I work in a retirement home (I’ve been a geriatric nurse for YEARS) and we have three residents who are 101 years old. Two are pretty well with it, and one lives in a time warp but, if you’re willing to step into that warp, can carry on a great conversation! The oldest I ever had was a lady who died in 1985 at 110 years of age. Never wanted to do any other kind of nursing. I’m 60 myself, and so a comparative youngster! Lovin’ where I am in life and looking forward to what life has in store! And I love "The Besse Ten"

I love it! This morning I started a class called Psychology of Aging. I am a 43 year old nursing student and I LOVE working with, talking with, spending time with the "elder" population. I took a little break from looking over my syllabus and read your blog. Perfect timing! I am going to link your blog post to my online class 🙂

My dad had six older sisters, all fun, witty, white haired and very close knit. The four still living are active and sharp and one of them celebrated her 100th birthday two weeks ago. Family members came in from all over the country for the party and we had a grand time.

The Besse Ten sounds pretty much the way my Aunts have lived their lives, certainly something to strive for!

Fantastic topic, Rebekah! Brought tears to my eyes, actually — I so agree with your soapbox rant! I was raised by my Great-Grandma, who was with us on this planet until she was 104. (My Mom worked, my Dad was ill, and my Grandma was still raising her kids and caring for GG and my OTHER GG, and a great-aunt.) We all lived together in a big Waltons-like house. GG taught me to read at age 3, to embroider, to play winning dominoes — and to love. Also, because she was wheelchair-bound from a broken hip that didn’t heal — she gave me the most awesome rides on her lap, in her wheelchair! She was fast!! When I told her that a man had walked on the moon, as we all watched the television coverage together, she just laughed, and kept saying "My land! Land sakes!" (Which is mountain-talk for Wow, and Oh, my.)

And, at 53, I still have not cut my hair — though my shoes are sometimes sensible. Good thing that college profs/musicians can be a bit out there …

And yes — if I have my health, I’d love to be old! But my 81 year-old Mom would disagree with me about what age is Little Old Lady-dom! She’s still on her own, and going strong.

Thanks so much for this! Sue

Oh how I love the subject of beautiful aging people! I am the fix-it manager for a nonprofit that helps Seniors with minor home repairs, grocery delivery and rides to doctors appointments. Some of our volunteers to these people are seniors themselves in their 90’s. They are all so beautiful and with so many stories to tell. It’s a tragedy they are such a marginalized part of our society.

I love this…and the Besse Ten… I would love to live to be a little old lady! Yellow Polka dots, pink pants, and pearls all the way baby!!! 2 and 4 would been my challenge areas. Oh alright, and one too! A good go to list for sure!
Love,
Deb

My ninety-one year old grandmother’s Sunday school teacher told her (and the rest of the class) about 65 years ago (!) that in order to be a sweet elderly lady, you must first be a sweet young(er) lady. My grandmother took that advice to heart and passes it on as well. She would agree with Besse’s Ten, but because she has fair skin, red hair and freckles, she would omit numbers five and six and replace it with ballroom dancing. She finally turned in her dancing shoes when she hit 85. She also firmly believes in a little bit of high quality ice-cream every evening – just a bit. 🙂 This goes against all of my nutritional understanding, but it certainly has worked for her. I should also mention that she weighs all of 95 pounds and wears jeans, cashmere turtlenecks, and silk scarves.

Your soap box is right on. My husband and I have assured her that, when the time comes, she will be able to do what she desires: home care with a nurse, a nursing home, or our home. Yes, it will be a commitment on our part, but what a blessing to have that time with her. I watched my mother-in-law care for her mother in her year. Yes, it was hard, but it’s what you do – character.

My grandmother and all of my great grandmothers lived to be close, if not into their 90s. Compared to 115yo, this isn’t old. Somehow, none of my grandmothers ever seemed to be a little old lady to me. Their youthful outlook on life may have been the reason. I do think this post has prompted me to get out there and live life more fully so that my own years might be long and rich. I definitely want to be the classy jean-wearing grandmother. I will also do my level best to never admit defeat and succomb to practical shoes. Finally, if there is anyway possible, I would be honored to care for my own parents in my home with love.

i loved this story and all the comments to follow. and must add i couldnt agree more!

