Check out that bright-eyed, spunky lady in the photo attached below. That's Anne Dunivin, matriarch of my swim team, Georgia Masters Killer Whales, at the age of 95. And, on October 17, she will turn 96!
Up until recently, when she took a fall in a "Cardio Blast" class and fractured her femur, she was swimming for 40 minutes, twice per week. She told me today that she would like to go more often, but she doesn't drive anymore and relies on rides to the pool. (I'll fix that...). She still lives alone, though.
Today, I went to visit her at Emory's rehab facility where she will stay another couple of weeks before being released to outpatient rehab. She had hip surgery following her fall and recently had her 32 staples removed. So, she is well on her way to healing.
This is one amazing woman! She keeps wondering why she has lived so long. But, she has been extremely healthy and fortunate to have only been in the hospital to give birth to her three children. As she said to me today, she is quite comfortable, has no aches or pains, and is having "fun" being 95 and outliving her competition! :D
Anne absolutely adores swimming and can't wait to get back to the pool. Her eyes lit up when I told her that Steve Lundquist Aquatic Center now has a chair lift for disabled swimmers! If Anne has her way, she will compete in the SCM meet at Georgia Tech, on December 15. After all, she has more records to break and has every intention of doing so...
Not knowing that USMS offered the opportunity to compete as an aging adult, Anne only recently started competing. As she related to me, "The 90+ year old ladies in my age group from California, Maine, Florida, and I-can't-remember- where-else probably weren't too happy when Anne Dunivin came on to the swimming scene!" But, she left them behind when she aged up and now she is tickled that she has outlived all her competition. :banana:
What an inspiration! Anne is still as sharp mentally and strong physically as most people I know who are twenty years younger. And, she is a hoot!
I learned that Anne's favorite treat is chocolate shakes. Her daughter emphasized "small" when I asked if I could bring Anne one, however, I decided to pick up two mediums, instead; one for me and one for Anne. (What the heck; ya gotta live a little! :D) And, I can tell you, she sucked her shake dry! :chug:
Anne is the poster Geezer for how to age well, age happily, and age gracefully. I think she has earned a place on the cover of AARP Magazine- or, at least Swimmer Magazine! :bliss:As a baby geezer who competed in my first Geezer Games (aka Senior Games) with Queen Geezer Anne, it was an honor to compete in the same pool with such an amazing woman. (Smart, too; she earned her B.A. in Chemistry, from Emory University, in 1938, and her Masters, in 1940.)
Anne, I want to grow up to be just like you! :agree: