Posts
Yesterday was my Aunt Hilda’s hundredth birthday.
I asked if she’d gotten a phone call from President Obama—not that I really expected it, since a lot more people seem to be living to a hundred these days than ever before. “No, but he sent me a very nice letter,” she said, “well written.” Among my aunt’s many talents are editorial skills. She also has political opinions. Luckily, her milestone birthday came during an administration that she didn’t mind getting a letter from. “I also got a letter from André Agassi, the tennis star,” she said. “I don’t know who spilled the beans to him that I still play tennis, but someone must have.”
On her last birthday, or maybe it was the one before, when I asked Aunt Hilda the secret of doing well at an advanced age, she said, “Resilience!” I thought it was an astute comment and have repeated it many times. So yesterday, I asked her if she had any words of wisdom for all the people who consider her an inspiration. “I’m wondering why I don’t know more than I know,” she said. I thought that was kind of a Zen response, indicative of humility in the spiritual sense, intellectual curiosity, and openness to learning, though she would have laughed dismissively if I had said so.
While she has less energy than she used to, she’s in good health, and she certainly has all her marbles. “You have the genes,” she said. “You’ll get there too.” “If the planet doesn’t fall apart before then,” I said, and we talked for a while about what a terrible world it is. “We had such high hopes,” she said. I didn’t know if she was talking about the last Presidential election or the 20th century. “People are no damn good,” she said. But she laughed when she said it.
8 comments:
I think it's beautiful that at her youthful age, she is out and about and having fun.
Happy Birthday to Aunt Hilda.
What an amazing and lovely woman! May we all age as well.
Resilience. Yes. Yes.
Wonderful. My mother is still playing tennis, too, a few months shy of her 88th birthday! Hope I've got her genes.
My mother (Hilda's older sister) was still swimming in the ocean at 90 and in the bay or a pool at 95 (with a little help getting in and out). And their mother, my grandmother, whom I adored, was a swimmer, if not a tennis player. In fact, my parents got new tennis rackets when they were 76 and 80 respectively. My mom hated to tell her age, but I think the older they are, the more inspiring they are to the rest of us. :)
What a wonderful woman. Good strong women in your family! It is so inspiring.
Love your post. Your aunt sounds like a delightful woman with a great attitude. Thank you for sharing.
Liz, this is just wonderful!! I hope you'll do a handout and bring copies of it and picture when you perform at the Y!!! BTW, send the boss there a copy of this now as part of your proposal!!!!!! I hope we'll hear more about Hilda - what a DAME!!! Thelma Straw
Post a Comment