There is no doubt birthday celebrations have been looking very different lately.

Whether it's friends and family driving by and waving to the birthday boy or girl, or dropping off gifts on front porches, it’s all being done from a distance.

For Airdrie’s Thelma Dorin it will be very different indeed. The long time teacher is celebrating her 99th birthday this year.

Thelma grew up in Holden Alberta. As a young girl, she would ride her horse to school where she developed a passion for education. Her son Craig said her love for education led to a long career as a teacher.

“She’s taught in a lot of different places, she taught at the Innisfail elementary school where she taught grade six for many many years,” “She loved teaching, and she loved kids growing up and she’s kept in touch with the students that she’s taught for her entire life.”

“I’ve always been amazed at her ability to remember people, and remember events and details about people.”

This will be the first birthday the mother, grandmother and great-grandmother will not be surrounded by members of her family. Thelma lives at Cedarwood Station and due to provincial restrictions, no one is allowed to visit over concerns with COVID-19.

“The fact that we can’t do in-person celebrations this year is really disappointing for everybody,” said Craig. “But, on the other hand, Mom’s being a real trooper about it and she’s not complaining, she’s doing what needs to be done and she understands what’s at stake here.”

Instead, the family will visit through the glass door of the building and they are having some flowers and sweets delivered. The assisted living home will be providing her with a cake and some birthday wishes of their own as well. Plus, Craig said luckily, his mom is pretty tech-savvy.

“She’s got an iPad and she just lives on that. She’s constantly Facetiming, so all of my siblings and her grandchildren and her friends will all be calling her on Facetime tomorrow to have some chats,” Craig explained.

The Dorin family is hoping they will be able to all get together again to celebrate Thelma’s centennial year in 2021.

 

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