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.
Sheesh, always a little late to the party! So this post must have been before I found you Karen, but I will tell you this: my office moved into one of RED BULL’S former offices here in north Dallas! And did they leave anything behind for us? Cases of Red Bull? Leftover alcohol from all their swanky parties? That gorgeous yellow leather sofa? Those disco ball bulls that hang from the ceiling? Oh hell to the no. They took everything. 🙁
What they did leave behind was the most interesting office any of us has ever worked in: funky ceiling lights, tin ceiling, dark wood floors, weirdly angled walls, gorgeous textured glass conference rooms, and an office that has far too much square footage for the number of people we have in the office daily (less than 5; long story). Needless to say, we will probably be moving/downsizing soon. WAAH. RB in the meantime, moved into even cooler, swankier digs closer to downtown Dallas, which you can see here if you (or Betty!) is interested: http://tinyurl.com/ovmp77t (funny…what they call “traditional” WE call “wackadoodle!”)
p.s. Betty was beautiful (oh, still is!) back in the day and I can see where you got your pretty from! 🙂
Betty….you and I are much too young to be this old!!
Happy belated birthday Betty.
happy belated birthday Betty! i hope your celebrations are ongoing – for a special occasion, i can thoroughly recommend both Red Bull sorbet and Red Bull jelly (that’ll be Jello in N American rather than English English) – with cute little golden bubbles suspended in it.
many happy returns and much love & best wishes xx
(PS which reminds me, didn’t you have a post about freezing wine, Karen? red, white, rose & sparkling all make great grown-up sorbets and i often make mulled wine jelly as an alternative pud at Christmas.)
Happy Birthday Betty!! All the way from JERSEY!!!
Oh My Goodness!! Happy Belated Birthday Miss Betty :)<3 I think that you are awesome <3 🙂
If your fabulous daughter didn't spoil you rotten you just let me know. I'll call her plumber & let him know that it was her & not the cat.
Happy, happy birthday Betty!!
Hope you have a fantastic day and here’s hoping your next 75 years are just as great!
(PS – Betty’s quite a stunner!)
Many happy returns of the day to a woman who has much to be proud of, both in her own right and in the impressive offspring department.
‘Hope your day is filled with all your favorite people and things, Betty!
🙂
happy birth day betty! hope the day was as fantastic as you are…now i know where your daughters get it!so fun karen what a fun birthday tribute to your mom…i enjoyed it immensely thank you
Happy Birthday Betty! Please make more appearances, I love seeing you!!
Happy Birthday much older cousin
Great summary Karen – she needs a full book to do her justice
Happy Birthday! I’ve enjoyed all your special appearances here on Karen’s blog.
Happy birthday, Betty! And many very happy returns.
Happy Birthday Betty! Wow 75! You still look beautiful! You haven’t changed since I was a little girl on the other side of the street and that was a long time ago…30 yrs to be exact.
How sweet! Happy Birthday Betty. I hope you get all the Red Bull you can drink!
Happy birthday, Betty! Hope the next 75 years are even more marvelous than the first!
I’m not supposed to be using the email here at the facility so I’ll be quick. Happy Birthday Betty you old rascal. There coming. Gotta go. Later!
Happy birthday, Betty! I sincerely hope you have a lovely day. :o)
Happy Birthday, Betty! *virtual Red Bull toast*
Graham, NC, USA
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 😛
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 😀