Centenarians deliver wit, wisdom

SANDPOINT — Consider the changes that have taken place over the past century.  Now imagine having lived through that defining period in the world’s history. 

This past week at Life Care Center of Sandpoint, two 100-year-olds were gracious enough to grant an audience to a pesky reporter, sharing, between them, a virtual storehouse of knowledge and wisdom. 

One centenarian — Fred Rayfield — seemed to have mastered the Zen of Life. Well-traveled and even more well-mannered, he was a master of brevity. Behind every short answer, however, was a telling glance from a pair of friendly eyes that spoke their own language and communicated things that words are too frail to convey.

Also 100 was Margaret Liner, who had achieved mastery in the Art of Life. Loquacious and lovely, she explored her thoughts out loud, flitting about and flirting with her answers until she landed on just the right one, like a bee in search of the perfect flower.

They each took the hooplah over turning 100 in stride, with neither celebrant finding anything special about amassing so many birthdays.

“I wasn’t surprised by it,” confided Fred. “I always expected to be at least 100.”

Fred grew up on a farm in Oklahoma, later majored in pharmacy, picked tomatoes in Sacramento and packed oranges in Redlands, Calif., before meeting his wife, Stella, there. She was the prettiest girl at the dance and he didn’t let her get away. The young couple ate potatoes on their wedding night and went on to raise three children — Ron, Cheryl and Sid. His career as a plumber and pipe fitter allowed the Rayfields to see the world and retire in Arizona before Stella’s death in 1992.

Margaret’s life took a different course but, unbeknownst to them both, it crossed paths with Fred’s in California. Born in Ohio, she moved with her family to Sacramento, where she graduated from high school in 1925. A nursing degree from St. Luke’s Hospital in San Francisco led to a lifelong career as a registered nurse.  Once married, she had two daughters: Phyllis and Genevieve. 

Margaret waited until the age of 76 to retire, citing two reasons for that decision: First, she loved her work and, second, she had done the math and found that her retirement benefits would improve if she held off until that time. 

The attention surrounding this birthday seemed a little over-the top, she offered.

“Frankly, it gets to be a little tiring,” she said. “I thought it was wonderful that my mother was 95. She’s probably looking down from heaven right now and laughing her head off that I made it to 100.”

The conversation turned to some of the highlights and major accomplishments of the 20th Century, a chunk of history in which both of them experienced all but a small handful of years. With the world working now its way through a global financial crisis, for instance, what could we learn today from the Great Depression?

“I think we could learn that things will get better,” said Fred. “They always have.”

“I feel like people should be careful with their money and not just throw it into things,” Margaret said.  “Remember — there’s always tomorrow.”

What about surprising discoveries? What stood out in a 100-year timeframe that overflowed with inventions and scientific breakthroughs?

“Airplanes,” Margaret answered right away. “To think that you could go up and fly overhead — wheels and all — that was a marvelous discovery.”

Fred thought the question out.  The slight smile that played across his face and the way his eyes brightened hinted that he was replaying a lifetime of memories and coming across too many good ones to single anything out.

“I wasn’t surprised by anything,” he said at last. “I always expected unusual things.”

The history of the past 100 years also included a chronicle of conflict.  Margaret and Fred were in grade school when World War I — the so-called War to End All Wars — broke out. They were adults during World War II and parents by the time wars in Korea and Vietnam were being fought. So far in the 21st Century, they have witnessed the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as countless conflicts in other hot spots around the world.

Is war simply an inescapable part of the human experience?

“Yes, because that’s the way human nature is,” Margaret said. “Some people want what they don’t have and they will fight to get it — and involve everyone else.”

“I think there will always be war,” Fred agreed. “Mostly because all smart people do not think the same way or believe the same things.”

There was no getting any travel stories out of Fred, whose jaunts with Stella would easily have filled a book.

“Oh,” he said, “I might have traveled more than the average person.”

And there was that look in the eyes again, that hint of a smile.  Fred’s internal travelogue was being played back and he was enjoying the scenery.

For Margaret, travel was somewhat overrated.  She once made a trip to the big city which, more than anything, made her want to get back home.

“I visited New York and I can’t say that I thought it was so awe-inspiring,” she shared. “There was too much mumbo jumbo in New York; elevated trains and so forth. If you want to visit a nice city, you should go see my hometown of Sacramento.”

As clichéd as it might be, one is tempted to ask a 100-year-old about the Secret of Life.  Or, at least, their personal secret to long life.

“All I know is that I have taken vitamins all my life — they’re powerful,” Margaret said. “I can’t recall when I’ve ever been sick. Twice, I think.”

Fred, like a Zen master, let his eyes sparkle more than usual on this question. Wordlessly, he left the distinct impression that this was one answer a person needs to find on their own. 

“No,” he said. “I don’t have any secrets.” 

Margaret, on the other hand, was on a roll. 

Words of wisdom?

“Think twice before you act,” she said. “Don’t jump into anything.”

How to get the most out of life?

“Don’t get angry with people because they disagree with you,” she answered without hesitation.

Finally, from a woman who worked more than three-quarters of a century before retiring, some advice on the palliative powers of hard work.

“I was born on Labor Day,” said Margaret, whose one-hundredth birthday was celebrated on Sept. 4. “And I’ve been laboring ever since.”