Introduction to a Long Life
A 106-year-old woman who still likes to fly is so extraordinary that even airport computers are stumped. Cretora Biggerstaff flies at least twice a year from Texas to Florida and back to visit her daughter in Gainesville, but there’s a problem every time.
The Issue with Airport Computers
She was born in 1919, but when she checks in for her flight, her birthdate is automatically changed to 2019. When Biggerstaff arrives at security, TSA agents expect a 6-year-old girl. Since her ID doesn’t match, she’s sent back to check-in. “They call the supervisor and then they discuss it. And I’ll tell you, I’m fed up with it. I go through that every blessed time,” Biggerstaff, who lives in her own apartment in suburban Houston, tells TODAY.com. The great-grandmother recently wrote letters to United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and the U.S. Department of Transportation urging their systems be updated to accept centenarian travelers. “People are living longer now,” she notes.
Background and Travel Experience
Cretora Biggerstaff, 106, is a veteran traveler and still flies at least twice a year. Her unique first name has Greek roots, she says. Her daughter, Sue Biggerstaff Tosi, says the problems started when Biggerstaff turned 100. The Transportation Security Administration explains what’s likely happening. A passenger’s date of birth may appear as a four-digit year in an airline system, but when carriers submit their booking data to TSA Secure Flight — a program that screens people before they arrive at the airport — they use a two-digit year, a TSA official tells TODAY.com. So 1919 and 2019 are both submitted as “19.”
Preparing to Fly to Italy
Tosi, who accompanies her mom when she flies, says some gate agents still believe she’s traveling with a 6-year-old girl, not her 106-year-mother. Tosi now carries the centenarian’s birth and marriage certificate for extra proof of her age. There’s much more travel in Biggerstaff’s future: After the 106-year-old told a TV station that she’d like to go to Italy, a Virginia couple invited her to go to Italy with them for 10 days this summer. Biggerstaff is in the process of renewing her passport to make the trip. “I enjoy flying,” she says. “I enjoy traveling.” Biggerstaff has been to England, France, Scotland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and “from one end to Canada to the other,” she says.
Tips for a Long and Healthy Life
Biggerstaff lives on her own in an apartment in a retirement community near Houston. She handles her own banking account and says she feels good. “People have the wrong opinion of people when they reach 100. They think they don’t know what they’re doing. Well, I’ve got news for them. I have an excellent brain,” Biggerstaff says. Here are her six tips for a long, healthy life:
Don’t Smoke or Drink
The centenarian doesn’t drink alcohol and never cared for cigarettes. Not smoking and drinking top the list of a 101-year-old nutrition professor’s rules for a long life.
Move Your Body
“I was very active when I was younger,” Biggerstaff says. “I did a lot of walking.” Walking comes with many health benefits. Just 11 minutes of daily walking reduces risk of disease and early death, research has found.
Enjoy What You Eat
The 106-year-old didn’t follow any specific diet when she was younger, other than avoiding seafood due to an allergy. Older age has brought some digestive issues, but Biggerstaff still has a good appetite. She loves steak filet mignon and fried okra. She also eats a lot of healthy dark chocolate, and enjoys coffee and biscotti.
Find Your Passion
Biggerstaff is a creative person, so she’s always looked for ways to channel her talents. She was a florist, worked in a craft store, did some interior designing and now organizes fashion shows in her retirement community.
Be a Lifelong Learner
“Whenever I decided I wanted to learn to do something, I would go take courses to learn how to do it, because to me, you can’t get too much knowledge,” Biggerstaff says. “That’s why I do a lot of reading.”
Stay Engaged in Life
The centenarian has a lot of interests that keep her busy, including painting and tending to the flowers on her balcony. “I tell people, ‘You need to read a lot, listen to the news, get up every day, get yourself dressed. Go down, mingle with other people,’’ she says. “Don’t go sitting in your room saying poor me. Don’t look at life that way. There’s more to life than that.”
Conclusion
Cretora Biggerstaff’s story is a testament to the fact that age is just a number. Her enthusiasm for life, her love for travel, and her dedication to staying active and engaged are an inspiration to people of all ages. By following her tips for a long and healthy life, we can all learn to live life to the fullest, just like Cretora.
FAQs
- Q: How old is Cretora Biggerstaff?
A: Cretora Biggerstaff is 106 years old. - Q: What is the issue Cretora faces when flying?
A: The issue Cretora faces is that airport computers automatically change her birth year to the current year, causing confusion with her age. - Q: What are Cretora’s tips for a long and healthy life?
A: Cretora’s tips include not smoking or drinking, moving your body, enjoying what you eat, finding your passion, being a lifelong learner, and staying engaged in life. - Q: Where is Cretora planning to travel to next?
A: Cretora is planning to travel to Italy for 10 days in the summer.
