Have you ever sat in church, on a bus or in a theatre and just looked around at people? I particularly look at seniors and wonder what they looked like, when they were kids or in their 20s.

However, my real curiosity is beyond how they look, but I wonder about their story?

Ann Boutwell (87) and I both happen to attend Christ's Church in Federal Way. I'd heard a lot about her and finally had to meet her.

The first thing I noticed was that she had the cutest eyebrows that danced above her bright hazel eyes. But, for the most part, she appeared to be just the average, run-of-the-mill senior citizen. What's that old saying - never judge a book by its cover?

When I asked Ann about her history, I thought she's just tell me a bit about her folks. However, I found that she has a memory a lot sharper than mine. Ann grew up in Yakima on a 40-acre apple orchard and was the youngest of 45 grandkids.

"My great grandmother, Mary Richardson Walker, was the third white woman to cross the Rockies and my grandmother, Abigail Boutwell Karr, was the first white woman born in American Columbia. I'm a seventh generation Washingtonian," she said, with a sense of pride.

I had to ask her where American Columbia was and she explained that it was the original title of Washington State!

She literally got out the books and gave me a mini history lesson (complete with maps) that rivaled anything I remember in public school.

Ann also had an Aunt Elizabeth Chadwick, who worked for a New York advertising agency. It seems Aunt Liz invented Ivory Flakes for Proctor and Gamble, with the suggestion that folks could rinse out their underwear each night.

Gads, you mean they typically waited until the end of the week? ARGH! Aunt Liz became a millionaire and that was a lot o' greenback in the 30s.

Ann's grandfather was Chief Justice Steven Chadwick and her other grandfather was James Anderson Karr, who served in the State Territorial Legislature. So her ability to tell her story, in such delightful detail, became quite clear.

At this point, I was curious just how far back she knew about her family history.

"Well, it goes clear back into the 9th century in Scotland. Farmer Hays, he's a relative, and his two sons were out in the field, when an invading army of Danes attacked. They took off the yolk from their oxen and used those as a weapon and won the day.

"Farmer Hay was knighted as the Earl of Errol and was given as much land as a hunting falcon could fly over, without landing", she said as a matter-of-fact.

I tried to look as if I had a clue as to how much land that would be - a lot, I guess.

She showed me the crest that told the whole story, as well as published books on her grandmother and great grandmother. I must say, I felt a bit common, because the knowledge of my heritage ends with my grandfather, who was a blacksmith in Kooskia, Idaho.

So, now I knew about her heritage, but what about Ann? She grew up in wealthy family with opulent décor, servants and all of the trappings of the wealthy. It was very much like something we might see in the Upstairs Downstairs mini series.

I felt a bit of envy, as I imagined having everything I wanted and someone to pick up after me. Ah, but then she shared the most bizarre bit of her childhood.
She said, "When I was four, my mother had my tonsils removed, because she didn't think it was fair that my older brother had to experience the pain, if I didn't. My mother couldn't get me up the clinic stairs, so my dad had to help. They used ether, back then, and I actually died on the table. You've heard of the long white tunnel with the bright beautiful garden at the end? Well, I saw it and didn't want to come back, but obviously I did!"

Perhaps being raised wealthy also means that your parents can afford bulk surgeries!

I wondered about her teen and young adult years, out in Yakima.

"I loved to ice skate and the ponds would freeze over in the winter. The lumber mill had a wonderful pond. I actually was offered a part in the Ice Capades, when I was 19, but my mother wouldn't let me go, so that was that. When I was 20, I got my pilot's license. I was determined to be the next Amelia Earhart," she smiled and winked, "but I got married instead and raised three boys and a girl.

She also remembers the experimental days of medicine.

"When I was 29, I had my last child, and they used an experimental anesthesia, something to replace ether. From that day on, I had this small patch of hair that grew in stark white." she said as she patted the only white hair on her head of light brown curls.

When she was 54, her husband took off and left, so she pulled herself up by her bootstraps and went back to school and got a nursing degree. She became head nurse at St. Elizabeth's Hospital and was head nurse at every hospital where she worked.

I wondered why she hadn't remarried and she dumbfounded me, again, with, "The Bible says women shouldn't remarry, unless they burn (with passion). I was burned out."

We both laughed! Ann's spirit is like that of her son, who became a military general - she's a little soldier.

Ann's battles were very much like many of ours, but it's not just being in the battle that counts. It's coming out on the other side - still ready to help others fight theirs. Ann is that, in spades!

Des Moines resident Lee Ryan is an actor, creative writer and voice talent. She can be reached in care of hteditor@robinsonnews.com.