Longtime Fraser Lake resident Shirley Mann celebrated her ninety clicks around the sun Saturday with family and friends. She is as beautful and even more sprightly than ever. Must be that Prince George air… does polluted air have rejuvenating properties?

I’ve resided at Silver Birch Lodge since 2010. One of my favourite memories is of Uncle John Larson’s ninetieth birthday. At coffee time, which is at 10am in the lounge, I brought in an angelfood cake with “Happy Birthday” scribbled in green over a mound of low-sugar frosting.

There had only been one candle left in the box. But that was okay because 90 lit candles may have set off the fire alarm.

There were mostly non-smokers at the table. Finally, one fellow pulled a lighter out from his pant’s pocket. I lit the candle and instructed John in the formality of the birthday ritual.

“You must make a wish before you blow out your candle,” I told him.

After the the candle had been blown and the happy birthday song sung, I half-jokingly inquired as to what he had wished for. John looked a bit downhearted but his eyes were twinkling.

“I wished I was eighty-nine again,” he replied.