She spent a lot of time outside.

We are all here together to celebrate Grandma Lula’s 100th birthday. After a century of life, you know that she has lots of stories to tell. Gayleen described driving around in Grandma Lula’s big car and listening to her tell stories of her long life on the reservation, many of which sound like something from a book or a movie to our relatively young ears. In fact, she is the oldest living tribal member, a treasure in the community.
We each have our own things in common with Grandma; for me it is a love of birds and cats and my middle name. Among my memories is my very first concert - that Grandma took me to for my birthday when I was 13 – Liberace at the Opera House in Spokane. I don’t remember many details, other than sitting way up high in the opera house and looking at the stage where there was a lot of fur, laughter - and a candelabra. I remember how special I felt being on an outing all alone with my Grandma. With so many grandchildren it wasn’t easy to find time for just the two of us. I treasure that day as much as I treasure today.

I remember gifts Grandma gave me through the years, among them a collection of Hank Williams albums. I saw a movie about Hank Williams and told Grandma I liked him, when the truth was I just thought George Hamilton, who portrayed him in the movie, was dreamy at the time. Since then I’ve come to appreciate Hank Williams much more than I do George Hamilton.

100 years, 36,500 days – that is how long Grandma Lula has been living, learning and loving. She has lived through World War I and World War II, The Great Depression, The Korean War, Vietnam, The Gulf War and The War in Iraq. Grandma has seen a lot of changes – everything from televisions and microwave ovens to cell phones and robotics. In Grandma’s lifetime there have been 18 presidents, good times and bad times. Through it all she was home on the reservation being a mother and working on the ranch and even finding time to make quilts for almost every single one of her many, many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Grandma has told many of us that riding horses was one of the greatest joys of her life, something she still dreams about. You know she has done some traveling, with trips to New Zealand and Alaska and many others, but being home – close to friends and family is what Grandma has always loved most.

Whether she was riding her beloved horses, herding cattle, picking huckleberries or just picnicking with family, there isn’t much of the San Poil that hasn’t been touched by Grandma. As much as she’s made an indelible mark in all of our lives, she’s made, and she’s still making lasting impressions on the reservation and on everyone who has the opportunity to spend time with her. I know that my dad Bennie felt so close to Grandma and loved her so very much. She became a mother to him when she herself was still so very young. My Mom, who lost her own mother when she was just 18 years old, thinks of Grandma as a mother as well.
Grandma, in our family you have been the only grandmother we’ve ever known. You have done it well, Grandma, and at the same time you've never let yourself be defined or limited by people’s opinions or society’s definition of a woman. You are a great role model for everyone, and especially young women, in today’s world with all the changes that are taking place. Your loyalty and devotion to family and God is truly inspirational.
I feel so lucky to be able to stand here and speak to you for your 100th birthday Grandma. There is nothing I could possibly say that could appropriately honor you and the life you have lived so far. There is however, one question we would all like to have the answer to – what is your secret?
So, while there is so much more I could say, at this time I’d just like to end with this – Happy Birthday Grandma Lula, we all love and admire you more than we can ever say.