the centenarians

I just found an amazing article/documentary from the New York Times website under the health category: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/10/19/health/20101018-centenarians-voices-photos.html?ref=health It brought me to photos of 8 elderly people between the ages 98-103. The major thing that captivated me was the photos. Clicking through the photos of each person really pulled me in and made me want to learn about each person. So I listened to each person's recording and I really enjoyed what I heard. Each of them had a different outlook on themselves and toward life. One woman, Travilla Deming, was one of my favorites because she had such a positive attitude toward life and being old. She said she never let the negative parts of life bring her down; she decided she would move past the bad times. She also said she had such a happy marriage and that she and her husband grew together with little money and wore designer clothing from thrift stores. She and her husband were real excited about finding clothing, for less money, that everyone else was wearing. I was so touched listening to her and the other seven people. They had advice on how to stay old--genetics play a big part; eating healthy; taking care of your body; being happy. One man said how he suddenly was beginning to talk to people more and he enjoys it since he grew up as an introvert. Another woman said that she feels she is in the world for no reason because she is so old and cannot do anything for anyone else. I disagree with her on that since God has us here for a reason. I thought, overall, it was just so amazing to take time and listen to people who have lived even through the depression and have seen the times change right before their eyes over such a vast period of time and hear their perspectives on life and what it is like to be old. Only one woman sounded like she was having a hard time speaking. She was 103, but looked much younger. Another woman said she is shocked to find people so surprised when they hear her speak; she said it seems as though they expect her to not have a voice just because she is so old. I thought that was interesting because most of them sounded no different than a 60 or 70 year-old. And they all looked so stylish and ready for the cameras. I'm impressed with people like that. It reminds me of my grandma (80) and step-grandfather (90). They're getting up there, too. This was such a great documentary to see/hear!