Lucille grasped her black flowing skirt with one hand and the stair railing with the other. Her black-and-white shirt with white lace collar served as the perfect backdrop for the black-and-white cameo dangling from her neck and the white silk rose that bloomed on her shoulder.
Once her feet touched the brown carpet that met the wood-paneled walls of Trevi’s, she let out a sigh of relief. “Okay. Better. I feel at home here. This is more like how it used to be.”
As we were seated, she leaned over and asked me, “I know it’s lunch, but I really want a Belgian waffle. Do you think I can get one?”
“It’s a hotel, so my guess is yes,” I replied. When the waiter approached, I made sure to ask in just the right way: “Lucille here is 102. She requested that we come here today. And one more thing: she also would like a Belgian waffle with blueberries.”
“A waffle? The waiter questioned, looking confused for a moment before catching my wink. “Yes, of course, a waffle. If Lucille wants a waffle, she can have a waffle.”
“With blueberries?” she asked sheepishly.
The waiter made a slight bow to her, as if to say, “Yes, your majesty.”
I’ll have the salmon,” I said, handing the menus back to him.
Her eyes lit up as he walked away. “Waffles! They’re my favorite. Nothing makes you feel better than a waffle.”
When Judy Gaman first interviewed Lucille Fleming to include her in a book, Age to Perfection: How to Thrive to 100, Happy, Healthy, and Wise, she had no idea they would become so close, so fast, for the rest of Lucille’s life.
Official synopsis:
While writing a book on longevity, Judy interviewed Lucille, an elegant and spirited woman who had just recently turned 100. Lucille had the fashion and style of old Hollywood, but it was all hidden behind the doors of her assisted living center. What began as a quick meeting became a lasting friendship that transformed into an inseparable bond. Lucille brought incredible wisdom and great stories to the table, while Judy provided an avenue for excitement and new opportunities. Together, the two began living life to the fullest, and meeting the most interesting people along the way (including Suzanne Somers). But then Lucille’s life came to an end through unexpected and unfortunate circumstances―and the very first lesson she ever taught Judy proved to be the most important one of all.
What started out as one interview ran much longer than expected. After a couple hours talking about the secrets to a long, healthy life, Judy Gaman was still reluctant to leave. When she and Lucille connected again through a phone call later that week, they ended up setting up a lunch, that would turn into weekly lunches and other adventures. In Love, Life, & Lucille, Judy shares the ups and downs of her life, and the highlights of her relationship with Lucille.
Lucille shows that sometimes all you have to do to put your dreams in motion is to ask. She’s an incredibly charismatic old woman who isn’t done living an active life yet. When she sees something she wants to do, she says so. And frequently, Judy knows someone who can make it happen. Watching their friendship grow was heartwarming. Everyone they met along the way was taken in with Lucille’s charm.
After several years of Judy and Lucille experiencing life together, time begins running out for Lucille. While she lives each moment to its fullest, no one can live forever. Overall, I’d give this book 3 out of 5 stars. The beginning was wonderful and inspirational, but having it all come to an end was hard to witness.
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Becki Bayley is a Gemini, enneagram type 2 (I think?), and an extroverted introvert (or the other way around?). Find out about more of her reading adventures at SweetlyBSquared.com.
GIVEAWAY:
One of my lucky readers will win a copy of Love, Life and Lucille!
Enter via the widget below. Giveaway will end on Saturday, April 25th, at 11:59pm EST, and winner will be notified via email the next day, and have 24 hours to respond, or an alternate winner will be chosen.
U.S. residents only, please.
Good luck!
Love, Life and Lucille: Lessons Learned from a Centenarian, by Judy Gaman
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