I get the magazine Real Simple. Sometimes it borders on self-parody (one month, they had an article on how to use shampoo "the right way" with photographs for each step of the instructions. [the really funny thing? According to them, I've been doing it the wrong way for years - I do not bother to lather the stuff up before putting it on my hair.]). But I do like some of the recipes, and some of the home-stuff. So I keep up my subscription.

This month, they had a section I liked - they interviewed a bunch of women who had made it to 100 (one was 106!) and asked for their advice. And this is why I love hanging around with older women, and they can make me laugh with delight at humanity: in with all of their quotations about love, and purpose, and children, there were these two:

"don't put too much stock in vitamins; just eat fresh tomatoes."

and the one that really made me grin:

"When you're playing Scrabble, don't use your S's up all right away."

I don't know why I love that bit of advice, but I just do. I think it's because here in the midst of all the deep thoughts about forgiveness and not worrying and health, here's this woman giving advice about Scrabble.

(Perhaps I love it partly because I've played Scrabble with a CUTTHROAT 85 year old who will go as close to cussing you out as a lifelong Christian woman will if you "take her place" on the board)

Another, deeper one that I liked (from a woman who is quite lovely looking herself): "Think twice before plastic surgery - you might look prettier without it." You go, sister.

And so, as I was cutting more 5 1/2 by 3 inch rectangles for my newest quilt (I'm almost done, whoo), I was thinking: what advice would I want to leave behind if, God willing, I make it to 100 or beyond? And I came up with two:

1. Do not hesitate to say please, thank you, excuse me, I'm sorry, pardon me, or any of the other "niceties" of life. It makes the world run more smoothly and also makes people feel better.

2. Do something that is for you only. Have some kind of a hobby or interest that you do, not because you have to, but because you want to - something apart from work or family obligations or any of the other "shoulds" you deal with in your life. It can be something as complex as building furniture or something as basic as reading a good novel now and then. But do it because you want to.