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Onésime is more than twice my age. He lived things I bearly can imagine by reading history books. When he was 13, his school went on fire. He ran back into the blaze, and came out of this hell pushing the piano to "save his life".
He worked on a farm most of his childhood
He worked digging in a copper mine most of his teen years
He worked handling and breathing lead for a printer for 40 years after that
He raised a family of 13, in these conditions.
At 100 years :
He still can have an interesting conversation
He still can walk
He still can ride a bicycle
He still can drive his car
He still can do accounting for a local farming coop, and getting paid for it.
All this with a smile.
When I asked him his secret, he told me :
If I knew, do you think I would keep it secret?
I am off to bake him his birthday cake.
So, a toast to your grandfather! Perhaps it was the 40 years of lead exposure that did it? ;)
All this with a smile
And that's probably his secret.
I remember meeting my great uncle in 1977. I was four years old, and he was 101 years old. He was a kind man who gave me toffees, and he smiled a lot too. It is amazing to think of the life he had led, compared to mine (they barely overlap - he died that same year).
Wish Uncle Onésime a very happy birthday from the rest of us!
He worked on a farm most of his childhood
He worked digging in a copper mine most of his teen years
He worked handling and breathing lead for a printer for 40 years after that
He raised a family of 13, in these conditions.
I like to read these types of things when I am having a bad day. Makes me realize things aren't so bad even on my worst days.
She made it to 95, until time finally took it's toll. I can only hope I am able to enjoy life when I'm that old.
Macguru - best wishes to your great-uncle. Here's to his accounting pen, may his ink never dry out.
I guess so, hope he was contagious.
EW
I love hearing stories like this one. I bet he has more than a few tales to tell...
My dad is 88, still exercises three times a week. He amazes me and I hope his genes do the trick for me.
Macguru, may your uncle's genes work their magic on you.
Cheers,
Shane
Many happy returns to him, and my wish for many more quality years too!
Thanks Shane. I hope so too. A lot of people in his family reached the 90. Onésinme can still reach for his toes without bending his knees. He could also remember the name of more people than I could. Quite a phenomenom.
>>Hope his birthday was everything he wished for it to be!
Yeah the party was great. He told us it was good to see all these people reunited again.
And you know what? He introduced us to his new girl friend, Emma... many years younger than him... ;)
Welcome to the family Emma!
May I live such a full life (and be able to touch my toes) when I get anywhere near his age! :)
