Centennial

My great-grandmother's picture appeared in a small section of the daily newspaper yesterday. This is because today she is turning 100 years old! 100! We will be celebrating her birthday with a party tomorrow, and one wonders what do you take as a gift for someone at that age? She is someone who has seen so much in life, and so many changes throughout the decades, that it would be fascinating to sit for hours and hear stories of things that occurred in her lifetime. I asked her once, after sitting at her small dining table drinking peach nestea and eating chocolate-covered ice cream cones, looking through countless photos of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, if I could come back again and look through her older photograph albums with her. "Well, I must tell you, that I don't gladly remember those days, " she replied, "they were so difficult." And that is just one small insight that I have into what her life has consisted of. But you would never really know it by looking at her now, as she smiles a lot, has a keen interest in the to-do's of her family, and remembers little details (like to worry about whether I have enough warm clothing for the winter here!). Beyond the frail soft voice and the meticulously curled snowy hair, I know that there is a woman who has had amazing perseverance and faith, and she is to be celebrated!