Veteran Reaches the Century Mark ( if you like this story, give this young writer some feed back) he is an exceptional writer....let him know what you think of his printed article in the _http://www.longbeachcomber.com_ (http://www.longbeachcomber.com/) by Aaron Ledesma
VERA ENQUIST gets her hair touched up by Jo Ann Covey For 28 years, Jo Ann Covey of Long Beach’s Sharrion James Hair Design has enjoyed being the hairdresser of a woman she describes as “funky” and “ absolutely remarkable.” On September 30th, when Vera Enquist sees Jo Ann for her Wednesday morning appointment, Vera will be celebrating her 100th birthday. “If you talked to her, you wouldn’t even know she was turning one hundred, ” says Covey. “Her mind is sharp.” The Department of Motored Vehicles agreed when they recently approved the renewal of Vera’s driver’s license, permitting her to legally drive for five more years. Her approval is more than a mere luxury, being that it will allow her to continue her ever active lifestyle. Vera fondly speaks of how she spent her youth raised by her parents, Oscar and Elma Enquist, on their farm in her hometown of Holdrege, Nebraska. When asked about her childhood, she chuckles and simply says, “It was just life on a farm.” In her early adult years, Vera put all focus into training to become a nurse, and, upon completion of her nurse’s training in 1934, Vera moved to Los Angeles. By her 33rd birthday, Vera’s background in nursing qualified her to enter the Army as a Second Lieutenant. During her 19-year tenure in the U.S. Military, Vera served her country proudly and cared for soldiers in regions of Japan and Germany as well as stateside. Vera returned to California and worked at the San Francisco Letterman Hospital in 1959. A year later, she retired from the Army as a Major, an accomplishment she carries proudly to this day. In 1962, Vera moved to Lakewood and worked in a local doctor’s office before retiring from work in 1967. Even without work, Vera maintained an energetic way of life that has allowed her to still be healthy and, above all, lively as her 100th birthday approaches. “I’ve always been active,” Vera tells. “I used to enjoy a lot of bowling and golfing.” These days, Vera’s activities have been limited due to issues she’s had with her hips. And yet she still starts her mornings off early, and later makes the drive to the Hawaiian Gardens Senior Center for lunch. When she isn’t at the Senior Center, Vera enjoys reading newspapers and magazines and doing a lot of crossword puzzles. She also attends monthly dinner meetings of the Retired Officers Association and two monthly luncheon meetings of the Officer’s Wives Club. Vera also makes time to maintain close contact with her nephew in Fullerton. And of course, on Wednesday mornings, she makes the drive from Lakewood to Sharrion James Hair Design in Long Beach to get her hair done with Jo Ann. The great portion of Vera’s life dedicated to taking care of others has left her as a deeply loving woman today. “She loves people, and being around people,” explains Jo Ann. With an immaculate bill of health, Vera can look forward to more time around the people she loves, and the many who love her back. [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Black Focus Inc." group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/black-focus-inc?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
