Healing Light

Celebrating 91 Years of Resilience

This past week, we celebrated a remarkable milestone: my father’s 91st birthday. A life that has spanned nearly a century, filled with both joy and sorrow, success and loss.

Born during the Great Depression, he was the eldest of four children, all born within a mere four years and four weeks. He grew up in a time of hardship and uncertainty, yet he persevered, in part because he didn’t know anything else. During the war years (the Second World War), going without was the norm. I can remember him telling the story that during his childhood, his first bicycle was really just a pair of handlebars ;). He used humor to get through most of the challenges life presented to him.

He found love, married, and raised three children. For sixty years, he shared his life with his wife; my mother. She passed away in 2020, thankfully it happened just before the pandemic hit and visitation everywhere was halted. She had spent the last two years of her life in a nursing facility due to declining health. My dad and I visited weekly, while the experience was difficult, a favorite memory from that time was the three of us playing cards. We played Old Maid, and my mom was still astute enough to be leery of cheaters. When it was my dad’s turn to pick a card, he would make faces and go from card to card in a funny way. These were moments straight out of my childhood, when my dad was trying to make us laugh. I hadn’t seen that side of him in 50+ years, and five years later it still makes me smile.

As my father’s life unfolded, he faced the challenges of distance, as his children and siblings moved away, leaving behind an empty nest. He endured the heartbreaking loss of his wife and one of his children. I moved back closer to home after seven years away. My son was born here too, so I will stay here for the balance of my father’s life. I have a sister who is out of state and has been for forty-plus years. My brother, who was killed in an accident last year, lived in California with his wife and girls. When my parents both retired, all three children were living out of state. For comparison, I remember when I was very young living almost next door to one uncle and within walking distance to another. These were my dad’s two younger brothers. His sister had moved out of state before I was born. We saw my uncles and their families frequently and I knew all my cousins. My father and I, and my son, are now the only family left in Illinois.

Once a vibrant athlete, a runner, and tennis enthusiast, he now walks with the aid of a walker. My father learned to golf as a young boy, he started by being a caddy. He played throughout most of his life. He learned to snow ski and water ski when I was a child. He would have been in his forties. Being athletic was important to him, but years of working his body has left some parts, like his knees, a bit worn out. Still, his resilience shines through, he just started another round of physical therapy to improve his walking, a testament to the strength of the human spirit.

As we honor this milestone, we celebrate not just his longevity, but the rich tapestry of his life. Not everyone will get to celebrate 91 years. But no matter what your age, in looking back at my dad’s life, it’s easy to see that hope, resilience, and some humor are important traveling companions for your journey.

Who is the oldest person that you have known personally? Share in the comments along with any tips you have for navigating a long life.

Light and Love ❤

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