I talked to a man in Texas who was 91 years old and had just planted a grapefruit tree.

I asked him why.

He said so he’d have grapefruit when he got old.

But not everyone wants to live to be 100 years old.

According to the Alliance for Aging Research, 63 percent of us would like to reach 100 years of age.

According to the journal &uot;Nippon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi,&uot; the Japanese Journal of Geriatrics, a study of 4,152 Japanese centenarians came up with these rules:

–

Eat lots of protein

– Keep calories down

–

Get enough sleep

–

Live in an area with excellent medical facilities.

A year or two ago, I was speaking at a large gathering.

I had the privilege of having my photograph taken with a woman who had just turned 99.

As she looked at her image in the digital camera, she said, &uot;Good Lord!

I look as if I’m a hundred years old!&uot;

In Massachusetts, one of the state’s lottery winners, a 94-year-old woman, announced she’d like to get all of her $5.6 million in winnings right away, rather than having it spaced over the next 20 years.

A lady in Arlington, Texas is 108 years old. She was born in a covered wagon. She broke her hip two years ago while kicking a soccer ball. She attributes her long life to Dr. Peppers and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Heredity is on her side as both her parents lived well into their nineties.

Her favorite invention is the electric light.

He was born in Denmark.

In 1901.

That was 104 years ago.

Many regarded 1901 as the beginning of the new century.

Clark Gable, Walt Disney, Gary Cooper and Louis Armstrong were born in 1901.

Teddy Roosevelt uttered his famous aphorism, &uot;Speak softly and carry a big stick,&uot; at the Minnesota State Fair in 1901.

His name is Jens Pedersen and he lives in Albert Lea.

I attended his 104th birthday party recently.

Just think about it &045; 104 years. That’s 37,960 days, 911,040 hours and 113,880 meals.

I sat down with Jens.

We discussed the architecture of his life. His speech still carries a Danish

accent.

I enjoyed visiting with Jens.

He’s 104 years old, but he hasn’t outlived his memories. Jens is a remarkable man.

He has lived things first-hand that few are able to recall.

His memories are given to conversation.

He could fill a shelf of history books with those memories.

Jens played the piano at his party. He played, &uot;I Love to Tell the Story&uot; and he played it well.

Jens was a farmer most of his life, but also spent some years working in factories.

Jens traveled to this country from Denmark on a ship named Oscar II.

He weathered two weeks of storms to get here.

Seasickness was a constant companion.

He has made it back to Denmark twice.

Jens spends his days visiting with friends, working puzzles and reading good books. He has been an avid gardener &045; his favorite food is the potato.

Jens and I talked about the weather. We had to &045; we’re Minnesotans. I asked Jens what his most memorable day was.

He replied that he couldn’t pick one. They were all good.

They are all good.

I had to ask the question that I am sure that everyone asks Jens.

What was the secret to his longevity? I hoped it would be something simple, like keeping a bedroom window cracked open all year long or eating as much beef jerky as possible.

His parents did not come close to living to be 100. Jens told me that he owes his long life to clean living.

He never drank and he tried smoking, but it never took.

Yes, those are his secrets to a long life; those and bachelorhood.

Jens never married.

Oh, he had a couple of near misses.

Or I should say, near missuses.

He had a first love.

She was rich.

He was poor.

It wasn’t meant to be.

He never got over it.

I had to find out if that age-old saying is true.

Jens told me that he does believe that a person gets wiser as he gets older.

Jens came to this country to better himself. He’s one of those good people who doesn’t take himself too seriously. Jens is such a nice man, that he has bettered the lives of those he has come into contact with.

That’s likely because Jens Pedersen is a kind and happy man.

People like Jens give us all a reason to wake up hopeful.

(Hartland resident Al Batt writes a column for the Tribune each Wednesday and Sunday.)