This comes from a friend of mine who helped another friend celebrate her 102nd birthday! I asked her to tell me something about her friend. I think we tend to hear more of decrepitude than elders who are still going strong. I like to collect stories of folks living life well into their elder years. It counteracts what we hear way more of than we should for our own good.

Karin

My friend who is celebrating her 102nd birthday this week, is so inspiring to me. She stays up to date with news and current events and is always interesting to talk to. She knows what’s going on and often has a thoughtful comment to offer. She has friends of all ages. I know that each of her friends feel just as I do…..they visit her because they WANT to, not because they feel obligated. They enjoy talking to her and they enjoy being with her.

One day, when she was 98 years old, I took her to the bank because she had two c.d.’s that were coming due and she wasn’t sure what to do with them. I waited while she went in and talked to the bank officer. A few minutes later she came out of his office and with a little smile on her face, she told me that she had renewed the cd’s for another two years. We both kind of chuckled at her decision, but that was just another example of how she lives each moment of her life, always living in the here and now. I don’t know what she did with the cd’s when they came due again. She would have been 100 that year and I’d be willing to bet that she renewed them for another two years. (and if so, it’s now time to renew them again!) She lives each day with anticipation and appreciation.

About two years ago the apartment building which she had lived in for more than 25 years was being turned into condos and everyone had to leave unless they wanted to buy a unit. She knew she would have to leave, and after much help from several friends she moved from her spacious two bedroom apartment into a much smaller one-bedroom apartment a few blocks away. She could not fit all of her furniture into the one bedroom apartment, but instead of selling the furniture that she couldn’t use, she rented a storage unit and stored the excess furniture.. I saw that as one more example of her living for the moment. She seldom talks about the past unless she has an interesting story to tell you. She’s a real inspiration!

You asked me to include any comments that she might have made at her birthday party about life or birthdays, but she just simply thanked everyone for being there and for their kindness. She seems to take each birthday in stride without ever making a big deal about it . Amazing! Love, J.

Originally posted 2007-02-18 14:00:35.

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