How Long Will You Wait?

Why am I so fascinated with stories of amazing seniors? Do I fear death or old age? Only my psychologist knows; and if I had one I could finally get some answers... lol! I really think I just love to celebrate that life can continue to be exciting and rewarding, no matter what the calendar says. I am 47 and truly feel that in many ways I am only just coming into the best years of my life. A few days ago I stumbled across this story of a woman publishing her poetry at 99. If that isn't amazing enough, she only started composing at 92. Of course, it doesn't have to be something as lofty as a book (although that would be fun), I am finally learning to crochet (my dearest daughter is instructing me) and am finding a great deal of pleasure in it. I think that the main thing is not to resist taking on something new, lifelong learning is important. 

"Grandma next door" poet a Japan bestseller at 99

A 99-year-old woman writing about love, dreams and hanging onto hope has touched the hearts of Japanese worn out by years of a lagging economy, propelling her self-published poetry book onto bestseller lists. Toyo Shibata's success with her first anthology, titled "Don't be Too Frustrated," is all the more surprising because she only picked up her pen at the age of 92.

"I'm alive to this age thanks to support from my families, friends, care-givers and doctors and am transforming my gratitude into poetry to tell them, 'Thank you. I'm really happy,'" said Shibata, who turns 100 in June, in written answers to questions.

Her collection of 42 poems, which include messages such as "Everyone is equally free to dream" and "Don't try too hard," has been the most popular book on the closely-watched Oricon charts for the last two weeks and was one of the top 10 sellers for 2010, according to Touhan, one of Japan's biggest publishers.

"Although 98, I still fall in love. I do have dreams; one like riding on a cloud," Shibata confesses in one poem with the title of "Secret." You can read the full story here