By REBECCA SPARROW
Dana Jackson is like millions of other brides-to-be. She’s having a hen’s party. She’s got a big white dress and a maaaaaaassive veil. And her wedding bling will – avert your eyes! avert your eyes! – blind you.
Dana is also 99-years-old. And she’s marrying her boyfriend Bill on her 100th birthday. (Who needs a letter from the Queen when you can marry your sweetheart, right?)
As for Dana’s main squeeze, well Bill is 87 and legally blind.
“When she comes down the aisle, all I can do is imagine it,” he says, “because I won’t be able to see her til she’s just a couple of feet away.”
Pass the tissues and take a look…
Of course, Dana and Bill aren’t alone when it comes to older people proving that age is no excuse for not living your life. (Did I just use a double negative?)
In 2003 Gustava Bennett Burrus fulfilled a life long dream by graduating from high school at the age of 97. Gustava’s education was cut short in the fourth grade when her parents pulled her out of school to support the family. Gustava had longed to go back to school ever since.
In 2012, M.A.C Cosmetics signed up 90-year-old Iris Apfel to be the face of their January collection. It sold out within days. Not surprising really. Afterall, when you’re amazing, you’re amazing regardless of the clicks on the odometer. Similarly, Daphne Selfe is the world’s oldest supermodel - still gracing catwalks at 83.
And then there was eighty-year-old Laverne wanted to do something ‘death defying’ for her birthday and went sky-diving. With almost fatal consequences. Remember this video?
Would you still opt to marry your partner if you met later in life? Who’s the most inspiring older person you know?
Comments
8 Comments so far
May Dana and Bill share many many happy memories together. Did anyone else notice when (I assume) she was looking at herself in the mirror and her face just seemed to say “I look so beautiful!”. I wonder which face she could see – her 99yo self or maybe her 21yo self? Good on them. What a lovely story.
loading...
This is very sweet, and a good reminder that we are never too old to grab life and do what we have always dreamed.
loading...
LOVE this!
Most inspiring older person I know? My gran was legally blind, and was in her 70s when I was born. At the time, my cousin was 16 years old, and my gran was still taking her to rock concerts, and she taught me irish dancing when I was about 5, when she would have been close to 80. These are two examples of many – I have always said that I really hope I’m as much of an awesome old lady as my gran was when I reach that age.
My Dad is not doing too bad either – hes in his 70s now, but will still have running races with my two boys around the back yard (and I mean, 100 meter sprints). And I don’t mean that to say that its unusual for someone in their 70s to play with their grandkids, only that, in his words, he is not exactly a “young” 70 but refuses to let that stop him. Hes determined my kids will see him as indestructable poppy, and not an old man they need to be gentle with.
loading...
Oh, I just love it. And so cute that she told him he looked beautiful. At a spritely 42, I’m hoping I don’t have to wait until I’m 99 to find my sweetheart!
http://bumpyroadtobubba.com/2012/10/10/a-long-long-time-ago/
loading...
Love & adore this post.
I couldn’t agree more with the mentality you are never too old.
These examples are inspiring. Bravo to all those mentioned!
loading...
Love it! Looks like there is hope for me yet!
loading...
Haha that’s bloody gorgeous! I really enjoyed it. It puts a lot of things in perspective
loading...
“I’ma gettin’ married”. I love her accent!
loading...