By Staff
Beth Chapman, Guest Columnist
Willard Scott, the jolly, gregarious television weatherman made world-famous by the Today Show and his congratulatory features of folks who turn 100 years old could soon lose his job. Not really, but there is a point to be made here. So many people are turning 100 now, is it really a rarity anymore?
Recently my elderly cousin asked me to log onto the internet and research how she could send information to Willard Scott regarding her friend who is turning 100 years old so he could announce it on the Today Show.
I remember well the days when fun-loving Willard Scott had one or two people a week to congratulate on reaching their centennial milestone. We would all watch and be wowed by the fact that anyone could live to be 100.
Not anymore. There seems to be a growing number of Americans living into their golden, golden years. The folks Scott announced the day I recently watched were 105 and 108 years old.
Many question the future of America’s healthcare and its success or demise.
However, weigh into the equation preventive care, new medical advancements in technology, increased physical activity awareness, advanced studies in the field of nuclear medicine and a plethora of super strength pharmaceuticals on the market and it is no longer a rarity for folks to turn 100 years old.
For those of you who are striving to live to be 100 years old or know someone who is here is how you too, can contact Willard Scott for a little limelight and a moment of fame on the internationally-acclaimed Today Show.
Send your full name, your daytime phone number, the honoree’s full name and full address. Send the information 3-4 weeks in advance of the birthday you want featured. Tell something brief, but special about the person to be honored. Enclose a color or black and white photo of the person. Unfortunately, the photo cannot be returned. The information needs to be sent to Willard Scott Birthdays, Today Show, NBC News, 4001 Nebraska Avenue, Washington, DC 20016, attention Lessandra Machamer.
Willard Scott receives literally hundreds of requests a week to feature 100 year olds, so yours may or may not be featured. However, he will send a letter of congratulations to everyone who writes in and follows the above directions.
So go get up and stretch, then walk a mile or two, take some Geritol, a couple of vitamins, eat your vegetables and let’s help Willard Scott keep his job.