Flossie Lewis's Brief But Spectacular take on her 100th birthday

Many will remember Flossie Lewis, who was among our earliest profiles on Brief But Spectacular. She spoke to us in 2016 about growing old and living well, earning millions of clicks and shares online. She joined Brief But Spectacular series creator Steve Goldbloom to celebrate a very special occasion, her 100th birthday.

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Amna Nawaz: Many of you will remember Flossie Lewis, who was among our earliest profiles in our Brief But Spectacular series. She spoke to us in 2016 about growing old and living well and earned millions of clicks and shares online.

Well, tonight we hear from Flossie and from Brief But Spectacular series about creator Steve Goldbloom to celebrate a very special occasion, her 100th birthday.

Steve Goldbloom: I am Steve Goldbloom. I’m the creator of Brief But Spectacular, and I’m here with one of the best guests we have ever had. It’s Flossie Lewis.

And you are approaching a very big birthday. You’re going to be?

Flossie Lewis, 100 Years Old: A hundred.

Steve Goldbloom: You’re going to be 100 years old. We first met when you were 91, and we did a video together.

Flossie Lewis: Yes. And I asked: “What do you want me to do?”

And you said: “Just talk.”

Getting old is a state of mind. Now, I’m 91. I’m badly crippled. But I still think I’m 15. Accepting the fact that the body is going to go, but the personality doesn’t have to go, and that thing which is the hardest to admit is that character doesn’t have to go.

Steve Goldbloom: What does it feel like for you to watch that back?

Flossie Lewis: It feels like I haven’t changed much.

Steve Goldbloom: Yes.

Flossie Lewis: Yes, and that’s a nice thing to feel.

Oh, well, I no longer see, as you know. And the hearing is bad, as you know. But we still talk as if we’re old friends and as if I were once your teacher.

Steve Goldbloom: Yes.

Flossie Lewis: And that’s a lovely thing.

Steve Goldbloom: You know, I was looking at some old footage that we had.

Flossie Lewis: Oh, I love that.

Steve Goldbloom: But we were sitting there and talking about death.

How long would you like to live?

Flossie Lewis: When the eyes and the ears go, no point after that.

I no longer can read. I mean, I’m looking at my fingers, and I can see 10. But the pleasure of reading and making notes in the margin, that’s gone.

But that’s part of my life. And I no longer write verse, because, even though I write it, I can’t read it back. I can’t perfect it. Oh, let’s put it this way. I do not want to die because I love too many people.

Steve Goldbloom: Your character has not gone anywhere. It’s completely intact.

Flossie Lewis: I wish it were character, dear. It’s personality. There’s a difference. No, I get away with murder every day.

(Laughter)

Steve Goldbloom: So, what I want to do is I want to ask you a few questions, but I’d like to disappear and make it — go behind the camera.

I just want to say thank you, Flossie. It’s great to have you back.

Flossie Lewis: Thank you, Steve.

Steve Goldbloom: What has changed since the last time we spoke?

Flossie Lewis: The body has grown old, really old.

I haven’t lost a lot of the energy, but I can’t walk. And that really confines me. There’s nothing to be done about it. I will be 100. And that’s a very deep thing. And there are moments when I’m very sure, and then there are moments when I fall apart.

And that happens because — because the memory, Steve, does go. And, suddenly, I find myself in the middle of a sentence waiting for a word that I have known all my life, and it doesn’t come. And that can wipe you out.

Steve Goldbloom: What do you derive the most pleasure from today?

Flossie Lewis: Remembering the people that I loved.

My name is Flossie Lewis, and this has been my Brief But Spectacular take.

Amna Nawaz: And a very hearty happy birthday to Flossie from everyone here at the “PBS NewsHour.”