Alice is a centenarian who sits down with some kids for a one on one ask me anything session. The kids have some very interesting questions and Alice’s answer might even astound you and me. When she grew up they didn’t have cell phones, or any phones what-so-ever. And there was no such thing as a truck. Nope, the world moved it’s stuff by horse-drawn wagons.
The kid’s questions and reactions are priceless and anyone can gather some great knowledge and experience from someone who’s been healthy enough and lucky enough to live past 100 years old.
Right off the bat, the little ones get to the meaty questions…
“Did you have forks or knives in the old days?” a little girl asks.
“Forks and knives? Oh, sure, and spoons,” Alice replies.
When asked if she has seen any wars, the little boy’s eyes light up in shock to hear that Alice served in World War II. She worked with decoding and encoding machines doing top-secret work.
The boy was even more shocked to hear that Alice could have lost her life on the spot if she was caught telling United States secrets.
Born so long ago, she didn’t have internet. She didn’t even have television, nor radio. I guess she just had to read books and entertain herself.
When asked what she’d do for fun, Alice explains the toys she had. It was dolls and blocks for girls.
“But I really liked boys’ things. I liked marbles and tops. And I thought boys were much luckier than girls.”
Alice let one little girl in on the fashions of the olden days. It was skirts and stockings for girls, even in the coldest weather.
“They didn’t have slacks or pants for girls,” says Alice.
“Girls couldn’t wear pants?” asks the astounded little girl.
“That’s true,” Alice replies.
“That is not fair,” the girl says.
“No,” confirms Alice.
This little girl can tell discrimination when she’s sees it.
Alice has some unique pins on her jacket, and we soon learn that they represent some of the things she taught. Alice was a college professor for most of her life and hard to believe but she retired a long time ago.
Alice taught Biology and did a lot of work studying ants. One six-year-old gave Alice a lesson on how ants are very tiny but can carry big loads.
“You’re very good, and you’re only six years old?” Alice says, beaming with pride.
When you sit down with a centenarian one of the facts of life is death.
When a little girl asks her if she’s afraid of passing, Alice has a lovely response.
“No, I’m not afraid of passing. I feel very healthy and happy. My doctor said, “Maybe you’ll just pass in your sleep.” So, I’m not afraid ’cause I have a good life.”
One kid asked what’s her secret to a long life. Alice’s answer is one of the most insightful lessons in life that anyone could ask for.
“Being happy, working hard. Getting exercise, doing things for yourself. Not expecting other people to do everything for you. And all of those things make you live a long time.”
The hardest part of getting old? Alice explains it’s about missing people. Alice has lost a lot of her family and loved ones. Most people don’t get to her age, so grown older everyone she’s known and loved has passed.
This leads to a heartfelt connection for one little girl who recently lost her great grandfather. It’s one of the priceless and emotional moments in this video.
If you like videos like this where kids meet interesting folks in interesting fields, then this video series has some gems. It’s called “Kid’s Meet” and their videos are about “Curious kids meet–and interview–people with particular points of view.”
Over the series, kids have interviewed many different interesting folks, like a plastic surgeon, a dating coach, and even frontline workers in the fight against the pandemic. You can find the YouTube series here.
Click the video below and watch as a bunch of kids get to pick the brain of a centenarian. The answers to their questions are not only surprising but also super sweet!
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