In Case you Think You're Old

[Doc Vernon]

JeanneLouise Calment

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1864


JeanneLouise Calment had the longest confirmed human lifespan on record: 122 yearsand 164 days.

It seems that fate strongly approved of the way Madam Calment lived her life.

Jeanne was born in Arles, France, on 21st February 1875.

When the Eiffel Tower was built, she was 14 year old.

It was at this time that she met Vincent van Gogh.

"He was dirty, badly dressed and disagreeable," she recalled in aninterview given in 1988.

When she was 85, she took up fencing, and she was still riding on her bike whenshe reached 100.

When Jeanne was 114, she starred in a film about her life; at 115 she had anoperation on her hip, and at 117 she gave up smoking (having started at the ageof 21 in 1896).

Apparently,she didn't give it up for health reasons, but because she didn't like having toask someone to help her light a cigarette once she was becoming almost blind.

In 1965, Jeanne was 90 years old and had no heirs.

She signed a deal to sell her apartment to a 47-year-old lawyer calledAndré-François Raffray.

He agreed to pay her a monthly sum of 2,500 francs on the condition thathe would inherit her apartment after she died.

However, Raffray not only ended up paying Jeanne for 30 years, but died beforeshe did at the age of 77.

His widow was legally obliged to continue paying Madam Calment until the end ofher days.

Jeanne retained sharp mental faculties.

When she was asked on her 120th birthday what kind of future she expected tohave, she replied: "A very short one."

Quotes and rules of life from Jeanne Calment:

"Being young is a state of mind, it doesn't depend on one's body, I'mactually still a young girl; it's just that I haven't looked so good for thepast 70 years."

"I've only got one wrinkle, and I'm sitting on it."

"All babies are beautiful."

"I've been forgotten by our good lord."

"I'm in love with wine."

"Always keep your smile. That's how I explain my long life."

"If you can't change something, don't worry about it."

"I have a huge desire to live and a big appetite, especially forsweets."

"I never wear mascara; I laugh until I cry too often."

"I see badly, I hear badly, and I feel bad, but everything's fine."

"I think I will die of laughter."

"I have legs of iron, but to tell you the truth, they're starting to rustand buckle a bit."

"I took pleasure when I could. I acted clearly and morally and withoutregret. I'm very lucky."

(At the end of one interview, in response to a journalist who said he hopedthey would meet again the following year):

"Why not? You're not that old; you'll still be here."Born: 21 February 1875, Arles, France
Died: 4 August 1997, Arles, France

Age.JPG

Thanks to our Roger for above

[Keith at Tregenna]

Appreciated.


RIP.

Keith.