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As women, let’s face it, we sometimes dread those later years of our lives in terms of how they might affect us both physically and mentally. Who wants to grow old and decrepit, right?
There seems to be a consistent and growing trend in eating healthier, exercising more, and maintaining a positive attitude. Those are all great indicators that as we glide into the afternoon of our lives that the transition will most likely be seamless and pleasant. However, I often wonder why we seem to stress ourselves out with the age thing. After all, our bodies are not meant to last forever. In observing one interesting lady over the years, I have found that the best way to keep the clock of time from creeping up on you rests in the daily use of laughter and good humor, complemented by a clear presence of mind.
At age 45, I sometimes feel as if I am gearing up for the senior citizen lifestyle. After all, there are some days when my mailbox is holding a “Come Visit Our New Senior Care Facility” invitation with my name in bold letters on the front. I frequently ask myself just how 45 became the new 95, and I cannot figure it all out.
The reason for my confusion rests mainly in one woman, my grandmother. When her next birthday arrives, she will be 105 years of age. One could reasonably assume she is resting comfortably in a secluded nursing home, wheel-chair bound, and staring blankly at a fuzzy television set. Amidst mental confusion, she might ask a nursing attendant if Truman won or if she could give the gal a dime to go get a loaf of bread. However, this 104-year-old woman is here to show how 104 is the new 54!
Since my grandmother, Kora, turned 100 years of age, I have toyed with the idea of writing a book about her incredible life. During my research over the past few years, it has become increasingly evident that she is unlike any other so-called “mature” individual. I would like to highlight how ANYONE can act like a 104-year-old and look forward to an even richer life.
1.) At your 100th birthday party, be sure to come out in a bathrobe in front of everyone and start to do a striptease. Sexily sway your hips back and forth and slowly reveal your stunning 40-year-old bathing suit. Let the act immediately stop there, grab a Margarita, and head for the nearest hot tub.
2.) When you get your photo taken in honor of your 100th birthday, examine the proofs and tell the photographer that you think your face looks too wrinkled. When the photographer assures you that he can airbrush those out for just $100.00 more, tell the photographer to just photograph you from a little further away for free. Thus, the wrinkles are far less visible, and you have saved yourself $100.00!
3.) When you are 102 years of age and on vacation in Colorado, take a spin on a Harley. When someone offers you assistance on getting on the hog, slap his hand and proclaim, “I can do this myself!”
4.) When you catch your 45-year-old granddaughter working on the computer, ask her about those Internet porn sites. Then see how you respond when she says, “Gee, Grandma….looks like I have found your profile here!”
5.) When you are on a Caribbean cruise to celebrate yet ANOTHER birthday, grab your granddaughter’s new husband and take him up to the topless deck. After all, you want to see if anything has changed from that standpoint since the early 1900s!
6.) When it is time to go out to dinner, head to the nearest buffet-style restaurant. Rush immediately to the buffet to see if the food is anything to your liking. Sample a few things here and there by simply reaching into the dishes with your hands. After several samples and several long minutes, decide you would be better served if you headed across the street to McDonald’s, where the coffee is free for seniors!
7.) When the nation elects a new President, get nervous, call your daughter-in-law, and lament relentlessly about how worried you are about your financial future.
8.) Ask your grandkids if you are in their wills!
9.) Gross out the great-grandkids who reach into your purse for a mint and find two baggies side-by-side. Tell them one bag holds your leftovers from that meal at McDonald’s and that the other baggie holds your stool sample for your doctor. The mints will remain in your purse untouched from there on out.
10.) At age 102, experience a phenomenon that would appall most women: start menstruating again. “I have seen this in some women her age,” noted her doctor. To which I reply, “Exactly how many women her age have you seen?” Grandma was just upset as she had to go buy “those dang maxi pads” again.
11.) Decide that, at 104 years of age, you want to pack up and move….start over, as you are getting rather bored in your current location.
These are just a few handy reminders of how to act like a 104-year-old woman. Be sure to check back next year to see how a 105-year-old lady acts!
Add a Comment22 Comments
Hey Ann,
Yes Kora Is An AMAZING Woman! Even Though I Have To Remind Her I'm Damian Judy's Sister Linda's Son! LOL!!! I Often Ask Uncle Blaine For A Blood Transfusion!!! I'm Sure When Anyone Reads This They Must Think " WOW What Wonderful Things This Woman Has Seen ". All The History That She Has Witnessed. She's One Of A Kind!
June 21, 2009 - 2:43pmThis Comment
Comments such as yours truly inspire me to write the book about her life! I have already interviewed Bob Dole for the book, as he has known her since he was quite young!
June 27, 2009 - 7:36pmThis Comment
Wonderful article. Now that 50 is in the rear view mirror, I just hope our daughters can learn to live out loud before they are 50.
June 20, 2009 - 7:23pmThis Comment
I love your article! I'm a friend of Judy H so I sort of know Kora (I've never met her). What an amazing woman.
Betty
June 20, 2009 - 3:40pmThis Comment
This is a great article! I thoroughly enjoyed seeing life from the standpoint of 105 yr old female! Thanks!
June 20, 2009 - 2:23pmThis Comment
It reminds me my grandma. She still rides a bike 6-8 miles a day in age 85:-)
June 20, 2009 - 9:07amThis Comment
Awesome post! Grandma can teach us all a few things. There's a reason she's still with us! :) Great job Anne. Is that book out yet? Can't wait to read more Kora stories. Kudos to both of you! Shawna
June 19, 2009 - 8:01pmThis Comment
I love her,too. I'm a shirttail relative and proud to say so.
June 19, 2009 - 7:47pmThis Comment
I think that society often confuses the words "elderly" or "old" with the words "frail" and "irrelevant." Ann's grandmother may be old, but she's about as far from frail or irrelevant as it gets -- and I imagine she gets plenty of respect!!
But I think once an older person starts to become frail, society starts writing him or her off, as though they no longer matter, they no longer have anything to contribute. And in a culture where that exists, I think it's natural for people to not want to appear to be old. It's almost a math equation:
If O=I and O=G, G is negative.
(As long as old=irrelevant and old=gray, gray will be seen as negative.)
When we see young people adding gray streaks to their hair because it makes them look cool, then we'll know we're getting somewhere!
June 19, 2009 - 9:55amThis Comment
What a great story--it was a joy to read!
I am so curious---where did your grandmother move to?
I am also astonished that "growing old" for women is something to be dreaded and despised. We are all getting older every day, and I am saddened to see "the elderly" not being treated with respect, or sought-out for their stories.
I am in my mid-30s, and am receiving messages every day (magazine, internet, TV, junk mail) that I should make it my life mission to do everything in my power now to stop the aging process---no wrinkles, no gray hair. Why are we accepting that these qualities are ugly in the first place? I hope current and future generations will combat this negative stereotype and embrace beauty--regardless of age!
June 18, 2009 - 12:36pmThis Comment