Centenarian unruffled by birthday in lockdown
MANY New Zealanders will have spent their birthday in lockdown but most will not have reached the milestone Annie Ross, of Gore, has.
The Parata Rest Home resident celebrated her 100th birthday on Saturday.
Mrs Ross (nee Sheehan) was philosophical about celebrating her birthday in lockdown.
“I am just old enough to realise that this is a situation that we cannot alter,” she said.
“You’ve just got to put up with what’s going on. We’re all in the same boat.”
While it was disappointing not to be with family on the day, she talked to them on the telephone.
Her daughter, Julie Crawford, had organised a party for her but it was cancelled.
Mr Ross attributed her long life to her parents.
‘‘I came from a good breed.” She had also been active most of her life.
In 1950, when she was 29, she married farmer Sam Ross. Life on the farm was very busy and enjoyable.
‘‘You help your men. You have quite a bit of work at times.”
In 1979, the couple retired to Gore.
She played bowls in her younger days and was a keen gardener.
Nowadays she preferred to take life a little slower.
‘‘When you’re as old as me you don’t like to be on the go all the time. You like to be able to sit in your armchair and put your feet up.”
Growing old was something that crept up on people, she said.
‘‘You don’t realise how slowly it creeps on and then one day you think ‘My word, I am getting old’.”
Her eyesight was not as good as it was. She could watch television but not read.
‘‘For my age, as my doctor says, I am very good.
‘‘I’ve had a long healthy life and I cannot complain.’’
❛ You don’t realise how slowly it creeps on and then one day you think ‘My word, I am getting old’