Now that I have dried up my eyes – I want to say THANK YOU!!!! these are words that I would have said if I had had them – You are so bang on from beginning to end of your writing. Love Besse’s 10 – going to make a little plaque with them on it to remind me —- God is Love.

what a great story both my mom and dad are in there 80’s and they have seen so much of the history of our time. And yes I would love to be a little old lady and spend days with friends talking about the past and with family just to sit and watch them and love them. wouldn’t it be nice to knew what was really important in our life when we were young and starting out. And Besse’s ten is a something to live by and I too think it will make a great plaque. thank you again for inspiring me

Very nice!

Precious! I enjoyed reading about Besse. I’m posting the Besse 10, they provide great advice for living. As long as I feel good (and look okay), I’d love to live to a ripe old age.

I read the comments and they’re beautiful. Elders truly need to be more respected, valued and protected in the US. Our country and so-called congressional leadership is on the brink and we need wisdom and empathy to get us back to sanity. WHERE ARE THE GRAY PANTHERS WHEN WE NEED THEM ?
For the record, I’m over 60, feel 35 and I’m raring to go. Where are those who feel the same and want to start a movement?

The only high school reunion I attended was my 10 year. Mainly because my friend and I were in charge of making it happen. After that, no one took on the task and our 25 year just recently passed us by without any event. Thankfully I’ve stayed connected to those I care about the most and re-discovered old classmates via Facebook.

Here’s what I’d say to my 18-year old self: Don’t be afraid to take risks. Step out of your comfort zone more often. Appreciate all that life is going to give you. Good, bad or otherwise, it’s all yours. Spend more time with your mother. She won’t be here by the time you turn 42, and you’re going to miss her more than you thought possible.

Yes, I attended the 10th reunion – that one because it happened at the same time as a family reunion so I was in town. It was ok but people were still stuffed shirts – get over yourselves – see what life is really like. I had LIFE come at me early in my years and they were still lala’s. Well I have now become my true self – no one TELLS me what to do in my life – well except the Lord and He actually guides me – always had ones that controlled me and if they hadn’t I would have stayed on the farm and planted – more than seeds of grain – I could have planted my love of life. So my words to my grandchildren is – Love the Lord, be true to the Lord and in turn you will be true to yourself and now matter what comes your way HE will see you through.

i haven’t been to any of my reunions. I was one of those people that faded into the background. The class seemed to be overrun by bullies. Even my friends and next door neighbor didn’t remember me after a semester of college. Today, it’s a different story. i’m a 60 yr old woman who loves life. I have confidence and strength I never thought possible. The world is my oyster. I tell anyone who will listen, including myself, if you can imagine it, you can do it. I just wonder if I would’ve listened when I was 18.

Don’t try so hard to figure out which crowd you belonged with. Be yourself and get to really know more about the people you’re going to school with. Be in the moment and have way more fun with lots of different people not just your "click"

I’ve attended many of my class reunions…helped plan many and edited our school’s alumnae bulletin for six plus years. Discovered that the older we became, the more fun we girls had together. The "clicks" faded with time. Our 51st occurs this September.

I’d tell my daughters to be willing to risk, to go for that brass ring, and not to allow fear of failure to hold them back.

Nope, my tenth went by and I didn’t even regret it. My former boss told me not to both with reunions till the 20th one, because by then everyone’s kind of over trying to impress everyone else with their accomplishments, and they can just be there. I’ll take that to heart and wait 8 more years. 🙂

I attended all of the formal reunions. Now we have started multi-year mini reunions every few months. Its also for those that attended school with us but moved, or for other reasons did not graduate with us.
These are informal and everyone on our facebook high school group keeps up to date and lets others know. We had 125 attend our last get-together in July.
We arrange with a local tavern or restaurant for a pay as you go on a Saturday afternoon and early evening. We give them a rough idea of how many to expect so there is wait staff available. We have classmates fly in for these events.
Some who can’t attend one will show up at the next one.
We are now planning our third one for October.

