Last great book you read?
I am rereading “Salt on my skin” written by Benoîte Groult. I also am a fan of the French author Francoise Sagan. When my 16-year-old granddaughter had to read one of her books for school, she could borrow “Bonjour Tristesse” as well as the movie on DVD I own.
What do you do to keep healthy, both physically and emotionally?
Healthy: In the 1980’s I started following the Fit for Life Diet. I still love this concept of proper food combinations. I drink lots of water, I never smoked, and I hardly use alcohol. I sleep 8 hours a day.
Physically: I live very close to the beach and love walking and cycling to the sea; my daily goal is to do at least 10.000 steps a day.
Emotionally: I see my children, grandchildren, and friends as much as possible.
Covid-19 brought a lot of stress and anxiety, but now I feel relieved that all my beloved ones have had their vaccination.
What makes you happy?
The love of my daughters and my grandchildren. I am very proud of all of them, and we try to see each other as much as possible. Even my 19-year-old grandson loves having lunch with me.
What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?
The hardest thing was the funeral of my beloved parents. My father died at the age of 76, and my mother at the age of 90. I had a very happy childhood with birthdays and Christmas parties with family and friends. We saw each other regularly, also later on in life during my marriage. I still miss them terribly.
What is your age, and how old do you feel?
I am 77 years old, but I feel no more aged than 50. Of course, when I look in the mirror, I see wrinkles and grey hair, but I do not mind at all. I have had several severe operations, and I am very grateful that I survived and feel as healthy as I do today.
