Darlings,

Last month my mother celebrated her 93rd birthday. My sisters and I had a card shower for her, hoping that she would get 93 cards. At the end of the day, we counted — she received exactly 93!

When I look at my mother, I see a cute, little, white-haired lady whose body is failing her fast but whose mind is still very much intact. Is that a good thing or a bad thing, I wonder? Would I rather lose my mind first so that I wouldn't know how poorly my body is doing later? What if I don't want to be 93 no matter what, and I end up there anyway, with or without my approval?

These questions about life that were precipitated by Mother's birthday led me on a quest for today's topic. Real estate, as well as the whole economy, is a dreary subject right now. So let's explore the world of the nonogenerians and centenarians. I know several.

Norma Hannaford will be 105 on the 10th of this month. She's lived in the same house for 70 years, and she writes a weekly column called "Random Thoughts" for her local newspaper. She writes it out longhand and either mails it or has her 78-year-old son and next-door neighbor deliver it personally. (She quit driving years ago and says that's the thing she regets the most - maybe the only thing.)

Her physical mobility is hampered only by the use of a cane. Her mental agility seems hampered by nothing. Her favorite late-night TV host is Charlie Rose; her favorite reading category is biography (Emily Post: Daughter of the Gilded Age, Mistress of American Manners is her current read); and one of her top favorite luxuries in her lifetime? "Running water... I'd hate to live without it." (Cupcakes, what will someone else's favorite be 100 years from now - texting? Hate to live without it??)

Her favorite years? "I think I'd say my 60s and 70s. I traveled extensively back then. My friends and I went to Hawaii, China, Europe... we had a great time." On being 105, she said, laughing, "To tell you the truth, I don't recommend it. It's too long. You miss your old friends, and they're all gone."

Emil Harbeck is 99. He became a fulltime RV-er in his early 60s, spending his summers in Oregon or Washington and his winters in Arizona until a couple of years ago when he decided to make Wickenburg, Ariz., his year-round residence. I first met Emil about eight years ago in Wayside, a nowhere place in the Arizona desert in the southwest quadrant of the state. At that time, he was bicycling to Wendon and back a couple of times a week to get his mail, a 50-mile roundtrip. Every day, without fail, he drank his "Pep-Up," a concoction of wheat germ, lecithin, and brewer's yeast. (Remember Adelle Davis, anyone?)

Two years ago, at age 97, Emil was riding his 4-wheeler through the canyons and washes near Wayside when he took a wrong turn, lost his way, and was wandering around in the desert for a few days until a search party found him. Today, although nearly blind from macular degeneration, Emil still stays current on world events. He feels kind of bad that people (including me) didn't listen to him eight years ago when he predicted today's economic crisis. On solutions to our economy, he says, "To fix things, we need to start at the bottom. We're starting at the wrong end." How does he feel about the war in Iraq and Afghanistan? "We don't have to go all over the world to pick a fight. Let them come to us." Well, Kiddos, I don't know about that last part. I should've asked for more clarification.

Mary Louise Graw is 94. Originally from Lubbock, Texas, she and her husband owned a second home in Santa Fe for many years. When he died about 20 years ago, Mary Louise moved here permanently. She maintains a schedule that would tire many 40-year-olds. An early riser, she faithfully exercises for 30-40 minutes each morning, including leg lifts, stretches, yoga moves, and riding a stationary bike. She still drives her car, which is good because she has so many responsibilities in a day. She is president of the Guild for Holy Faith Church. She volunteers weekly at the Children's Museum. She is chairman of the Wheelwright Museum Book Club and belongs to another book club, so she's busy reading on average one book a week. Her preference, like Norma's, is a good biography. Her current favorite is Three Cups of Tea.

There is a healthy rhythm to the routines of her life. One routine I especially admire is that of her sitting down each evening to watch the nightly news and enjoying an old-fashioned cocktail (Glenlivet and water) with cheese and crackers. After this very civilized newshour/cocktail hour, she prepares a delicious homecooked meal. The menu during our last conversation was a porkchop, baked potato, salad greens, fresh asparagus, and one blueberry tart.

Other than the nightly news, Mary Louise rarely watches TV - she doesn't have time. Her philosophy is, "I'd rather wear out than rust out."

Interestingly, all three of these individuals named FDR and Harry Truman as their favorite presidents.

There are more people whose lives I'd love to share with you, Crumbcakes, but as usual I'm at the end of my allowable word count. Which means that's that.

So long, Sweetpeas. Until next time... Oakley

(Editor's note: Oaley Talbott moonlights as Realtor Merrily Pierson.)