Mar 30
Among the ceremonial duties of the consul general of Barbados in New York is a charming custom rooted in the colonial history of that island nation. When a Barbadian here turns 100, the consul attends the birthday party, and each subsequent one, bearing flowers and a proclamation celebrating the person’s life and longevity.
The ritual expresses appreciation for the elderly and pride in Barbados, which claims to have one of the highest percentages of centenarians in the world.
One Barbadian, however, is not playing along.
Mae Bishop is 101. According to her birth certificate, she will turn 102 on May 16. But with the feistiness and independence that have characterized her long life, she has steadfastly refused to acknowledge that she has lived a century.
From a charming article, in the New York Times, about Barbadian centenarians, both in Barbados and in New York.