I had one of the sweetest neighbors living across from me. She lived with the family who I've known for more than 10 years. I always exchanged pleasantries with them, but it wasn't until about a year ago that I began to see the children's grandmother walking or sitting outside. She would sometimes sit near a tree enjoying the sun and I would often greet her just as I would the rest of her family.
I can't remember exactly how it happened but one day our simple hellos turned into a brief conversation about our day. I must have commented on how lovely the weather was that day; and she told me that she was sitting where the sun shone for that same reason. She also shared with me that she liked walking, even if it was a short way to throw out the trash, because it got her out of the house. She shared with me that she was 96 years old and still felt great! I was amazed at how such a sweet woman managed to live for so long. She would always greet me and everyone else who passed her by. Everyone seemed to greet her with such great joy, and I came to realize that a new neighbor and her child even called her "grandma." It warmed my heart to know that their slight language barrier did not deter them from communicating. "La quiero mucho" she would tell her in her broken Spanish.
Her kind words and cheerful demeanor lit up my day and evening. She once hugged my legs and kissed them as I walked away. I had only spoken her to her a few times, yet she was extremely loving. Her wobbly legs could only carry her a certain distance before she tired, but her energy and cheer never faltered. "My legs are my only health issue, you know? I'm healthy in every other sense." 96 years old and she was healthier than most people I knew. How? Call me crazy but I think that love propelled her. Love helped her seize every day and make the best of it. Love allowed her to spread joy and cheer. There were many times when I would come home from work stressed and with aching legs; but I'd light up when I'd see her sitting there on the stairs basking in the beautiful sun.
I've often wondered how certain people have managed to live for so long. We're often plagued with commercials of deadly diseases, unhealthy foods that cause ill health, and we've all certainly heard of people bringing about an untimely death by carelessness and self inflicting behaviors; yet there are those who manage to surpass certain age limits. How they have avoided such calamities seemingly unscathed is both amazing and awe inspiring. I too hope to live to be that old, to be as sweet and loving as she is. To allow love to continue to propel me forward even in those moments when I lose faith in everything else.
