My mother Irene would be the first to blame good genes for her longevity. After all, her mother, Yvonne, lived to 105, and Yvonne traveled independently until she was about 102, visiting kids, grandkids and greatgrandkids all over Canada and the United States.
I think Irene’s love of life and curiosity about the world may have played some part in helping her reach 99. And those aspects have surely enriched her days.
Here’s a thing she did yesterday: played the piano and sang a lovely lullaby that she often sang to her children.
The song, “Sweet and Low,” began life as an Alfred Lord Tennyson poem later set to music.
Also, she complained to me that her one-pound weights (she’s strength training, you see) are insufficiently challenging. I have been instructed to acquire two-pound weights.
Susan Palmer's Exquisite Now 
7 responses to “Quality of a life”
[…] 10 days of road-trip visit to my mom, lacked sufficient dancing. There were five days of no-dancing at all, which, checking my got-done […]
She’s your mom, so she has to be wonderful
Thank you!
I think she is still having novel thoughts, which is amazing for someone pushing 100
She is thinking novel thoughts! I asked her about this and she gave a surprising answer which I’ll write about in a day or two. Thanks for suggesting it.
Thank you Irene for your inspiration. I have heard that Buddhists believe that a long life is a great good fortune. That you are continuing to embrace each day with curiosity and joy fills me with happiness. Stay well! Love, Dael
Irene says hello and thank you! I showed her a picture (from that photo session from your dance class in the park a few years ago) and she said she could see why I like dancing with you so much.