You must be right. My MIL turned 100 last May lives with us and is a spinner and weaver, having made some of the most beautiful fabrics around and learned the computer at age 85 and wrote her first book at 87. The stories she tells me every morning over breakfast are amazing, having been born in Berlin and escaping ahead of WW1 in 1914. Sometimes when she speaks of “The War” I’m not sure if it was I or II. Her memories are intact and she’s a good storyteller.
Your MIL sounds delightful. Is her book published? Online? Stories of Berlin?
My SanFran friend who grew up in wartime Berlin just died at 88. She was so much fun to be with…had a stroke on vacation in Berlin —at a beauty shop, a glass of chablis in one hand, a cigarette in the other…indominatably herself and exactly the way she wanted to go.
Off the top of my head, Picasso lived to be 92, Miro was 90, Matisse was a month short of 85. All painted until the end. And enjoyed life immensely.
Your MIL is really a treasure.