Happy 100th Birthday, Mom!

[Troy]

Speaking of @aka Contrarian and longevity.  This popped in my inbox this morning.  I first met Carolyn at least 20 years ago, she is part of the NYC literati founding a literary magazine and a film festival.  

 

Celebrate Harlem's Newest Centenarian!

Happy 100th Birthday, Mom! Dear Fam,   Today, join my family and I in honoring my mother's 100th birthday celebration! I'm taking pause over the next few days to rejoice my mom's longevity and contributions to her Harlem community.   We have lost so many loved ones during the past few years that it is necessary to take time to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and special milestones (personal and professional) in our lives. NYC's hustle culture rarely allows you to honor important moments in your life or take time to be present in the moment and relax.    We are human and not machines. As a Libra, I am committed to practicing the art of balance and invite you to take time to reflect and shout out "Happy 100th Birthday" to my special mom.    She inspired me to be courageous during the pandemic and return to the foundation she established when I was five years old. Mom was the first vegetarian I know who started a personal protest in buying food filled with "chemicals" and "Yellow Dye Number 9." Her favorite book was "Back to Eden," which favored holistic living and natural foods.   I attribute my mom's longevity not only to what she put in her body but her mental capacity to put faith, love and compassion above everything.    May mom continue to enjoy more years with us! Enclosed is my short poem dedicated to mom that I wrote years ago!   Wishing you a happy holiday weekend and joy!   peace and blessings,   Carolyn Executive Director African Voices Declaration of Independence  (The Day My Mother Went Insane)    the day she went insane my mother declared herself a Sovereign State   She threw away money Washington, Lincoln & Jackson went up in flames she hung a red flag in the living room, declared her home a new nation   The day my mother went insane started 25 years ago She passed a law against Red meat, declared it an illegal contraband in her home    She tossed pork chops, steak and even the leftover fried chicken in the trash   Her insanity she says Is God´s Wisdom    the day my mother went insane she threw away her pressing comb, let her hair lock   she screamed about conspiracies against Black boys and girls, attending schools that don't teach and dying at the hands of cops that kill   the day my mother went insane American doctors held her hostage, tried to make her believe Prozac and talk shows were real    tried to make her believe that killing babies was okay     tried to make her believe their insanity was reality   the day my mother went insane I cried, silently because she was Free   A nation unto her own.     © January 1999, Carolyn A. Butts

[ProfD]

Congrats to Carolyn's mom in reaching the milestone of centenarian.

[Pioneer1]

I have longevity in my family.

My Grandmother lived to be either 100 or near 100.
We don't know exactly because of how poorly records were kept during those times.

I wish I has spent more time with her but she lived down South where our Parents are from and she passed away when I was still a young kid.
 

 

I often wonder what it would be like to live to be a HEALTHY 100 years old.

You don't want to live to be 20, if you're suffering from constant pain and abuse and living in decrepit conditions.
But to live to be 100 having had a wonderful family, plenty of children and grand children, a great sex life, wealthy...and still healthy with a great state of mind.
That would be beautiful.

If that were me....I'd start writing a book or maybe even do an internet show ON my 100th birthday just to celebrate it.