An Update on Marv and Advice from Centenarians

For those of you who have been reading The River for sometime, know of my 90 year old friend Marv. We met in 2012, he stopped me and asked me a question about an insurance company in our village.  From that point on, we became fast friends.

 

I have done posts about him regarding gardening, he has been my gardening mentor for the last few years. We garden together at the Community Garden.

 

Marv heads south each and every last week of October. He will call us from Texas on the days that it is -20 degrees in Wisconsin.  Tell us how he is enjoying fresh grapefruit on the beach. 

We made these grapefruit for Marv and put them in the freezer for his return to Wisconsin in late March. Snowballs!! Add a little food coloring and you have Wisconsin Grapefruit.

 

This winter Marv will be spending winter here in Wisconsin. He lost his cabin in Texas due to Hurricane Harvey. He plans to head back down to Texas the winter of 2018. Did I tell you Marv is 90! He is full adventure. I honestly think that is the key to long life. 

That brings me to the photo above of the Bear Trax. Marv brought that sweet treat to me after a drive he took.  He told me he plans to explore Wisconsin this winter, when the roads are nice and clean. He will pick a direction and explore.

 He also plans to do some research on his ancestors. 

That brings me to the Advice of Centenarians, this interview was published in a paper that I deliver monthly to my Meals on Wheels folks.

Here are a few tips that I think are right on...

Exercise Your Brain 

play cards, do word puzzles, draw, learn a new skill

(this brings me back to thinking of Marv, he is an avid photographer. He had a camera that required film. He wanted to upgrade to a new camera. He would have to learn so much about the new digital ways of the camera. He was a bit nervous at first when my husband started to teach him about the new camera, but soon he relaxed and started to play with the camera.)

Marv has taken so many amazing photos of wildlife, I always encourage him to enter the photos in a contest.

Have a Positive Attitude

see the glass as half - full

be the change you want to see in the world

Keep working after you retire

 volunteer  

(this also brings me back to Marv, he gardens each and every year. He gives most of his vegetables away to others.)

 I hope I am able to keep on like Marv is when I am 90. He is inspiration to me.