Earth has a new “oldest person” again, and there is now nobody left who was born in the 1800s.
The last human born in the 19th century died April 15 – Emma Morano, who at age 117 was believed to be the world’s oldest person. Morano lived in northern Italy and (incredibly) was born Nov. 29, 1899. Her life spanned three centuries, both World Wars and more than 90 Italian governments.
After Morano’s death, Guinness World Record officials passed the oldest person torch to Violet Mosse-Brown, a resident of Duanvale, Jamaica, who was born March 10, 1900. At 117 years, Mosse-Brown (or “Aunt V” as she’s known to her family and friends) barely missed the 19th century, and was born 67 years before Jamaica became a country. She has four living children, and at age 96, her oldest son is believed to be the world’s oldest living person with a parent also alive.
Wow, just try to comprehend those numbers. Just imagine being 96 and still being able to call your mom on the phone.
Sure, the Bible documents several examples of people living far longer than 117 years, but there’s no arguing that’s dang old by more modern standards.
To list a scant few of the myriad things Aunt V has witness over close to 12 decades, she recalls when the first cars and airplanes came to Jamaica. She’s also the oldest person in the British Commonwealth and last remaining subject of Queen Victoria.
As with all “world’s oldest” people, Miss Mosse-Brown has some interesting comments with regard to nutrition. She says she “eats everything” except pork and chicken, and stays away from rum and “dem tings.” She once told a Jamaican media outlet she likes fish and mutton and sometimes she will enjoy a little cow foot.
I remember a Scottish man who held the “oldest” title for a while who said he ate only oatmeal and potatoes and slugged down a pint of whiskey every day. I’m not sure that means it’s a good idea to live on Frosted Flakes, Chicken McNuggets and Diet Coke, but that’s what the guy said.
Anyway, It’s safe to say that myself and nobody reading this will make it to 117. But what if we did? What we would live to see? Some of it would be cool.
Like maybe a human walking on Mars.
Or maybe a new form of energy that eliminates the junk we have to rely on now.
But alas, a lot of it would be no doubt be pretty ugly and nasty, and I can think of several things we surely wouldn’t see.
Like Biblical principles and common sense returning to the forefront of what drives societal trends and the thought processes of most major decision-makers.
Like peace between Islam and everything and everyone not under Mohammed’s thumb.
Come to think of it, the way things are headed, I’m not sure I want to know about what’s going to happen in the relatively near future, let alone see it.
But whether I do is not up to me, anyway. My days (and yours) are numbered by God, and how long I live will be based on the plan He set in motion long before I (or you) came into being (see Psalm 139:16 and Job 14:5). Lord willing, I’ll die when I die and so will you.
Aunt V said her faith in serving God and believing strongly in the teachings of the Bible helped her in her terrestrial longevity. Actually, that didn’t hurt, but God already had her lengthy life in the books.
How cool is that?
Doug Davison is a writer, photographer and newsroom assistant for the Houston Herald. His columns are posted online at www.houstonherald.com. Email: ddavison@houstonherald.com.