Rita Jeanne Miller, a retired nurse who turned 91 a few weeks ago, lives in her own home in California and maintains a busy life. She is an avid card player, not only with family members, but also at the California Nutrition Center three days a week. Her daughter Jane McGill looks after her.
Miller said, "Jane has taken over the role of mother and I'm now the child. I'm taken care of."
McGill, also retired, is a mother and grandmother in her own right. McGill was a longtime teacher in the California R-I School District. The McGill's reside on a farm outside of the city.
Asked what is her favorite thing on Mother's Day, Miller answer was, "The meals Jane cooks for me." McGill said she fixes a big dinner for the family. Each year, its whatever Miller wants. One year it will be a roast, another year, barbecue ribs.
McGill's answer to the same question about Mother's Day, the answer was, "My kids coming to spend time with us."
Both will be getting their favorite this year, since the family will gather at the McGill home for a big dinner. There will be 15 at the home on Mother's Day. After dinner, there is likely to be a card game, possibly three-handed pinochle. There is also the McGill's in-ground swimming pool. Miller can sit in the sun and enjoy flowers, including a bouquet of pink carnations.
In addition to having her family around on Mother's Day, Jane also is given bedding plants for her flower beds.
Jane and her husband Jim have four sons, Jeremy, Alex, Dallas and Connor. All live close by. Three are married - Jeremy to Liz, Dallas to Kelly, and Alex to Chelsea. Conner, who is not married, brings his girlfriend Bailey Glenn to the events.
Miller has three children, eight grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren. The other two children are Rick, who lives in Warrensburg, and Cliff, who lives in Texas.
Rick has two sons, both of which are in the National Guard. Cliff has two daughters. Rick sends flowers to his mother. Cliff sends chocolate.
Miller spoke briefly about her life, talking about how she had always lived in town, in a house with in-door plumbing, a gas stove and a furnace. After graduating from high school, she went to nurses training for three years. Then married, she and her husband Howard, were away in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years. She said she never knew about when Howard would be home, because of his work with an air squadron. Sometimes, she could go. Sometimes not. He spent some time in Alaska at a place where the family could not go.
They returned to California in 1965. Jane was in the third grade. Miller said things are easier now. They got their first clothes drier in 1967. Since they lived in Texas for a long time, a clothesline in the wind and low humidity took care of drying clothes. They obtained their first microwave oven in 1970 - an Amana which was quite expensive at the time.
They never had a dishwasher. "I was the dishwasher," said McGill.
Miller said her daughter's duties have increased. Now they include cleaning, laundry and providing food. McGill said she just cooks extra, packs it up and takes it over to her mother. Just a few days ago, she took over a couple of batches of lasagna.
Food and a few card games with friends at the nutrition center will carry Miller over to Mother's Day, when there will be more food, family and card games.
story created on Monday 5/4/2015 at 2:25:34 pm by David Wilson