Happy 80th birthday!

This past weekend we were in Bob's Pennsylvania hometown, where we celebrated his mom's 80th birthday. We had a really nice party for her Saturday night, and all 6 of the siblings were again in attendance! Twice in one year--a record!

Ann was born to Polish immigrants, and she was towards the end of 13 brothers and sisters. She met Bob's dad, Frank, because their houses' back yards were catty-corner to each other. They were friends all through high school, but Frank went off to war before they were married. When he came back, he had a mysterious injury/metal plate in his head, as well as a drinking problem, but she married him anyways. She birthed 9 children, but only 6 are still living. One was still-born, and the oldest 2 were killed in a car accident while Ann was pregnant with the third one. She never had a driver's license, so she either walked or was at the mercy of someone else to take her places. She and Frank still live in the house they bought right before Bob was born. It is in the middle of a depressed steel mill type town outside of Pittsburgh, and it has 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. That one bathroom is upstairs and doesn't have a shower--only an old fashioned tub. Bob's dad later put one in the middle of their basement, but I don't think Ann ever uses it. She is in remarkably good health--no hip or knee problems, even with all that stair-climbing, and the only thing she takes medicine for is an underactive thyroid! Amazing!

Ann has not had an easy life, and she has sacrificed a lot to keep her family together. She is a real inspiration, and we're hoping she has many more big birthday parties like this one!