On March 6, Saskatchewan-born Lena Johnston celebrated her 109th birthday, becoming one of the region鈥檚 longest-lived residents.
Actually, the celebrating began over the weekend with a dinner out with family, friends, acquaintances and birthday cake. It will continue into this week, with a few more outings and recognition in the B.C. legislature from Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo.
Asked if she made a 109th birthday wish, Johnston replied, 鈥淭hat everybody will be happy, happy and enjoy it. Because life is too short to be angry. You better be happy and accept what the future brings to you.鈥�
Lena Johnston, now a resident of Salmon Arm鈥檚 Arbor Lodge, remembers well the day she stepped from boxcar to begin a new life in the Shuswap.
On Aug. 6, 1937, Johnston, her late husband Johnny and son Roy arrived at the train station in Notch Hill, packed with their belongings, including various animals, packed inside a railway car.
鈥淭hat was an adventure鈥� We had furniture, we had a little bit of machinery, we had four horses, a cow and a calf, and this crate with the chickens that I had two turkeys鈥�,鈥� said Johnston. 鈥淲hen we got to B.C. we only ended up with one, and we had him for Christmas, our first Christmas in B.C.鈥�
From a farming family of 14, Johnston, as the oldest child, learned the value of hard work, as her family farmed in Saskatchewan and Alberta. While her younger sister Ella helped in the house, Johnston was her father鈥檚 鈥渞ight-hand man鈥� on the farm, riding horses, milking cows and taking care of pigs. She also worked the threshing crew, in charge of feeding the fire that generated steam to run the machinery.
Johnston says life on the farm was a lot of hard work, which may says have contributed to her health and longevity.
鈥淢y mother had a brother who lived to 102, so maybe that rubbed off on me. Who knows? That鈥檚 a mystery,鈥� said Johnston.
Along with the days of labour, Johnston also fondly remembers her her days of leisure and travels across Canada, through the U.S. and to South America.
鈥淒id you ever come down a spiral staircase? I鈥檝e come down two of them. One of them down east and one of them in the States somewhere,鈥� said Johnston. 鈥淚鈥檝e been across Canada to Nova Scotia and seen the reversing hill. And that beautiful Annapolis Valley, that鈥檚 a few of my travels. I鈥檝e been through the Panama Canal and that took all day, and if you鈥檝e ever seen the sun come up out of the water, that鈥檚 an amazing sight to see.鈥�
These days Johnston enjoys doing puzzles 鈥� with help from her fellow Arbor Lodge residents, watching the news and visiting with family, including her grandson. The annual birthday celebrations are also a joy.
鈥淚鈥檝e had parties, I don鈥檛 know if there鈥檚 another party coming or not. That鈥檚 a surprise,鈥� said Johnston.
-With files from Tracy Hughes.
lachlan@saobserver.net
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