Jeanne Louise Calment : The worlds oldest person

The Guinness Book of World Records had listed Calment as the oldest living person whose birth date could be authenticated by reliable records. Although blind, almost deaf and is confined to a wheelchair, Calment remained spirited and mentally sharp until the end. At age 121, she released her two CDs, one in French and another in English titled, Maitresse du Temps (Times Mistress), which featured Calment's reminiscing to a score of rap and other tunes. A VCR tape is also supposed to be available and at least five books about her have been released.

Calment's father lived to the age of 94 and her mother to the age of 86. The longevity gene was apparent in her maternal family but she left no heir with her longevity gene. She was a widow for more than half a century. A dessert of spoiled preserved cherries killed her husband in 1942 at the age of 46, but Calment survived. Her only daughter died in 1934 at the age of 36 of pneumonia. After the death of her daughter Calment raised her grandson, who became a medical doctor and died in 1963 during a car accident.

Calments Secret of Longevity

Internationally, researchers are fascinated with Calment for both her longevity and her vitality. "She never did anything special to stay in good health," said French researcher Jean-Marie Robine. They attribute her longevity to her immunity to stress. She once said  If you cant do anything about it, dont worry about it..

Calment herself credited an occasional glass of Port vine and a diet rich in olive oil for her longevity. She also recommended laughter as a recipe for longevity and jokes that "God must have forgotten me." ( L'Oubliee de Dieu?). For skin care, she recommends olive oil and a dab of make-up. "All my life I've put olive oil on my skin and then just a puff of powder. I could never wear mascara, I cried too often when I laughed."

She took up fencing lessons at 85 and rode bicycle until 100. However ------

She used to ate two lbs. of chocolate per week until her doctor persuaded her to give up sweets at the age of 119. She quit smoking only at 119, but her doctor said her abstinence was due to pride rather than health  she was too blind to light up herself, and hated asking someone to do it for her.

Quotations

"I've waited 110 years to be famous, I count on taking advantage of it," she quipped at her 120th birthday party.

Also on her 120th birthday, when asked what kind of future did she expect, she replied A very short one.

Getting used to growing media attention with every year that passes, she quips: I wait for death and journalists.

When youre 117, you see if you remember everything! She rebuked an interviewer once.

Her birthdays were a sort of family holiday in Arles, where all the people of Arles gathered around their Jeanne DArles. In one of this party, somebody took leave by telling her, Until next year, perhaps, she retorted: I dont see why not! You dont look so bad to me.

She may be most famous in France, where she was the doyenne of humanity, for her many bons mots, including I've never had but one wrinkle, and I'm sitting on it.



