97 and Counting!

My Grandmother turned 97 years old today. I think it’s quite remarkable that not only has she been alive for nearly 100 years, she’s also physically still in excellent health. Although unfortunately she does have dementia, a cognitive impairment. My Grandmother is still able to walk with a walker, and her doctors are always quite impressed with her. I attribute that to her lifetime commitment to taking care of herself by exercising and eating right. Her exercise of choice was swimming, which she began as a young girl. She swam competitively in high school, and continued to swim several times a week until she was 92 years old. She never complained about not wanting to exercise or not having time, she just did it.

She always watched her diet as well, and kept up with the latest in terms of diet and nutritional advice and recommendations. Even though she was never vegan, she introduced nondairy milks into her household back in the 1990s, long before it was mainstream. Because of her, I learned to enjoy nondairy milks many years before I gave up dairy, which made it that much easier for me when I did give up dairy. In fact, I probably learned to enjoy lots of less-traditional, healthier foods because she was always open to trying anything that was healthy, and sometimes that was all there was to eat in her house.

My Grandmother has always been my hero and my inspiration, and I want to be like her when I grow up!

Happy Birthday Grandma!!! And many more!!!

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