‘I never dreamed I’d live that long’

can talk about any subject.”

MacDonald - whose parents also played bridge with Harries - has known Harris for most of her life. Every Monday night, Harris drives into Windsor from her East Gore home to participate in the Windsor Duplicate Bridge Club’s weekly gathering at the legion. Usually teaming up with one of her best friends, Isabel Palmeter, the duo settle in for an evening of playing cards. They wrap up at 10:30 p.m.

“If it’s a really stormy night and it’s not fit to go home, I stay with Isabel,” said Harris.

The spry centenarian, the daughter of Elizabeth and Dan Cote, was born in Richmond County, Cape Breton, moved to Halifax as a young woman, and later settled in East Gore. Her late husband Bev, who attended Kings College as a youth, got her involved in bridge.

“When I first got married, my husband went away for almost four years. He was in England for the last of the war. When he came back, he said, ‘ now you have to learn to play bridge’ because he was a very good bridge player,” recalled Harris.

“I said, ‘I’ll learn to play bridge when I’m an old lady,’” but he wouldn’t have it. She said you need to learn the game when you’re younger and the mind is still sharp.

Harris, who has been spotted on the back of a motorcycle as recently as this month, said she’s not sure what the secret to a long life is. But, she suggests that people should “live well, eat well, sleep well and be as happy as they can be.”

When asked what the highlight of her life has been, she said it was her children - Jayne, who lives in Blandford, and Gregory, who recently moved home from Alberta.

“That is very good for me. I’ve been living alone for 28 years. So it’s nice to have my son home.”

Harris turned 100 on July 15. She had an afternoon tea party with about 200 people and later had supper with about 70 family members and close friends.

“I never dreamed I’d live that long,” said Harris, with a chuckle. “I just kept going and didn’t think about it at all.”