Cliff Clemens celebrates his 99th birthday

Cliff Clemens didn’t make it to Sisters on his 99th birthday — but he made it the day before and the day after.

On Saturday, March 5, the long-time Sisters resident and owner of Sisters Eagle Air left Bend Villa Court with friends to “go for a ride.” The ride took him to the Bend Airport where he was flown to Sisters Airport: a total surprise and one he enjoyed immensely.

His birthday, March 6, was spent quietly with a few friends. The day after, he was joined by about 20 friends in Sisters’ Ray’s Food Place to share in early morningcoffee, cake and camaraderie. The single candle on his cake was the subject of debate. The accepted answer was that it represented 100 years minus 1. The addendum was that it could be used again next year to represent 100.

Clemens said, “I’ve found that it’s overwhelming. I never dreamed that I’d get to this place in years. It’s really been a surprise for all the good things that havehappened.”

On his birthday at church, he gave the priest a dollar bill and told her, “There’s a penny left over. That’s the down payment for next year.”