CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION EACH DAY A BIRTHDAY FOR SIMI SENIOR.Byline: Krystn Shrieve Staff Writer SIMI VALLEY Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. - Mary Gracey witnessed the invention of cars and electricitiy, watched as men walked on the moon and fought two world wars and marveled at everything from the railroad to the information super highway. But Gracey, who turns 100 today, measures the century's achievements by more mundane milestones - firsts like Jell-O, paper clips and shredded wheat Shredded Wheat is a breakfast cereal made from whole wheat. It comes in two sizes, bite sized (3/4 in x 1 in), and normal size, which are sometimes broken into small pieces before adding milk. . ``It's all just been part of living from one day to the next,'' said Gracey who shrugs off the novelty of having seen so much. ``You just live through the changes as they come along and keep right on going.'' As Gracey looks back on the century that is her life she said she's loved every minute of it. ``I always say, you have a birthday one day at a time One Day at a Time is a long-running American situation comedy that portrayed a divorced mother, played by Bonnie Franklin, her two teenage daughters (Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli) and their building superintendent (Pat Harrington, Jr.). , every day of your life.'' Gracey has been volunteering at the Simi Valley Senior Center since she moved to the city 13 years ago. She's there every day and is known to one and all as the center's unofficial dining room hostess. ``She greets all the newcomers to the senior center and takes them under her wing,'' said Kathryn O. Medley, the center's director. ``Mary is gracious and kind. She is welcoming and sharp as a tack.'' Today Gracey will be honored by Simi Valley Mayor Bill Davis For the artist, animator, creative director, see . For the baseball player, see .
Born in Alexandria, Virginia, Scott attended American University in Washington, D.C. , the celebrant of centenarians Here is a list of well-known centenarians (people who lived to be or are living at 100 years or more of age), with the still living ones bolded and italicized. This list is divided into sub-lists, according to how the centenarian (mostly) became well-known. , hoping he'll send wishes too. Gracey is the matriarch of five generations, which stretch to her great-great granddaughter, who is 6 months old. ``I have to say she's one in a million, but not just because she's my mom,'' daughter Pat Calcaterra said. ``I've never known her to really get angry. What I always remember about my mom is that she is so generous. For her it's give, give, give. She has a wonderful outlook on life and I think that's what's helped her live so long.'' Gracey was born in New Mexico New Mexico, state in the SW United States. At its northwestern corner are the so-called Four Corners, where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah meet at right angles; New Mexico is also bordered by Oklahoma (NE), Texas (E, S), and Mexico (S). in 1900, but has lived in California most of her life. During World War I she rolled bandages for the Red Cross. During the second World War she sold liberty bonds and counseled young women whose husbands were fighting for their country. She has seen the rise and fall of 17 presidents and remembers things like learning how to drive in a Hudson, being on her way to the market when Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor, land-locked harbor, on the southern coast of Oahu island, Hawaii, W of Honolulu; one of the largest and best natural harbors in the E Pacific Ocean. In the vicinity are many U.S. military installations, including the chief U.S. was bombed, holding her breath when Neil Armstrong made his lunar landing and casting a ballot for Herbert Hoover the first year women were allowed to vote. ``Mary can give you facts and figures about things we've only read about in history books because she lived them,'' said friend Jean Leighton who volunteers with her at the senior center. ``We have a wealth of information in this tiny woman with the engaging grin.'' Now Gracey walks with the help of a cane. Her formerly rich, auburn hair is white as snow. Her brown eyes Brown Eyes (브라운 아이즈) was a Korean musical duo, specializing in ballads. Although both members have powerful voices, they were initially disregarded because of their physical looks. are clouded in almost complete blindness, but she hasn't lost her sense of humor Noun 1. sense of humor - the trait of appreciating (and being able to express) the humorous; "she didn't appreciate my humor"; "you can't survive in the army without a sense of humor" sense of humour, humor, humour . ``I don't feel any different than I did when I was 25,'' she said. ``Maybe just a few more aches and pains, but I'm pretty much the same.'' What has changed, Gracey thinks, is society which she said moves faster each year. ``People are in such a rush these days, they're almost forgetting to live,'' Gracey said. ``But we'll never slow them down and I don't blame them. If I still had good eyesight, I'd be taking computer classes and be out there with the rest of them.'' And those who know Gracey have no doubt that she's serious. After all, she drove until she was 90. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Mary Gracey enjoys a polka dance with Norman Cotterall at the Simi SIMI Sea Ice Mechanics Initiative SIMI Search for Intelligent Monkeys on the Internet SIMI Students Islamic Movement in India SIMI Society of Irish Motor Industry SIMI Smallholder Irrigation Markets Initiative Senior Center on Wednesday. (2) In her 100 years, Mary Gracey has witnessed two world wars and the invention of Jell-O and shredded wheat. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News |
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