Katy Everhart September 24, 1997 Flights of a Parrot Eighty years ago, a little girl who was destined to be very exciting and very active was born. She was also destined to do some amazing things. She is, even now, ceaselessly moving, and ever creating beauty. With each season's change, she migrates to some wonderful, far-off place. Stories of years past are kept in thick volumes behind her eyes and all around her. She is truly a noble and grand grandparent in many ways. Never shall she be stilled or without both work and play. Grandmother has played in amazing places all over the world. On September 16, 1917, she was born in Philadelphia. Since then she has lived in Wilmington and Smyrna in Delaware, and Orlando in Florida. She has traveled to all fifty of the states at least once. They have also been to Europe and northern Africa several times. She surely has many amazing and colorful stories to tell about her travels. My grandmother delights in color as much as or more than traveling. Like a parrot, there isn't ever a scrap of black white or brown on her. Rather than have dull gray hair and a colorless face, she dyes her hair blonde and wears bright makeup. Her carpeting is bright red, and her house is green. She has parrot slippers and parrot wallpaper in some rooms. There are gorgeous flowers all around and in her house. I don't think that there is anything that isn't bright and cheery in her whole house. Grandmother has three dearly loved, cheerful children. Glenn, my dad, is the oldest, Gail and Craig were born after, in that order. They are all extremely intelligent; the boys have Ph. D's and Gail has a Master's Degree, all from famous colleges. When they were younger, she dabbed iodine on wounds, and brought them breakfast in bed when they were sick. She encouraged them when they brought home pet chickens and rabbits, and helped them make transmitters and radios for science projects in Junior High. She took great care of her children. Grandmother can often be found as a bright, chatty parrot righting all wrongs. While watching Julia Childs cook, she vacuums her red carpets, and irons brilliantly colored clothes. She talks on the phone while burning dinner or tidying her jewelry box. She tells stories of days long ago while tending sick or wounded children. She bribes children into ingesting the green vegetable mush that will supposedly give them super-strength with sugary desserts. There is nothing imperfect to be found within her house, including her. Grandmother also takes excellent care of herself. She eats according to the food pyramid, and has a low cholesterol diet. She takes health pills with every meal. She can many times be found exercising. She tries to walk a mile a day and swims in her pool in summer. At this rate, she'll never die. My lively, wonderful grandmother has done much in her life so far. She has washed fruits, vegetables, and children. She has peacefully slept in Florida, France, Africa, and her mother's womb. She has been married to an excellent mechanic and musician for over fifty years. She has filled many a home with beautiful music. She has spent her life thus far enjoying herself. May she live for centuries more!