Meet Phyllis Bruce. She is 105. Almost. Tomorrow is her actual birthday, but we celebrated today. She was born in 1905 in North Dakota. By age 10 in 1915 after hearing an ukulele in San Francisco, she knew she needed to move to Hawaii. She moved to Lahaina in 1928, spent her first night at the Pioneer Inn and taught home economics at Lahainaluna High School. I think everyone feels a bit honored to be in her presence. I know I do. As an ER nurse I meet a lot of people who are experts at falling apart, breaking to pieces, general self destruction and dying too young. It is not often I meet someone who is an expert at staying alive. I wonder at what she knows, what she has seen and what her secrets are. I first met Phyliss when she was 102 and was completely enthralled by her. When I heard she was having another birthday, I had visions of an extraordinary birthday portrait session. But when I got to her grand old style plantation home I completely lost my cool. She lives at home with her daughters who must be 70 or 80. Her husband who found a way to make water run uphill for plantation irrigation, has long passed away. She read Skye a story and sang us a Norwegian melody. I politely asked if I could snap a few photos, but I didn’t quite have the nerve to set up the shot as I had envisioned. I realize that I will have to go back and I will not wait long. 
Maui Centenarian ~ Phyllis Bruce
- Lovely story and pictures Jen. What a nice shot of Phylliss and Skye, a century spanned.August 23, 2010 - 12:23 am
- Wow, very well done. I enjoyed seeing how you at work. You really have a way of getting people to show themselves for a photo.August 24, 2010 - 6:32 am
- I love your story and especially you comment about meeting someone who is an expert at staying alive. I have known a few myself. MY old friend Joe Franklin is still on the air and in his office seven days a week and he was 85 on March 9. Television horror film host Zacherly is still working conventions and he was 93 on September 26 and then there's Joan Roberts who originated the role of Lauri in Oklahoma! when it premiered in 1943 and she works with a theater company she's formed and she was 93 on July 15. My cousin Emma used to tell me how my grandmother, who was born in 1890 was the first baby she ever held and Emma was born in 1883 and passed in 1986. I'd say the common denominator is their positive attitude, love for people and a general appreciation for life. I really love your story.November 8, 2011 - 7:40 am
by Jennifer Rosenblad
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