Life with Larry took us to the Schuerr reunion in Fox Lake on Sunday Aug, 29^th. Larry greeted his 90 year old Aunt Esther by kissing and tickling her neck. He has greeted Aunt Esther in this manner over the past 30 years. She smacked him and said, “Stop it, Skip.” Skip was Larry's boyhood nickname. Aunt Esther was always Larry's favorite aunt even if she was instructed by his mother to shave his head in an unfashionable crew cut every summer.

We soon noticed that smiling Aunt Esther was proudly holding hands with her 91 year old boyfriend, Emil. The lovebirds reminded us of high school sweethearts. Yes, Aunt Esther could easily write the recipe for life. Her laughter and teasing personality lightens up any room. She and Emil arrived in an orange, convertible Prowler like Cinderella going to the ball only accompanied by the prince. Emil sports two hearing aids and his sight isn't great, but Aunt Esther is his eyes and ears. In the past, she would ride her bike or walk to her son John's house to greet the day with him over a cup of coffee.

As late as last summer, she road on the back of John's Harley like a true motorcycle mama wearing only a scarf on her head. But now, Emil takes her time and she just calls her son and wishes him a good day.

“I've been jilted by another man,” laughs John while flipping burgers.

On Friday's her son Jim picks Emil and Esther up for a fish dinner. “I sneak peeks from my rear view mirror and catch them smooching. What a role reversal,”Jim said.

Aunt Esther had six children. Her second to the last one, Bobby, lived until 21 years old with cerebral palsy. Normally, a child in his condition would live no longer than seven years. The whole family was trained to help Bobby who had to be hand fed and diaper changed. After his death, Aunt Esther and her husband took in an older gentleman who needed a roof over his head. He stayed with them until his death five years later.

Watching Esther and Emil hold hands at the family reunion brought smiles to all our faces. Her recipe for life is simple. “You're never too old to love and be loved.” Regardless of ailments, the couple may well live to see their 100^th birthday. Now that's an occasion for another

Schuerr reunion.