At 96, Secrets To Good Cheer

CONNECTIONS | by SHERRY STRIPLING

PEOPLE LINE UP TO GET THEIR “DOROTHY FIX” of wisdom and optimism. Catching my friend Dorothy Eaves, 96, in between her travels, I asked this California adventurer, great-grandmother, former school owner and Girl Scout leader to share how she keeps her sunny outlook.

Dorothy:  I take no credit for it. The good fairy gave me an optimistic disposition when I was born.

Sherry: Does knowing you’re optimistic help you face challenges?

D:  I think it’s important that I’m not afraid of change. Life is going to be different and you’re going to have to make choices. We all have things that you wring your hands and say, “Please, take this burden away, it’s more than I can cope with.” But you can cope and then somehow it goes away.

S:  You always say nice things about people. Is that a choice?

D:  I like people. I like people who are different. I want to know about them. If I see someone new, I introduce myself. If they don’t like me, well, I’ll go find somebody else.

S:  You read recently about five commonalities of people over 85 who live well. What are they?

D: They all drank coffee — I liked that one. None smoked. They were within some sort of normal weight but they could be pretty chubby, fortunately. They liked people and they belonged to a community. Wherever I’ve gone, I found community. It’s important not to be isolated.

S: Your Episcopalian church friends took you to a biker bar for your 95^th and 96^th birthdays. Could martinis be the secret?

D: Occasional martinis; coffee and wine every day. Obviously, that isn’t going to shorten my life.

S: Next big trip?

D: Mexico in October. There are many more adventures out there and I want to go.