Happy Birthday Special Lady

The reason I joined the Moose Family Center 20 years ago was because a friend needed two women to join so that she could receive her higher honors in the Moose Organization. My intention was to pay my dues and not go into the lodge because along with most people, I just figured it was a bar and all people did there was drink. I didn't drink because if my diabetes so why bother.

Well, needless to say, what happened isn't even close to my original intentions. Like most fraternal organizations, the Moose Family Centers do have social quarters where alcohol is served, but that's just a very small part of the whole Moose program. There are so many other things including dinners, kids activities, parties, sports functions - well something for everyone!

When I joined, someone convinced me to attend a session to learn about the Women of the Moose program (from here on known as WOTM). The session leader was someone special by the name of Charlotte. Her title is Past Grand Regent (in the entire WOTM program, out of all the members, one woman is chosen each year to be Grand Regent. She travels all over the United States and Canada meeting and greeting WOTM members and building up the Moose program. When her year is over, her permanent title is Past Grand Regent). Boy could this woman's enthusiasm for the WOTM convince one to do anything and by the time I left the meeting, I was not only committed to the Moose program but also to doing whatever I could to help my local Chapter build it's membership. I also promised to accept a Chapter higher office. That was in 1990. Charlotte and I just clicked that first day.

By 1998 with this special lady's help, I achieved all the local honors offered a WOTM co-worker by taking the offices necessary to achieve them (I wrote a blog in August about having my Moose College Regalia shortened because of my weight loss). While the rest of us wear black and red Regalia, you can see Charlotte wears the white of a Past Grand Regent. During the 17 years, along with a few other co-workers, I have helped my Chapter become one of the most successful in California. Everything I do is based on the golden rule "do unto others" which Charlotte continues to instill in all of us. If the members are treated with respect, they will want to help this wonderful organization. I have lived this rule for a very long time.

Over the past 17 years, Charlotte and I have maintened an adopted mother/daughter relationship. Her joy of life continues to amaze me each time I see her. She continues to have a memory as sharp as a tack and remembers what happened in a specific Chapter 25, 30 or 40 years ago. When the rest of us are wearing comfortable tennis shoes or clumsy clogs, Charlotte is still wearing heels and dresses most of the time. In short, she is a very classy lady with a great sense of humor, still teaching all of us the lessons of a great life.

Tomorrow is Charlotte's birthday and I want to take this time to let everyone know how much I apprecial all this special woman has taught me about human nature. We will be having lunch, sharing Women of the Moose memories and just enjoying the company.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention her age. Charlotte will be 89 tomorrow. The picture of her was taken this past September. Don't you think she looks pretty darn good???