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Some call it a blessing. Others call it a curse. Thanks to improved knowledge about healthy living, improved sanitation and modern medicine, people are living much longer than their ancestors.
Pioneers crossing the prairies and mountain ranges of this country had many obstacles to simply staying alive. Later as cities and towns blossomed in population, lifespans improved with better living conditions that resulted from educated leaders and improved medical facilities.
There was a time not so many years ago that when someone passed after reached 100 years or more, they received a special obituary column in this newspaper, noting the achieved years of life.
Today, it is not unusual to see people living well into their 90s and past 100 years. That's not to say living longer doesn't come with its challenges. Let's face it. Our bodies and minds depreciate a little each year, much like a new car.
So I decided to do a little research. What I found was not so much a fountain of youth but varied opinions on the secrets of longevity. For the record, women appear to live longer than men.
A 116-year-old woman in Italy, once married, said she believes living a single life kept her happier and healthier. She also ate oatmeal every day and said she kept a positive attitude.
A 117-year-old Japanese woman claimed she enjoyed eating her favorite foods such as noodles, beef stew, rice and sushi. I'm sure that diet has nutrition experts scratching their heads. Where are the fruits and vegetables we are supposed to eat every day?
Thelma Sutcliffe, a Nebraska woman, who celebrated her 114th birthday in 2021, said she did not let worry enter into her daily life. Of course, the fact she and her husband did not have children may have contributed to fewer worries during her life. As parents, we never stop worrying about our offspring.
In North Carolina, a woman lived to 115 years, but it could have been 116 years as birth records were sketchy. Hester Ford and her husband had 12 children, leaving a legacy that included nearly 350 grandchildren, great- and great-great-grandchildren.
Lawrence Brooks of New Orleans, died at age 112 in January. He was the oldest living World War II veteran. As a Black soldier, he said he encountered racism both in the service and in civilian life, but chose to have goodwill toward others. It was that and his faith in God which he attributed to his longevity.
It is mind-boggling to think of all the things these people witnessed and endured during their 100-plus years of life. From wars, pandemics, prejudice, natural disasters, medical cures, astronauts in space, computers -- the list is far and wide as to their lifetimes of experiences.
Maybe there is something to eating oatmeal every day. Enjoy today and live long and prosper.
Heather Ziegler can be reached via email at hziegler@theintelligencer.net.