Mrs. Teabody Praises Slightly Older Friends

Maggie: Christmas 2007 with Mr. Teabody

Jeanie: On board Norwegian Sky Freeport 2014

Sally: Just before a trip to London 1990

"You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old."

George Burns

Does Mrs. Teabody need to comment on the WEATHER, Gentle Reader? Was that a resounding NO! Perhaps these past two months have had you thinking about sunnier climes and truth to tell in two weeks' time the Teabodys will be swanning off to sunny Mexico. Mrs Teabody mentions this because it was the simple act of packing a Mexico suitcase that started her thinking about journeys past and recent, about  meticulous planning, about wanting to put one's best foot forward, about learning, about intelligence and wit and about style.

Recently Mr. and Mrs. Teabody took a little cruise in the Bahamas with Mr. Teabody's 97 year-old auntie and as always Mrs. Teabody was reminded of what a joy it is to spend time in the company of women of a certain era. Jeanie has lived independently fifteen minutes from downtown Miami for more than fifty years. She attends church,  sometimes walks to a Subway, a pizza place or the bank a few blocks from her house, mostly drives to the library and for hair appointments and plays bridge with friends. She reads the Miami Hearld front to end, rarely watches television and reads voraciously. As everyone stood unpacking suitcases, Mrs. Teabody could not help noticing the meticulousness of Jeanie's packing. No haphazard casual togs for her. Lovely ensembles with matching jewelry, shoes kept perfect in little sleeves, lingerie pretty and feminine. Jeanie is a beautiful woman  with a smile that can light up a room. Always, always she puts her best foot forward.

Mrs.Teabody's paternal grandparents, Myrtle and Sammy, had a large family, giving her a treasured legacy of five uncles and one aunt. The youngest son, Richard, (Uncke Dick) remained a bachelor for so long the family were fearful he’d never find a wife, and then came the fateful day when the most Eyore-like of uncles found himself the best woman in the world. Sarah Zacharias Barnes. To meet her was to fall in love with her. Everyone did. Mrs. Teabody did when Mrs. Teabody was at the impressionable age of thirteen. To the end of time Mrs. Teabody shall recall the absolute grace with which Sally floated through the door next to the altar--no walk down the aisle for her!-- to meet and exchange wedding vows with Uncle Dick. The wedding reception itself has provided commentary for the past forty years or so. Cloth napkins! Crystal! Champagne! Uncle Dick had married a movie star as far as Mrs. Teabody was concerned. She instantly won a spot slightly above Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn. She was beautiful, sophisticated and, most importantly, REAL. Sally would create a happy world for him for all his days. Mrs. Teabody loved her for that. Living with a Henry for any length of time is not exactly a visit to Disneyland.

Sally served meringues to everyone in Mrs. Teabody's family during their first visit. Meringues! Mrs. Teabody's siblings knew all about lemon meringue pie but these crunchy circles that vanished in one's mouth like cotton candy expanded the food world exponentially! Expanding the world exponentially was what  Sally did best. Visits to her house were unlike visits anywhere else and following discussions of everything from affirmative action to the National Zoo, Aunt Sally would always say, “Won’t the world be a better place when they put us in charge?” Mrs. Teabody always thought it would be.

Mrs. Teabody remembers trips with her to the Air and Space Museum and a whole day  spent in the National Gallery. Mrs. Teabody learned more from her about art in one day than in any art course she ever took. Her words were always informed and intelligent. Her voice was like music. Mrs. Teabody can still hear her voice.

The hottest days of the summer would find Sally wearing a fresh white blouse and a pair of navy slacks looking cool and unruffled. She was a paragon of style; she was the epitome of cool. She looked like what she was: God’s thoroughbred through and through.

Ask anyone in McConnellsburg  and environs to name the five most beautiful nonagenarians they know, and the name that will make everyone's list is Maggie Riggs. Mrs. Teabody had met Maggie  many times when she was in her teens as Mrs. Teabody's neighbor, Laura, worked for her and her family and Maggie sometimes drove Laura home. If you already know Maggie , Gentle Reader, she needs no introduction of course. She is beautiful. She is brilliant. She is witty, and she is always, always put together. Mrs. Teabody vividly recalls the first time she saw Maggie at a social function. She was hosting her annual Christmas Eve party and she wore winter white head to toe. She was the most beautiful woman there. Truly. "Like a million bucks,"as the saying goes.

If you saw Jeanie or Sally or Maggie, you would take notice, Gentle Reader. Each woman makes a point of looking well put together, which in itself speaks volumes of their regard for the world around them. Each woman smiles brilliantly and easily revealing a youthfulness that transcends their years. If you spoke to any one of them, each woman  would make you feel important. Continue in a conversation and each woman would sometime in the first five minutes of meeting make you smile, maybe even laugh out loud. They have stories to tell of a world you never knew, Gentle Reader.

Mrs. Teabody suggests that you find yourself a similar, slightly older friend if you have not done so already. Not only will she make you stand a little taller and relieve some of that back pain, but she will also make you aware that there IS life after forty and plenty of it. She will remind you to comb your hair, to have a care about your clothing because you have young girls looking to you as an example. She will remind you that intelligence is a gift not to be squandered and wit is a gift to hone. Most of all she will value you and remind you that the world is a wonderful place and it is made even more wonderful because you are in it.