Savvy Seniors: New friend keeps active after hitting 100
The more I write about seniors in the area, the more active centenarians I find. I don’t think I’ve ever even used that word before. It amazes me that there are so many people who have lived to be 100 or older who still lead active lives in good physical and mental health.
My latest new/old friend is Miriam (Mimi) Eileen Lebold. I found her playing cards with her friends at the Mineral City Senior Center, to which she drives every day for exercise class. The daughter of Lester and Ella Shew was born in Howenstein (rural East Sparta), graduated from Canton South High School and currently lives in Magnolia. She attends Howenstein Christian Church. Her two brothers, sister and husband, John, are deceased, and she has no children, so she spends much of her time with nephews Gary Zollins and Ronald and Sandford Shew.
Mimi worked at Timken for three years after high school, and then at Sparta Ceramic, from which she retired after 36 years. She keeps her own house, but doesn’t cook. “Anything that doesn’t go in the microwave doesn’t get eaten,” she said.
“I believe that staying active keeps you alive,” she said. “I love to come to the Senior Center because the kind of cards we play are challenging. My favorite is Shanghai. It really makes you think. I also work puzzles to keep my brain going. Along with exercise and cards, we take little trips that I enjoy. This is where my best friends are. This is my second home.”
Last week, her nephew Zollins was able to pull off a surprise 100th birthday party for his aunt. “At least 80 people attended,” he said. “She really was surprised.”
I told her that I hope to write another story on her when she turns 105. I won’t be at all surprised if that happens. At whatever age you are now, just imagine making it to 100.
What do you have to do between now and then to get there? Same old story: diet, exercise, good family and good friends. The Mimi’s of the world are great inspirations for the rest of us to hang around a little longer. See you in five years, my new friend.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Savvy Seniors: New friend keeps active after hitting 100
