July 17

Clara Reitsma is my grandfather's sister and the last surviving member of her siblings. She was born in 1911 in Holland and travelled to America when she was 8.

I haven't had the opportunity to get to know Clara extremely well, but always enjoyed visiting with her at family reunions.

Clara is doing well after having experienced 100 years, she's incredible. She does live in a nursing home now, but is able to walk a bit when she chooses. I guess she still reads. Her family says that she received phone calls on her birthday from friends/distant relatives from Holland. She switched from English to Dutch in an instant and carried on her conversation.

When I greeted Clara, it took awhile for her to recognize me. She said that the last time she saw me I was a young/small gal. She was one of 12 children. That would take some effort to keep track of not only their children, but grandchildren as well. I said that it had been a few years, but I had seen her recently at the Tulip Festival in Orange City.

Not too long later, Clara scooted up to me and grabbed my hand. She said, "I remember at the family reunion you said that you were having trouble finding the right fish in the sea. Well, you must've caught a good one." She points to my husband. The summer before I met him I had been at the reunion with a different gentleman. That didn't work out and ended very quickly. I think perhaps though Nick and I were dating the next year, he may not have attended. There was discussion of possible wedding bells. I do remember that conversation, I remember saying that the guy from the previous year wasn't the right one, and that I thought that Nick probably was. :D I was right!!

I'm amazed that Clara remembered that after at least five years, even if neither of us can remember exactly how it went.

It was fun to catch up with distant family that I rarely see. I also got to visit with a few other relatives that I've met with and visited even less frequently. Still, it is amazing the characteristics that many along the Hamersma family line share. I looked at the photos on display and saw a photo of Clara that looked a lot like my aunt, her niece. If you visit with a Hamersma, you are likely to find yourself looking into a pair of baby blue eyes. My grandfather and his sister had the same eyes. So does my uncle, my dad, my brother and myself... plus many distant cousins.

Happy Birthday Clara, may you have many more joyful celebrations.

If you would like to read the article that her local paper wrote for the occasion, you can find it here.