On Turning 100 Years Old

“You look wonderful today!” I said to Florence when I first saw her at her 100th birthday party.

“You’d say that no matter what I looked like!” she replied, with a twinkle in her eye. Our good friend and former neighbour was in fine form as a crowd gathered to wish her well on this milestone day.

Yes, this centenarian is full of wit and always has been. When she was 90, I offered her a ride on my motorcycle. “Sure!” she said, without hesitation. After she climbed aboard, she held on tightly as the bike rumbled gently through the neighbourhood . We had travelled just a few blocks when she told me, “That’s enough, take me home now.”

Soon afterward, I asked if I could photograph her on my motorcycle and this began an annual tradition of creating a Christmas card with a picture of Florence doing something quite uncharacteristic for someone her age. Every year she says, “This will be the last one!” but every year she is an eager participant in the process.

Just yesterday, Florence told me, “I think I’m doing pretty well for my age. I like my apartment, I don’t mind living alone and I have friends and family close by.” Florence is living independently in her Langley apartment and, thanks to the help with meals provided by her youthful 82-year-old daughter who lives in the same building, has no plans to change things.

It seems that longevity runs in the family. Her sister, who was at the party, is 95 and her son and daughter, who organized it all, are in their early 80s. They all make getting older look pretty good.

All of us who know Florence share in her thankfulness in reaching this milestone and look forward to many more Christmas cards!

Listening to her son toast her on her 100th

Florence's sister at 95. — Florence’s sister at 95.

The Christmas card photo that started the annual tradition.

For Photographers

Making the annual Christmas cards for Florence is always a fun project. One of the hardest tasks is to figure out the theme for the year. She’s been photographed on roller blades, in a helicopter, hot car and airplane. We’re always open to suggestions!

Once the photo is done, it’s usually a compositing task in photoshop to put it all together. For the last image above, I photographed Florence at her dining room table with this idea in mind. I took along a book for her to hold but it wasn’t big enough. So, at home, I found a bigger one and placed that at the bottom of the image. Then, the Christmas tree lights were added. Finally, the frame and text. When stuck for ideas or know how, I have a photoshop friend who I can call on.

We’re thinking about our Christmas card for 2015 already!

For Photographers

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