The Secret To Long Life! Print E-mail
Written by Sandra Ghost   
Monday, 12 October 2009 00:00
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The Secret To Long Life!
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“Never even looked!” was the response. “He was the most wonderful husband...it just didn’t last long enough. I like to quote, ‘Should you go first and I remain, when I die I hope you’ll call my name.’ My youngest son, Larry, had a stroke and bleeding brain tumor. Larry lived on Jefferson Street in Linesville and was a dispatcher for the railroad out of Conneaut, Ohio and Akron. Though he had the tumor he continued working. After retirement, he had a stroke and died at age 64. He had 5 children—4 boys and a girl: there’s one in Philadelphia, Darrin, who teaches school; one in Pittsburgh, Lynanne Schafer, and she teaches grade school; one in Linesville—Steven Mickle--he teaches grade school in Conneautville and coaches in Linesville; Jeff Mickle who works at Meadville Medical Center and Larry, Jr. who works in Columbus, Ohio.”

The eldest son, Jack and his wife, Gladys, live on South Mercer Street within sight of Hazel’s kitchen window. It was easy to see that Gladys and Hazel were “best buddies” and this wonderful daughter-in-law pops in and out keeping a watchful eye on her mother-in-law even though Hazel is as active as she is. Jack and Gladys have 3 children: Deborah, who works for Verizon lives in Erie; Jack, Jr. lives in Linesville and works at PPG; and Denise Mason who lives in Conneaut Lake works at the Crawford County courthouse. Hazel also has an 88 year old sister, Vera Sickles, who lives on Norrisville Road.

Gladys was able to fill me in on the fact that Hazel is an avid Steelers fan, whereupon Hazel chimed in with, “My family are all big Steelers fans. I have to be watching because they all call me when the game’s on saying, ‘Grandma, did you see that pass?’ Television is my lifesaver. I like the Price is Right and mainly the news.” Gladys added she still loves to shop and go out to dinner.

“Now,” I said, “comes the big question. To what do you attribute your long life?”

There was a lengthy pause and then, “Well, at 75 I figured I was a goner, but look...here I am!” There was almost a childish lilt of surprise in her voice. “I guess I’d have to say clean living...no tea, no caffeine, no booze, no cigarettes. We didn’t even dance. My husband and I would stand outside the Dreamland Ballroom at Conneaut Lake Park and listen to all the big bands that came, but we never danced...never even went upstairs and watched.”

“But why, Hazel? Was it due to faith or religious beliefs?”

She seemed to take my question into serious consideration, then obviously weighed her words, “I couldn’t live without God, but I had a wonderful mother who didn’t want me to do those things and so I never did. She just thought those things weren’t good for me so I honored that and honored her.”

And there was the key! She had just said it! It was Commandment 5 of the 10 Commandments: “Honor your father and your mother that your days may be long upon the land your God has given you.” Yes, she had lived a good life...a “clean” life in her words, but even more importantly God keeps His covenants and Hazel had fulfilled her portion of this important covenant. Of course she was 102 years old! I had found the secret to this extraordinary lady’s long life.

Teenagers take heed...


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