’cause we’ve only got 100 years…

Usually when I hear the Five for Fighting song, 100 Years, it never really crosses my mind that people actually live to 100. At my age, I have been to a handful of funerals; some of people who were very young and others very old. No one hit that magic number. Or for that matter even came close.

But last Thursday, my great grandma (Granny as we like to call her) turned 100. I can say it was one of the most exciting events for my family in a long time.  I am so grateful to have four living generations and  a relationship with Granny.

Her party was nothing fancy. A few balloons, place-mats with her face between the zeros in 100, and some absolutely terrible nursing home food (remind me if I am ever put in one of those to hire my own chef…). And who could forget the cake with 100 candles. She definitely needed some help blowing those out.  Relatives that I had only met when I was two years old came. It was so exciting to get to know more of my extended family. I finally think I can make a family tree with more than just 3 generations. But for Granny, it was just another day. Another day to sit and contemplate life and all she had done over the past 100 years.

It blows my mind when I think of all the things that can happen in five years. For that matter 100 years. At her age, she has just about seen it all. In history classes, it takes months to teach 100 years. I can’t even imagine seeing it all first hand. The countless memories I have from the short 20 years I have been on this Earth are a fifth of what I am sure my great grandma has.

When Granny still lived in her own apartment, I used to spend the night at her place. She never set me on her schedule or tried to tell me what time I needed to be somewhere. She enjoyed my company and she couldn’t help but smile as I grew up under her watch. When I woke up every day she would say, “Good morning sunshine, why did you wake so soon? You woke up all the birds and bees and blossoms on your way!” No matter how old I was, she was going to make sure that my morning started off well.

Whenever I would ask Granny if she thought she would live to 100, her answer would always be,”Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, so live for today.” With this motto, she always made each day special whether she was 84, 96 or 99.

Congratulations Granny! You have lived 36,503 days, making each the best it could be. I wish you many, many more!

Here is my first adventure and task to complete before the end of summer: live each day like it were my last. Maybe in a few years my 7,145 days will have as much life as Granny’s. But let me tell you, that is one hell of a goal!