Happy Birthday to my dear friend Ione!!!! (pronounced Iona) My sisters Theresa and Mary joined me and Ione at bingo last night to celebrate Ione's 95th birthday! We did not win but we had fun and enjoyed spending the time with Ione and giving her a ride home at the end of the evening.

I first met her last year at bingo when she celebrated her 94th birthday at the K of C. They had cupcakes for her and everyone sang Happy Birthday. I bought a 50/50 raffle ticket at intermission and told the man selling it to give it to Ione from me. She came over and said, "Thank you, I don't even know you, that is so nice." I introduced myself and we became good friends. This fall I saw her and she told me she was going to miss going to bingo as her friend that usually brings her was heading to Florida for the winter. I told her I would be happy to give her ride when I can. So every couple of weeks, her "boy" (my age) brings her to bingo and I give her a ride home.

Ione is a sweet lady who worked hard all her life. She worked at a local restaurant for 32 years and also did lots of cleaning, ironing, childcare. She says she never liked tending bar, as she doesn't like drinking. She never smoked either.

She had us laughing and a bit horrified when she told us her "boy" took her ladder away so she wouldn't get hurt cleaning the tops of her cupboards and things. But, she climbs on a chair and stands on her counter instead. She warned us against trying to put a chair on the couch and standing on that. She tried it and assured us, "That doesn't work, I tried it. " She likes to shovel her paths to her birdfeeder and walkways still.

She calls me often to check on me and my dad. If the roads are slippery, she always wants me to call her when I get home. She is a sweetheart and may God bless Ione!!! I was so happy to share her 95th birthday with her and my sisters.

BTW, she won $48 on that 50/50 ticket I bought her last year. I was so happy and everyone in the hall applauded her win too. No wins last night but we sure had fun with Ione! She went home with candy, flowers, cards, money and more from her friends at bingo.