Archive for February 24th, 2014
Centenarian
…a person who lives a hundred years or more. Attending a Birthday celebration for an amazing woman who turned 100 on Saturday, got me to thinking.
Born before the commercial application of the automobile, air travel, and the refrigerator; before computers, supermarkets, shopping malls, telephones and Social Security. That, in itself, is amazing to me. Then the moment arrives. Stepping from the car with little help, to shouts of ‘SURPRISE’, her face lights up and she acts like she didn’t know a thing. (Commenting to her daughter a few days before, she was wondering why she hadn’t received any Birthday cards.).
No cane. no walker, no wheelchair. Our honored Centenarian moves slowly through the gathered celebrants, smiling, acknowledging…savoring. Seven hours later, after stories, food, cake, the sharing of Birthday wishes from President Obama and the First Lady, toasts, tears, laughter and pictures galore, she is still going strong.
Aware that I have a personal relationship with a Centenarian; I wonder how many others experience this rare gift. The party concludes and I am invited over to play games and continue connecting, but I am too tired.
It is a gorgeous evening in Pismo Beach. As I rest from the day’s activities, I reflect on something she said to me, ‘I’ll be around to celebrate your 100th Birthday with you’. Can’t say I would be surprised.