Celebrating 96 With Mary
Featuring Mary Pahl
December 30, 2012
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Mary’s story as told by one of her friends:
[info]This photo was taken on Mary’s 96th birthday, making her the oldest person yet in Miguelito’s Little Green Car.[/info] [info]Ayla, the youngest ever person in Miguelito’s Little Green Car, was in room with us during Mary’s photo. For Ayla’s photo see http://www.miguelitoslittlegreencar.com/blog/sweet-dreaming-with-baby-ayla/.[/info]Mary Pahl was born in Medicine Hat on December 30, 1916; one of her parent’s nine children. Later she married a gentleman named Jack to became Mary Nittel.
Together they moved to Goldfields, Saskatchewan in 1938 where Jack worked in a gold mine and Mary kept the home and brought two daughters into the world.
They had no car since there were practically no roads there in those days. (I bet she would have loved a little green car in those days!)
They valued their many friendships and their small community. Everyone worked and played together; they supported one another to survive and to thrive. Music and dancing were their mainstays, something that never changed. (I recall the countless times Mary has said to me, about entertaining “If you have good friends, good music and good food, you don’t have to worry about anything else!) As a result of World War II the mine was closed in 1943, so they moved on.
Their family expaned with another daughter and son and Mary and Jack built houses to live in, which they would sell, move on and build again. So I guess that means they always lived “in the house that Jack built.”
Through thick and thin, Mary made sure her family was safe, warm and happy. She worked part time at various endeavours but her family was always her priority. After Jack retired they built with their own two hands — or make that four hands — a cabin-in-the-woods (which Mary always called their Summer Home) at Seymour Arm, British Columbia where they had the best times of their lives. She has told me that many times over that it really was the best times of their lives. Their grandchildren spent full summers with them for the ten years that they lived there.
Although she wouldn’t claim to be so, she is an outstanding listener, as well as a conversationalist. For the past almost 28 years I’ve known her she’s been my sounding board and an unwavering support system.
A few facts about Mary:
- She knows Canadian politics better than me.
- She goes to local political forums to speak her mind. (Though she has slowed down in the last few years, what with the couple of falls that she’s taken.)
- She’s never missed a Calgary Stampede Parade. (Only now she watches it on TV.)
- She’s never missed a Calgary Flames game. (Again, she has to watch on TV these days).
- She has read the Calgary Herald every day for 60 years, maybe longer. Every day.
- And cars. Mary has loved her cars like best friends. I’ve heard all the stories of her Volkswagen Karmann Ghia (died in an accident, God rest its soul), the family Volvo (the camping trips, trips to the lake) and finally her little Toyota. She was denied a driver’s license renewal about three years ago but — I kid you not — she still pays for her Alberta Motor Association subscription every year to this day. She gave her car to me, which was the most touching thing she could ever have done. Mary made me promise not to ever drive it out of town (it doesn’t like long distances) or ever give it to John!! She loves the car and worries that John will drive it into the ground. Which I did. And which he probably will. Please forgive me Mary!
- She has a zest for life like nobody I have ever met. She is an extraordinary person about whom I could say so much more.
Bye for now. (That’s Mary’s closing line which I have heard for almost 28 years.)