A week ago I discovered, with the help of Virginia Amend from Amend Publishing, that a 102nd birthday party was being held for Emily Cook at Regal Pointe in Middletown. So I got myself invited and was thrilled. Notwithstanding that I frequently write about living to 150 years, but when I found out that a neighbor just down a Jersey road was celebrating such a wondrous occasion and was already 2/3 of the way to my personal goal, I couldn’t wait. As they say it was worth the wait.

Regal Pointe is a rather unique retirement concept where seniors rent apartments on a very affordable monthly basis. Services are provided with meals, housekeeping and social events. The executive director took me on a tour (as a journalist); the remodeled building was a bright, clean upbeat environment. The more I learned about their facility and residents, with many in their mid to upper nineties, and of course Emily at 102, I began to wonder if this unique way of senior living doesn’t somehow translate to longevity.

Now to Emily. She was charming, ebullient, impeccably dressed with a smile that radiated clear across the great room where many of her friends had gathered to sing happy birthday. I noticed her the minute I walked in. After introductions, I asked if we could take some still photos and when Eric, NJ Discover’s cameraman said we needed to move into favorable light, Emily jumped-up and changed seats. As we were about to pose, she asked, “Would you like me to sit on your lap?” Her comment actually sailed over my head for a few moments. When the TV camera rolled, we talked about President Herbert Hoover and the Depression and how hard it was living in those days. She had several factory jobs throughout her life and retired at 62. Shoulders shrugged and her smile lingered; I told her about my goal of living to 150. “I have a lot of fun here. Bingo. My nieces visit. I love knitting. 150? I don’t think so.” Meanwhile she looked thirty years younger. A little button said “Another year younger.” We talked on and discovered commonality; we were both born in Newark. Her nieces arrived. She couldn’t wait to tell them a TV crew was filming her party. I couldn’t wait to ask her if I could come to the 103rd party. So I will. – Calvin Schwartz