Being 100
Maude Rankin, a member of Ballyblack congregation, with her new minister, Rev Simon Henning and myself
It has been a great privilege to visit a number of women recently who have all reached their 100th birthday. What has amazed me is how well they all are keeping, how alert they are to everything around them, and what fun there has been at their birthday celebration.
I arrived to visit Maud Nicholl at Woodgreen, near Kells. A woman met me at the door and ushered me in, and only when I walked into an empty living room did I realise that the person who greeted me was Maud herself. She did not look like a 100 year old.
Maud Nicholl, member of Wellington congregation, Ballymena
Some younger people might say, “Oh, I wouldn’t like to live to be 100.” Maybe it’s time to revise some of our categories. If 80 is the new 60, then 100 could be the new 80! Using that scale, I’m not even 40 yet!