How to Reach 80

We had braved a roaring winter storm, and there we sat, celebrating an 80th birthday ... no, not mine ... a friend's.

You'll have to read the poem to share in her secret of how to achieve that venerable age ... the Big Eight-OH!

At the time I thought it was funny. I remember joining in the laughter as she revealed the "secret" ... a statement so like her. I didn't think it was very useful advice, really. Just funny.

And now that I've crept a bit closer to that mile marker, I'm thinking, well, maybe ...

The poem:

HOW TO REACH 80

We ate Cajun food,

savored the singing,

all the memories

of this tiny lady

celebrating and

being celebrated

for her active life

as mother, fellow

worker, confidante,

for bringing us

sunshine on cloudy

days. And we all

leaned forward

to catch every

word as she stood,

she said, to share

her secret: "Just

keep breathing."

© 2001

(originally published in Capper's)

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Today's word: celebrating