At the Chicago gift show, two women entered the booth, asking if they could purchase the wire candle holder without reaching the $300 dollar minimum. Upon telling them that I could not break the policy, they proceeded to ask me if I could make an exception for a 101 year-old woman. My father, overhearing the conversation, turned immediately to greet the two. After introducing herself, the elder then proceeded to shake our hands with a firmness that suggested that she was in her seventies. Nevertheless, when my father asked her what the trick to her longevity was, she responded by saying that we should live an active life. She started by telling us that she still drives. The other day she received a speeding ticket for going 40 mph in a 30. “30 mph is nothing,” she said, somewhat poking fun at conservative drivers. In addition, when the police officer saw her age on her driver’s license, he asked, “are you really this old?” Upon hearing yes, he stopped writing the ticket. He left her by saying that he hopes that he will still be driving when he is that old. Again, she has not stopped living an active life. She had just gotten back from a cruise and she had even flown out to China in the previous year. In the Far East, the Chinese revered her as they referred to her as the “goddess of longevity.” As for food, she recommended that we “eat cashews” in the morning and drink red or white wine with a European cheese. She added with a giggle that a little vodka here and there can’t hurt.   In the end, my father gave the candle holder to her as a gift as we were honored simply by her presence and her attitude towards the world. Talking to her reminded me of how much we take our lives for granted; of how we can make the most out of our experiences by taking on an active role. Not only is she still breathing at 101, but, just as important, she is still living. Andrew Kitira