On October 19, 1996, I interviewed my mother. Here is the
wisdom she conveyed.
"I turned eighty years old on August 26th. I was born in 1916 in Grady, Arkansas.
I was the oldest of seven children. My mother, father and grandmother were
long livers. They lived to be in their 80's and 90's.
When I'm asked, What do I owe my long life to? I say keeping busy. I always
stay busy. I was taught idleness is the devil's workshop. But more than the
trouble idleness can get you into, it robs you of your mind and enjoying life.
Even when I'm not feeling good, I go outside and work in my flowers and
vegetable garden each day. It makes me feel better. It brightens my spirit.
I love to dig in the dirt, under the open sky, and admire my pretty flowers
and see things grow. Keep busy.
If you're worried about yesterday and tomorrow, stop. Live today. Eat right.
Eat plenty of vegetables. I put on a pot of green vegetables everyday and
call someone to share them with. I was raised on a farm. We grew our own
vegetables and ate them everyday. And, I still do.
To the young folks, I'd say be obedient to your parents and stay off drugs.
I also say help anyone you can. You will be blessed and so will they."
