Day 100 / 96 To Go: Happy Birthday Nova Stickley!!

Posted by: Cris

No...not THAT Nova Stickley...Happy Birthday Original Nova Stickley!

What better way to celebrate reaching the century mark on our march through the days of deployment than to celebrate my Grandma's birthday!

When the Reck family welcomed their little Nova into the world 85 years ago today, I'm sure they had no idea what they were getting!

So wait, you're telling me that back in the 1930's this qualified as a tractor? Pictures don't get any more awesome than this: A farm girl and her dogs.

My crazy grandma has always been better known as half of the even crazier duo that includes her sister Louise.

Nova Stickley - senior picture:

When Grandma went through her mid-life crisis (which for her was probably only once she reached age 70), she briefly tried to make it as a runway model.

Those who know my grandma will tell you that she is the very definition of the work "spunky". Even in her 80's she can cheat at cards with the best of them...and is still so sweet and innocent as to be able to convince you everytime that her cheating was just an honest mistake (but we're not buying it). She makes up sayings and swears they used to be commonly used "back in her day", can manage to fit enough supplies for a 10 day safari across the African savannah into her purse and has never gone ANYWHERE without seeing somebody she knows.

One of her greatest accomplishments has been producing this gang of misfits:

Preparing me for my eventual move to Hawaii. Look how cute that little dude on the bottom left is who looks absolutely nothing like baby Nova (see, I told you she looks like Emilie).

If you look on the internet, it will tell you that there is only 1 person in the United States named Nova Stickley...yeah right! There are 2 in our family ALONE!

Nova²

I truly consider it an honor to have my beautiful little girl named after such an amazing woman. I can't imagine a better namesake for my little Nova. My wife totally fell in love with my grandma from the moment she met her and I think it is a testament to how awesome my grandma is that it was completely Emilie's idea when we found out we were having a girl to name her Nova.

Nova⁴

In our family, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a Nova - Lyndsey Nova, my little Nova, Aunt Donova, Grandma Nova

Above all else, the most amazing thing about my grandma's life has to be her 62 year long love affair with my grandpa.

My grandparents (couple on the right) shared a double wedding with grandma's sister Louise and her groom Herb (couple on the left)

That foursome saw many adventures together including a brief stint where they forgot that they weren't Arabs.

No matter how long they had been married, my grandpa and grandma never realized they were no longer newlyweds.

When my grandpa's health began to decline in his later years, there was no better evidence of her love for him than my grandma's tireless care of his every need.

My grandparents have set the standard of what a happy marriage is all about. I see alot of my grandma's qualities in my wonderful wife (probably why she has always loved her so much) and many have always told me I take after my grandpa so hopefully that gives us a shot at the success that they had over the years.

And as anyone who knows her can tell you, Grandma shows no signs of slowing down. I'm hoping that now that she has reached 85 she'll think about finally retiring because I'm starting to get worried that at this rate, I might retire before the day comes that she decides to stop going to work in her job as a receptionist at the dentist's office...and if that happens, that would just make me seem lame. :)

Happy Birthday Grandma Nova!! You are loved more than you will ever know!!