On March 3rd, 2016, my great-grandmother, Mimi Greeley, turned 100 years old. She has lived through two world wars, the Great Depression, 17 United States Presidencies, the Civil Rights Movement, and the turn of the century. During World War II, Mimi served as an Army nurse and was stationed in the South Pacific. Years later, she married Dr. Arthur Greeley, and together they raised three stepchildren, five grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.
Today, Mimi lives in an apartment in New York City with a beautiful view of the East River, and spends time with her family on the weekends and holidays. She takes care of herself and remains just as sharp as ever -- even sharp enough to have a 45-minute conversation with me about modern medicine after Christmas dinner.
There is no doubt, 100 years is a long time. I often find it can be overwhelming to think about. There is so much that lies ahead for a 19-year-old college freshman like myself. So many things I want to do, places I want to see, and experiences I want to have. The infinite possibilities that life provides are so difficult to choose from. Do I focus on my career or focus on raising a family? Do I want to travel the world, be a ski bum or a surf bum, hike the Appalachian Trail? Every kid has their dreams. So what is the key to creating a truly satisfying life? Lucky for me, I now have someone with 100 years of life experience to help answer that question.
During her time as an army nurse, Mimi met a woman named Ruth Brown. Brownie, as she is known among friends, and Mimi have remained friends ever since. In June of this year, Brownie will also be turning 100 years old. Brownie now lives in Arizona, and the two friends talk on the phone nearly every night, as they have done for years. Between the two of them is almost 200 years of life experience, and nearly 80 years of friendship.
Those 75 years couldn’t be more representative of the values by which Mimi chose to live her life. She says that to be a nurse, you have to love people. After 75 years of friendship with Brownie, and 100 years of unconditional affection for her family, it is clear that Mimi truly does love people. Although it may be far-fetched, I’d like to believe that it is that unwavering commitment that has allowed her to live such a long and healthy life.
As far as figuring out the life ahead of me, I have realized that the answer is quite simple. There’s no point in wasting time trying to decide what material things will bring you the most satisfaction. Although she has been alive for 100 years, Mimi never forgets to mention how fast it has gone by.So instead of worrying about where you want to be when you’re 25, 35, 45, or even 95, worry about the people around you. Learn to love your friends, and your family, and if you're lucky, they will be with you no matter how long you live. Happy birthday, Mimi, and here’s to many more. Let’s face it; we all know you have it in you.
