107, 104 and 82
The three numbers above seem arbitrary. They’re relatively small if you’re talking about dollars and cents. But what if I told you the first number (107) is the age of a new client (I’ll call her Lena for privacy’s sake) I met just before Christmas; the second number (104) was the age of Lena’s husband who died several weeks ago; and the third number (82) is the number of years they had been married at the time of the husband’s death. Just to give you more context, the longest marriage in the US lasted 83 years and the longest marriage anywhere on record is 86 years. When my assistant, Cindy, gave me the detailed phone message, I thought it was a hoax.
I was told that despite being a little hard of hearing (primarily based on her refusal to wear one of her two hearing aids), Lena was clear thinking and somewhat self-sufficient. She and her husband lived alone together in a two-story colonial up until his death. Sure enough, the person I met was a little slow of gate and a bit hard of hearing, but she followed along, asked good questions and was dressed to a T as well!
I learned some amazing things about Lena and her family. Including:
- She and her husband played golf until he was 100 and even drove to Myrtle Beach annually to get in some golf rounds.
- She and her sister (still alive at 102) were both original Rosie the Riveters, working in General Motors plants in Detroit making military equipment during WWII.
- I found nothing particularly unique about her lifestyle. She was very social as was her husband, and they enjoyed an occasional cocktail and travelled extensively.
She never complained in my office or got fidgety during the hour-long session. Heck, she didn’t even need to use the bathroom after the meeting (unlike me, lol). And she told me she was as surprised as anyone by the length of her life.
Opportunities for me to cross paths with unique people like Lena are what makes my practice worthwhile. I’ve heard and witnessed great stories of commitment, perseverance, and compassion over my decades of estate and financial planning. If you’re reading this then we’ve likely sat down in my office several times over the years to “get things in order.” You, too, have given me a story, however large or small, that encouraged and/or inspired me. Thank you!
P.S. As I finished writing this it dawned on me that this could be taken as my “farewell” message. No way! I recently emblazoned three numbers in my head – 107, 104 and 82. See you soon!
Fun Fact: Rosie the Riveter wasn’t a single real person, but an iconic symbol for the millions of American women who worked in factories and shipyards during World War II, producing munitions and war supplies, with several real women inspiring the image, most notably Naomi Parker Fraley, whose photo became the basis for the famous “We Can Do It!” poster. Naomi lived to age 96.