If I knew then what I know now I would have spent more time doing things with my three boys instead of just watching them make a tent over the dining room table while I was busy cleaning or cooking I wish that I was under the table with them. I was a few times but always had something that had to be done. I would always tell the people I love that I love them and God loves them everyday. I would spend more time with my parents even at 18 I thought they were to old to understand me. I would Not had gotten that perm that looked so go in the magazine. I haven’t been to any class reunions but my best friend since 3rd grade are still best friends and we get together about 4- 6 times a year and talk at least 2-3 times a month. That job I had in High School I would of kept instead of getting married (40 years) right away thinking that being a wife and mother was what I was suppose to do.Now for the next years in my life I hope to make the most of my grandchildren love and respect them and like my mom and dad I can’t understand some of the way they dress. But I am going to find the time to take the time for ME.( I hope).

Sometimes it is better to listen to what others have to say to you at a class reunion.
I had a blast in high school and made the most out of my time there. I was on the fringes of a lot of different groups; the "in" crowd, the eggheads, the choir nerds, but the greatest blessings I received were at our 30th (gulp) reuniion when several people told me that I had made their high school days easier becaqause I had been nice to them. They were the kids who weren’t part of any of the "cool" groups but because I took 2 foreign languah=ges and ap classes they were my classmates. How rewarding to know that people remembered me for simply being nice to them

Rebekah,
I had those tomatoes last year. I did what Brenda’s Mother used to do. I cooked them until their skins cracked and ran them through a hand crank seize. I then put the puree into my red sauce and my stewed tomatoes. They do add some interesting flavor to the mix. Needless to say, I did not grow them this year. You can also go to a shopping center and look for unlocked cars and then throw a bag of the little buggers on the front seats! I used to do this with zuchini.

Hi,
LOVE yellow tomatoes! I grow big ones and little ones. A great way to use the small ones such as the pears and cherry varieties are to dehydrate them, pack them in snack size zip lock bags and store in the refrigerator.If you poke a hole in the skin with a toothpick before you place on the dehydrator, they will dry better or if they are large, you can slice in half. The flavor concentrates as they dry and they make a delicious,chewy snack or add to winter soups or casseroles. I also pack a few jars of the dried tomatoes with lemon basil and top with olive oil and store in the refrigerator for later use. YUM.I make a golden chili sauce using large yellow heirloom tomatoes every year.Try it, you’ll like it!

We have one plant that produces quite a few. We also have a 3 year old that knows where the yellow tomotoes are on teh counter and he will consume them like candy. Wish we had your problem. The other children get mad when they go to snack on one and their younger brother has already got them. Just love to read your blog.

Hey Rebekah,

I always fill up a baggie and send them with my husband to work for a snack. He shares them with the guys….every day 🙂

Cindy Bee

Rebekah, I wonder if you couldn’t pick them while green right before they turn and can them as green tomato relish, they seem like they would be the perfect size for cutting in half for that. Goes great in the winter with fried fish and pinto beans and cornbread.

Regarding yellow tomatoes, aren’t they lower in acid than the red? Recall reading an article about their lower acidic properties and mentioned this to my mother who loves red tomatoes. (She stopped eating red tomatoes or anything with red tomatoes because she could not "digest them".) Interestingly, Mom can eat the yellow variety with no problem. By the way, all of the ideas submitted read so well! I was not able to do my garden dance this year but will definitely reference some of the suggestions when I visit my weekly neighborhood farmer’s market. Thanks!

Absolutely CANNOT get enough of these tomatoes. There is NO SUCH a thing as too many tomatoes. The deer have eaten all my plants so far this year (and I didn’t know deer ate tomato plants?)…I am SO envious that you have an overload! I’m sure there are friends out there freakin’ out wanting tomatoes and you just don’t know it. We take "extras" to church and to club meetings and they are all gone at the end of the meeting.

For excess tomatoes I slice them in half, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with course salt and a dash of pepper or two. Place cut side up on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet for ease of clean up. Roast in a low oven until the tomatoes are super soft. Some browning is okay. After roasting, I run them through my Foley food mill and freeze in quart bags. Use in any recipe requiring a lovely, warm tomato sauce; spaghetti, lasagna, eggplant parmesan, etc. Wish I had the same problem as you. My family loves this as sauce.

So funny 🙂 My yellow tomatoes actually did not do good this year and the red ones won out . But i enjoy the bright colors of the yellow . I keep them in one spot by my fence