Goodrich-On Tuesday, in a brightly colored decorated room, Georgian Cox blows out the candles on her birthday cake with ease. Cox smiles as the room erupts into applause.
Cox and her guests have reason to celebrate–102 years earlier Cox’s was born.
‘This is so lovely, I don’t know what to say,? Cox tells her guests in the family dining room at Genesys Home and Hospice Care, 7280 S. State Road, Goodrich.
With some assistance, Cox opens some of her gifts; a picture box, some silk flowers, some yarn for knitting. ‘Just what I needed,? Cox says with a smile.
Cox says she can hardly believe the milestone she’s reached. ‘I can’t believe it. I don’t feel any different now than I did years ago,? Cox says.
The granddaughter of a Union Civil War soldier, Cox was born on a farm near Ithaca, Mich. in on Feb. 28, 1904. ‘There weren’t hospitals at that time,? Cox explains. ‘At that time they took a large house someone had donated and they made it into a place for sick people.?
She pauses when asked in what other ways things differ now from when she was younger.
‘Everything has changed so much,? Cox says.
Cox is right; things have changed. The year she was born a stamp cost 2 cents, the first underground subway line opened in New York City and Theodore Roosevelt defeated Alton B. Parker in the Presidential election.
‘My father was a farmer, he raised lots of wheat,? says Cox. ‘I loved living on the farm.? Cox remembers the animals on their farm with a smile. ‘Cow, pigs’the little lambs were so cute.?
In her time on the farm Cox witnessed the slow march of progress in the way her father tilled the soil.
‘First thing I remember about getting the soil ready for crops is (her father) would plow it with with a one-horse plow,? says Cox. ? The next thing was a riding plow, after that was tractor plows.?
‘The farms are almost extinct now,? Cox says.
Cox says she was a teacher for different area schools for 25 years. She recalls teaching first grade in Adrian, Mich. and says she misses the kids.
With three sons, grandchildren and great grandchildren, Cox is now the matriarch of a large family.
Daily rituals include awaking at 8 a.m. and using an exerciser for an hour each day. Cox is especially fond of knitting, which she makes time to do every day.
Friends at hospice give Cox a large wind chime to hang in the window of her room.
Cox smiles when someone reminds her spring is coming. In the spring, they say, Cox can open her window and let the breeze caress her new wind chime, making it sing just for her.
Cox says she can hardly wait.