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Centenarians have been in the news lately. Just this week a Cleveland woman turned 119. Imagine that. She was born in 1892. Here's a video clip from her birthday celebration.

Through my work, I've noticed common traits shared by men and women living joyful, productive, healthy lives past age 90. First of all, they don't let age tell them what they should or shouldn't be doing. They're cautious, but they're also optimistic. For example, they may use a walker to avoid falling, but if they fall, they're sure they're going to recover.

Other characteristics of our "senior" seniors: having a wide and strong social network, staying mentally and physically active, eating and drinking in moderation, having a "glass is half full" approach to life, and following a religious faith.

A website dedicated to the study of centenarians says that geography and genes also have something to do with it. Apparently, there's a "centenarian belt" that extends from Minnesota up through Nova Scotia, which may be attributed to those hearty Celtic or Scottish genetics. The world's oldest man recently turned 114. And wouldn't you know it? He lives in Minnesota.

Most centenarians also have at least one other long-lived relative, prompting researchers to believe that there's a genetic predisposition to reaching old age.

But for the rest of us who don't have geography or genetics on our side, there's still hope. We can work harder to: manage stress, nourish our friendships and grow new ones, keep learning, stay physically fit, say "no" to cigarettes and excessive alcohol, and develop our spirituality.
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Ever wish you could retreat to the simplicity and comfort of the past? Look no further than a suburban neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois.   
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Here are some great visual images of what the past envisioned for our world today. 

Enjoy!

Clothing of the "Future" — What designers in the 1930s thought we'd be wearing today. This is hysterical.


1967 Future Prediction: The PC — Clip from film 1999 A.D. shows glimpses of the "home computer" as imagined 40-plus years ago.


Disney's 1957 House of the Future — Promotional video put out by Disneyland predicting the homes of today.

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Do you have a veteran in your life?

Every year, I observe the poorly attended Veteran's Day events in my own community, and I think, "Can't we do a better job of showing our
appreciation to these men and women?"

Can't we at least show up?

If nothing else, I think that we all need to take responsibility for
enabling the veterans in our lives to share their stories — if they're
ready and willing.

The Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center "collects,
preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war."

If you're interested in preserving your veteran's story, the
organization's website is a great resource. The site provides all the
information you need to get started, including interview tips and sample questions.

For more ....

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Vermont History Expo
June 26-27
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tunbridge Fairgrounds, Tunbridge, VT
Admission: $10 adults; $5 students (ages 5 and under are free); $20 family pass

You don't need to be a history buff to enjoy the festivities at Tunbridge Fairgrounds later this month. The theme this year is, "Back to the Land, Again! Vermont Heritage Ways for Today." What a wonderful way to celebrate our state's rich heritage. Personally, I can't wait!

Here are some of the events to look forward to:
  • Tons of exhibits from over 150 historical societies, museums, and heritage organizations
  • Hands-on History Demonstrations (Timber Framing and Brick Making)
  • Old-fashioned games and activities for the kids (stilts, hopscotch, beanbags, etc.)
  • Animal Power Demonstrations
  • Live Music
  • Historical Presentations & Reenactments
  • The Little Dig: Hands-on Field Archaeology
  • History-on-PARADE
  • Live Country Auction
  • Heritage & Rare-Breed Animal Presentations
  • A Collection of Vermont Scales
  • And of course, plenty of food!
For more information, visit the Vermont Historical Society website. 

I hope to see you there!
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I've crossed paths with a surprising number of people who just don't believe that their kids and grandkids are all that interested in hearing their life stories. But ironically enough, I've yet to meet someone who isn't curious about an older relative's personal history. It's just that, given the hectic nature of 21st-century living, they haven't found the time or opportunity to start the conversation.

A Matter of Bad Timing
As I often say, it's just a matter of bad timing. When we're young and our parents and grandparents are sharp and eager to share their experiences with us, our lives are extraordinarily busy … with school and friends, followed by work and families of our own. Time just keeps ticking by, and we hardly even notice it.

Until our lives begin to slow down with kids leaving home or careers hitting a nice, comfortable plateau … and then we have a million questions that we'd like to ask. But many of us end up missing our opportunity, as our parents' or grandparents' health fails or memory begins to slip. 

I meet people every day who regret not taking the time to engage their relative in meaningful, exploratory conversation about their lives when the opportunity existed.

How to Make it Happen
Aside from initiating a professional personal-history project, just how do you find the time and space to connect with your loved one in a real way? Here are a few ideas:
  • Make a date. If it's on your calendar (just like your hair appointment or son's soccer game), then you'll probably make it happen. Going out to breakfast or lunch once a month, for example, is a great tradition to start. You'll both look forward to it, and it will give you time to connect outside of the hustle-and-bustle of holidays and special occasions.
  • Break out the photo albums. The next time you visit an older relative, sift through old photo albums together. Images really help to spark long-forgotten memories about life events and special people. You might even consider sitting down with your relative and creating a chronology of old photos, complete with short descriptions that only he/she can provide.
  • Invite them to come along! Sometimes, we just can't fit one more thing into your schedule. So find something on your calendar that could include a guest, and ask your loved one to come along. Even if it's just a drive to the airport or a ballet rehearsal, you'll be amazed at what great conversation can take place when you're simply in one another's company.
  • Pick up the phone and call. There are always times during the day when a quick phone call is possible - when you're making dinner, cleaning the house, or waiting in the doctor's office. These frequent, short conversations will make it easier for your loved one to share when you have a chance to visit in person.
If you're interested in learning more about how to use one-on-one time with relatives to learn about your family history, this article is worth a read.
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I assumed that it was simply due to my line of work --- the fact that I'm always bumping into people who've either just returned from a family-history trip, of sorts, or are planning one. But according to a recent study, this quite literal approach to "returning to our roots" seems to be a nationwide trend.

An article in Science Daily provides a number of interesting reasons why this kind of travel is catching on, from the desire to have an authentic experience in an often inauthentic world to a societal trend away from escapism and toward personal enrichment. 

Whatever the reason, I think it's great. There's no better way to connect with our family history than to walk where our ancestors walked. But it's also a way of better understanding who we are … and where we fit in.

If you have 30 seconds, this engaging article is well worth the read! 
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