A THOUGHT FOR NOW - NINETY-SEVEN, NOT OUT - IN CELEBRATION OF AUNT SAL!

So, how long would you like to live for, is a question which many of us have posed to us or which we pose to ourselves.

And the answer, I suspect, when considered carefully, might be something life, 'it depends', which is expected to be followed up with, 'it depends on what'? Usually, it depends on such things as 'if I am in good healthy and fit.' The person being asked might also add, 'and I am happy.'  Good healthy, fitness and happiness are states which us humans place a lot of importance on. 

What makes us happy can either be the same or different things. In other words, it can be more subjective than objective. Good health and fitness are states of being which are more objective and measurable. At their basic level, they can denote the absence of serious illness and reasonably good mobility and motility; soundness of body, if you like.

And so it was that, at the beginning of this month of January 2017, this probably legendary woman, whom her friends call 'Aunt Sal', celebrated her 97th birthday, even though she, I know, did not play cricket, and, I suspect, might have been no fan of that legendary game.  I do not know if Aunt Sal has ever heard of CLR James, and one of his books, Beyond A Boundary', which dealt with cricket, that game which was and probably is still very beloved by many people in and from the West Indies. 

Be that as it may, it is clear that Aunt Sal, if we were to compare the journey of life and living with a game or games of cricket, is batting masterfully.

At the sterling age of 97 years, Aunt Sal's body and stature is quite apparently not what they were in years gone by. She is still able to speak with authority and command the attention of the listener or the person to whom she is speaking. And she still has a long term memory which is more accurate than many people several decades younger than she is. But, it is clear that Aunt Sal's short-term memory is being more resistant to her attempts to recall more recent events.

Like many other people of her generation and ethnicity, Aunt Sal has had to contend with several health conditions which requires her to be particularly careful and diligent about her healthcare and her dietary needs. In order for her to maintain a reasonable state of health, all things considered. And this, she is doing very well.

Physically, Aunt Sal is no longer the impressive resemblance of the physically striking and beautiful woman she once was, with her long hair dark olive features, which betrayed her mixed heritage of African and probably Syrian/Lebanese origins. Her face now no longer display the tautness and and animated expressiveness which it once did. But, inside that head of Aunt Sal's, is all the mischief, mirth, character and personality which those who know her, have come to like, accept or dislike of Aunt Sal.

Aunt Sal's mobility is severely restricted, but, with the determination and high pain threshold of people of her generation, she is still able to get around her apartment under her own locomotion. And, with the aid of her motorised scooter, go for short rides in the inner corridors of her Extracare Village complex.

If asked how she might account for her longevity, Aunt Sal might list a number of things. Starting with her life in her native Jamaica, Aunt Sal might cite the positive effects of having to compete with her 10 siblings when she was growing up in Cascade District in Clarendon, Jamaica. She might also comment on the support which was given to her by the couple whom she spent her apprenticeship with, learning to be a seamstress. 


Still sticking with her native Jamaica, Aunt Sal might have cited the fact that, having to rely mainly on walking to and from many of the places where she had to go, had helped her to develop a strong and healthy body and mind. And, upon arriving in Britain in the mid 1960s, when it was still 'Great Britain', and having to work at two jobs, one during the day and one during the night, come rain, sunshine or now, had helped her to further develop and maintain the strong work ethic and character for which the Britons of her generation are renown.

Yes, Aunt Sal is an immigrant from the 'British Commonwealth' of nations, who, along with her children and grandchildren, have made their fair contribution towards the building and wealth creation of post-war Britain. She and her fellow immigrants, being the highly motivated and ambitious people they were and are, and which has, like many immigrants, led them to leave their countries of origin in their quest for a life or better life, have done their bit.

Of this, as well as the fact of achieving 97 not out, can Aunt Sal be proud.

Happy Birthday, Aunt Sal! You have done your best to date, and, of this you and others should be both thankful and proud.

Keep batting, while you continue to enjoy the game of life, of living.