughter and Red Bull :D